By: CMAA
Dear Australians, I would like to share the faith lessons I’ve learnt from leaving everything I knew behind. I hope you can also hold onto hope in these uncertain times.
I am a Ukrainian who had to relocate with my family to Australia four years ago because of the war. I was born at the time of the collapse of the communist Soviet Union, in an era marked by shortages and instability. I have lived through crisis, corruption, the pandemic, and now a war threatening to completely destabilise the world again.
As the world, including Australia, begins to feel unsettled, I have a personal story of resilience and hope to offer those who are feeling scared, defeated, anxious – or maybe can’t put a name to what you’re feeling yet.
After four years, I am still learning to understand Australian society. It feels like a mosaic made up of different cultures and stories. To me, “Australians” are those who have lived here for a long time, who have become part of this community, who were born here generations ago.
They are open, kind, and in some ways even trusting people. Many live with a sense that Australia is its own world, a kind of island continent where life moves at a steady, calm pace. There is sunshine, the ocean, and a comforting sense of work-life balance.
At times, it feels as though all of this exists inside a kind of “glass room” with walls that are slowly, but steadily, closing in. For a long time, global events seemed distant, something happening far away in Europe or the Middle East, outside of everyday life. But recent events have shown that this is no longer the case.
The tragedy in Bondi was a sobering shock for everyone. I knew people who were personally affected by the attack. The response showed that society here was not prepared for something like this. It became a moment of realisation that global instability can reach even here.
Then came another, more everyday but equally noticeable pressure, rising fuel prices. This was a second signal that Australia is part of a globally connected world. What happens elsewhere does affect life here.
It is important to acknowledge that we do not live in isolation.
Not to become pessimistic, but so as not to live in denial; to be realistic and maintain inner stability in any circumstance, like a house built on rock.
Personal experience: loss and new beginnings
Who am I to say this? Here is my short story…
Back in 2014, when conflict began in eastern Ukraine, our family moved to Kyiv. Our familiar life, relatives, home, friends, church, the streets we grew up on, all stayed behind in memories and blurred photos. That was our first major reset.
But that experience shaped us. We lost a lot, but we gained a deeper understanding of God’s will and His love. In Kyiv, we learned to start again. Step by step, year by year. My wife served in a church campus with creative teams, and I continued building my career in marketing and communications. Our children were born there.
After that first move, we saw stability differently. Where others saw certainty, we recognised that comfortable seasons are often preparation for future challenges.
Then came 2022. A turning point not just for Ukraine, but for the world. Many Ukrainians were forced to relocate to different countries. For our family, that journey led us the furthest, to Australia.
And this move felt like a miracle. The local church community supported us in extraordinary ways. People helped with flights, accommodation, essential items, and work. It was a continuous flow of care and generosity, something that is hard to explain as anything other than God’s love in action.
I sincerely empathise with Australians who remember the weight of COVID restrictions. Life seemed to be returning to normal, and then new pressures began to emerge.
Here are three reflections that may be helpful in this season.
1. Accepting God’s will and your time are probably not the same
I used to ask God, “Why?” Now I ask, “God, what is the next step?”
Do not be afraid when things do not go according to your plan. They may not follow your plan, but they are still within God’s plan. This brings a sense of inner stability, even in unpredictable times, when unexpected events seem to gather overhead.
God cares for us. He knows every grain of sand on the beautiful Sydney beaches or the park where your children play and is every step ahead of you. You are part of His plan.
2. Rethinking what matters: letting go of attachment to things
The Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
When we arrived in Australia, our entire life fit into four suitcases. Recently, when we moved to another suburb, it took a full van to carry everything. But that is not where our treasure lies.
In reality, we do not need much to live, and even less to endure difficult seasons. Happiness is not defined by fuel prices or numbers in a bank account.
Do not be afraid of losing things. Be concerned about losing your relationship with God.
3. Do not live in false expectations; live by faith
In both 2014 and 2022, many people I know left behind their homes and belongings, holding on to the belief that everything would soon return to the way it was. But it will not.
Living in the past can prevent you from fully living in the present.
Instead of holding on to false expectations, choose faith. Faith does not expire. Faith brings the understanding that, in the end, God has already won.
There is a phrase I appreciate: “In the end, everything will be OK. If it is not OK yet, then it is not the end”.
Easter is a reminder of what truly matters
Easter is a time that brings us back to the foundations of faith.
For me, Easter has always carried more weight than Christmas. Christmas marks the beginning, the arrival of hope. But Easter reveals the outcome.
Jesus died for our sins and rose again, offering us life, eternal life, and a restored relationship with God.
If you feel the current pressures are shaking your foundation, start with something simple. Begin to pray. Begin to trust God. Open the Bible. Come to church. Reflect, share, and support one another.
It may seem simple, but this is exactly what the devil tries to take from us, especially when we are standing in line at the petrol station.
Written by a Ukrainian living in Sydney.
Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.
Feature image: Canva
