2018

With just a few days before 2018 ends, a lot of great things happened in my life. These events helped me to be where I am today and I will always be grateful to God for making everything happened, because I believe that everything comes for a reason.

Looking back on those memories makes my heart grow and develop the attitude of gratefulness even if situations were tough. Allow me to share to you the ART formed from the highlights of my 2018.

1. Answered Prayers

There have been a lot of answered prayers for this year. Two of these are being able to speak in front of students and be able to participate for a greater cause of reaching out to the people on another country. 

Both of which helped me to develop my confidence and self-esteem, that I would be carrying forward next year to accomplish more things.

2. Relationship Built

God brought quite a lot of people into my circle this year and I’m grateful for each one of them. They have contributed in their own little way to my development as a person, a leader and someone who is serving Him and other people.

3. Taking criticism constructively

My experiences this year has taught me to be tougher and to treat every comment in a way that it’ll be beneficial to me. Thinking first before acting, a thought process really helped to develop of constructively building myself from the comments thrown at me. It’s painful at times, but I know that it is for my development as a person.

Having said that, there is one more important thing I learned. Above all those mentioned above and everything that happened in between, I learned this year to depend and trust in God and His power.

“For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” - Isaiah 41:13

There were several times throughout the year that fear almost got the control of my life because of some situations that I thought I cannot make it. During those times, I ask and lifted my fear and problems to God. True enough that when you lifted it up to Him, He will hold you because He loves you and He will be able to make you through the storm. On several occasions, I feel that I am not worth it and I feel so alone thus resulting to failures. 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength[a] of my heart and my portion forever.

- Psalm 73:26

But the moments that I am alone, are the moments where God is speaking to me directly. I am not paying attention to that still small voice inside of me. 

Despite of the mountains to climb and races to finish, the dependence on Him and His power made me stronger and I’m still able to run the race He has set for me. One thing is for sure, that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Run the Race

Have you ever participated on a marathon or fun run?

I remember my experience on one legit fun run here in UAE. It was the Color Run held last 2014. It was really “FUN”. I did not notice that I ran for 5 kilometers. Did I prepare anything for this? I have to wake up a little bit early, since we have to travel a little bit to reach the venue. At the end of the race, I enjoyed it since I have to run together with some friends and family.

For professional athletes, especially if they are participating in a 10 kilometer run or a triathlon, they have to really train and prepare in advance to condition their bodies. They will undergo rigid training in order for their bodies to be fit and in good, perfect condition for the race.

Lately, there have been many things that I am thinking that makes me rethink and slowdown in the race that I am currently running in. There were many times that I have to momentarily stop and think if I am still on the right track, or if I am still running this race with the right purpose in mind and the right attitude. I kept on asking these questions over and over again, until I came to a point to ask Him this directly. Then God gave me this answer:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

The race I’m currently into right now is quite difficult. I’ve been used to on a fix schedule at work and was able to squeeze in some time to have fellowships and meetings after my 8 AM to 6PM job. But here comes the testing, I was asked to do a 3PM to 1AM schedule. Imagine the adjustments I have to make from my usual routine every day.

As I approach the finish line, I learned a lot of things that helped me in different areas.

1. The discipline

Upon hearing that I have to do a different shift for a week, it made me a little bit furious and don’t mind it and push on working at my comfortable schedule. Rather than pushing what I want, I have obeyed what my managers asked me to do, even at first it’s hard.

Thus, a disciple was developed, the discipline of depending on Him, whether in times of need or in times of hardships.

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1

       2. The harvest

Towards the end of my PM shifts, I have realized a lot of things. He gave me the peace to understand the situation. There is peace when I surrendered my situation to God. I experienced trials to strengthen my character and to check the foundations I have. Instead of complaining about the circumstances, I asked God what is He trying to teach me this time. The more that I depend on Him, the more I feel that I am secured and I can surpass all the challenges in life because He is the source of my strength.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

This is what He had given me. The race I’m on is not easy, and hurdles will come along the way. The finish line on this current season is there, but it takes a great amount if effort and discipline to get there.  Every day is a choice to fight the battles or flee somewhere else. I would choose to fight, run and endure this race because I know that at the finish line, I will have a reward, an eternal reward from the One who keeps me running.

No matter what life throws at you, as long as you have anchored your life in Christ, you will have the strength to carry on the challenges because God’s power is working in us (Ephesians 3:20), and He can do great things, beyond what we could imagine.