2019 went by so quickly that I did not notice that it’s already
December. With less than a few days before the year ends, I decided to look
back on how God carried me throughout the year.
I started this year by listing up goals that are seems to be
impossible, but by faith and through His grace, I now that these will come to
pass.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the
founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the
throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
The verses helped me to remind myself of the reason why I run this race
called life.
As I journey on from Day 1 of 2019, I held those verses close to my
heart as I pray for the goals I wanted to see into fruition this year. But life
took me to a detour that changed the course of the race that I’ve been on.
People that are close to me can attest to what I experienced. Doubt, fear and insecurities
suddenly creep in after the day I received a bad news. I wanted to quit! I
wanted to go back home!
With that in mind, I made a game-changing decision that others would
think was an unlikely, considering how life and things are here in UAE for
expats nowadays.
But amidst everything that happened the whole year, I learned three
things that helped me to be where I am today:
1. Surround yourself
with people who will encourage you
One of the things I am grateful for this year are the people whom God brought into my life, especially those who gave me encouragements and spent some time to strengthen the relationships.
I’m so humbled and immensely grateful on how these people went out of their comfort zone to reach out and make time to uplift me during the times that I needed it most.
2. Set aside your
baggage
Have you ever tried running with something on your back? Quite tiring
right? In life, when we wanted to move forward but there are things that are
still holding us back, we cannot reach the full potential that God has for us.
With all the things that happened to me this year, I have to reconsider
a lot of things and let go of some that would not help me moving forward.
3. Step up to the race
Step up means to increase or advance by one more step.
This year, I have to step up my endurance with the news that my
position in the company is no longer available. It was tough, really tough,
considering that I am sending money back home and preparing for the next
chapter of my life here in UAE. I have to double the endurance I am putting on.
Above all these things, the most important thing we need to do is
always to look up to Jesus, who gave up His life for us on the cross. Without
Him, my life will not be meaningful. My pursuits will be worthless because I am
not pursuing the One who first loved me.
There were many times throughout the year that I doubted myself if I
can make it. But when I decided to pursue Him with all my heart, He has turned
my mourning into dancing and clothed me with gladness, that my story will bring
praises for Him.
In the end, I may not see concretely His plans are, but one thing is
for sure and that everything happens for the good of those who love Him and when
we look to Jesus and allow Him to fight the battles for us, we will see a
victory at the end of the tunnel.
