Since 2009 began, I have suddenly been humming an old Neil Sedaka song called “The Hungry Years.” The singer’s remembrance of when times were hard yet more meaningful has suddenly become very relevant to me. I have also been reflecting on Jeremiah 29:11 for a word of hope and encouragement. The Lord’s reminder to Jeremiah of His plans for Israel has never failed to comfort and reassure me during these uneasy times.

I have also started telling my wife more often how much I love her. She was surprised one day when I told her “I love you” for what must have been the fifth time in several hours. She smiled when I told her that I did not want to come to a situation where I would regret not having said those words more often.

What have all these got to do with an uncertain future, you ask. I will explain how they are linked later.

The close of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 have hardly been reassuring. Bank collapses, financial losses in investments, retrenchments and rising prices have been added to a painful and terrible litany of wars, earthquakes, natural disasters, and unemployment.

Singapore has not been immune and even national icons like Singapore Airlines and the Development Bank of Singapore are fighting for survival and have to make the hard decision to cut jobs and salaries to stay afloat. Our Government even had to dip into our reserves to help support programs designed to get Singaporeans out of this mess as soon as possible. But even the reassurances sound hollow to some as predictions change with great frequency.

The year 2008 ended with analysts giving assurance that the recession would be over within two years at most. But just two months later, we heard that the recession may last three to five years! Even US President Barack Obama admitted that the economic mess in his country is worse than he originally thought.

Singapore’s leaders have encouraged us to persevere and not lose hope, reassuring the people that financial help is available to those struck by hard times. They also point to various available schemes for training and retraining unemployed and retrenched workers. But many of those affected find it hard to keep their heads up when the pink slips come in the mail – the kids still need to go to school, and the sole breadwinner still has some months to go before getting a job.

I do not think things will get better soon. The reality is that we may be in for more hard times in the future. Even if we ride out this economic storm, the effects and temptations of high living and high prices, as well as inflation mean the cycle of high-priced property bubbles accompanied by hard financial crashes will continue. And each bubble will likely be bigger than the previous one as businesses try to make up for lost time and earnings – making the eventual crash more painful than all the ones before it.

How can we get through these hard times without losing our sanity or our hope? I pray that these suggestions will help:

1. Re-examine all your financial commitments – Do you need a new car if your current one is just fine? What about using public transportation more frequently? Do you have to buy branded foodstuffs when generic or house brands will do just as well?

2. Check your electricity and water consumption – Simple things like turning the faucet or shower off when soaping go a long way towards stretching your dollar. Switching off the lights when nobody is in a room helps too.

3. Be wise in your payments – Where possible, choose to pay in cash instead of credit cards. And stick to just one credit card.

4. Choose shorter vacations in nearby destinations – Indonesia and Malaysia offer cheaper alternatives to the scenic spots, natural beauty, and cultural diversity we have seen in further destinations. Use low-cost carriers for short trips. Does it really matter if you travel in a slightly less luxurious seat during a two-hour flight?

5. Be content with what you already have – Envying the owner of a brand new Mercedes convertible may be misplaced, since you may be unaware of the debt the Mercedes owner is in for the price of his dream car.

6. If you can fix it, keep it – Buying more disposable items can cost more over the long run than just keeping the item you have in good working condition. You also help save the environment by having less waste.

7. Have more friends and invest in relationships – Friends, family, and loved ones will really matter during these uncertain times. Money lost can be regained but lost friendships and lost loved ones can stay out of reach forever.

8. Say “Thank You” more often – Being thankful will place you in a better position to understand God’s will for your life.

9. Help others – As you help others, others will help you in your time of need. The presence of a helping community will also provide solace and comfort to those badly affected by the economic downturn.

10. Do not forget the Lord and how He has helped you and your family in the past – Meditating on the words of Jeremiah 29:11 has helped comfort and reassure me in times of trouble. This verse is not the only Bible verse that can help you keep your focus on the Lord, but it is a good start.

11. Praise the Lord whenever you can – Some of you may be thinking how a retrenched man with a family to feed and bills to pay can praise the Lord. But this has been my personal experience too. Praising and thanking God for all His goodness and mercy and grace to you and your loved ones will help keep your mind off the worry and onto God, the only one who can handle that worry.

12. Have a more positive outlook – Things may be looking bad now but there is a God who hears our prayers and gives us what we need.

13. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you – Saying “I Love You” to the ones who matter to you binds all of you closer together and reminds all within a family or community that this is their fight, not just one person’s battle. Knowing that you love and are loved provides a back-up that is sorely needed as we go through these uncertain times.

14. Remember that this time will be a forge and anvil on which your character will be tested – Some of your friends will disappear when they learn of your financial woes. Others may be tempted to resort to illegal or unethical ways to get ahead. Do not succumb to such temptations and do not worry about the “friends” you have lost. At least you now know who your real friends are.

15. Pray and seek God – Talking to God helps, and do not be afraid of telling Him how you really feel. He listens to us as we are.

16. When the good times return, do not forget the lessons learnt from the hard times – Love, companionship, and family ties shine during times of adversity. So the lyrics of “The Hungry Years” will always remind me of what really matters – love, laughter, family, and God.

17. Take these times as a chance to start life as God wanted you to – It is never too late to change, even if you think your life is in a mess now. What is important is that you take that very first step.

Remember, tough times will not last but tough people will. As King George VI greeted the inhabitants of the British Empire on Christmas Day 1939 – another uncertain year as World War Two loomed – he quoted these famous words and I pray that they may encourage and inspire you too:

I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied, “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be better than light, and safer than a known way.”

Arulnathan John works for Singapore Press Holdings, and worships at Acts Centre, a daughter congregation under St Andrew’s Cathedral. He loves to read, go to the movies and the theatre, chat on the Internet and keep his mind open to new experiences.