Friday, February 20, 2026
马到成功
马到成功 (Horse arrives Success)：The year of the horse has arrived.
This idiom originates from ancient Chinese military culture, where cavalry was crucial to victory. When war horses arrived at the battlefield, success was expected to follow swiftly. The phrase first appeared during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368 AD) in dramatic works describing military campaigns.
The horse (马) symbolizes speed, power, and momentum, while 'arrival' (到) and 'success' (成功) emphasize immediate achievement. However, today the battlefield has changed – be it in military warfare, the market place and our personal life.
The U.S has sent 3 aircraft carriers to its bases in the Middle East to have a war with Iran. In the past the arrival of an aircraft carrier was like 马到成功 as its presence strikes fear in their adversaries. Today there are ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles that can sink an aircraft carrier; radar and radar jamming warfare, laser weapons to jam satellites etc etc. Notwithstanding the U.S and Mossad already has operatives inside Iran like they did in Venezuela.
I have had such a turbulent career. Perhaps sadly more years down than up. All the pain and failures takes a toll on me emotionally. But life needs to carry on and knowing the past has shaped me to be more resilient and stronger to face the future.
I have learnt even when the horse has arrived and all the preparations done, success may not follow. It still may not unfold as we had planned.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31
Oh Yes Lord! I rest in you as victory belongs to you. Yes I must do my part to fight the battle but I am worn out O Lord. I can prepare all I want but victory belongs to the Lord. Jesus has already won it for us when He died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. He has won over disease, death, lack and poverty.
God fought with Joshua to claim the land of Canaan. With God, David defeated Goliath and won 66 battles and lost none. The walls of Jericho fell on the 7th day and God delivered victory to the Israelites.
O Lord I put on Your spiritual armor for battle – with worship, praise, faith and trust in the living God. I proclaim my personal victory with the Lord.
