By: Christine Anne Arana
Hello to you, whoever is reading this. I have a question for you: have you ever experienced delays and setbacks? Kanang feeling na abi ninyo’g mao na na siya, mahitabo na, pero kalit lang na dili pa diay? If naka experience na mo, or naa mo karon sa ana na season, then maka relate ka ani. Pero og wala pa, there is still a reason na naa ka diri. In welcoming the year 2023, God told me that it would be a year of breakthrough. Syempre, if this is the year of breakthrough, anticipate jud na daghan pud jud na siya’g breakings. You cannot have a breakthrough without breakings, diba? But wala lang jud nako na-ready akong self na grabe jud diay pud ang breakings, delays after delays, patong-patong na pagsulay na nakaingon ko kay Lord, "Grabe pud ni Lord uy, wa man ka niingon ani kabug-at diay," and naabot ko sa point nag isolate ko for a month—gipang hilak jud nako siya kay Lord tanan. I remember saying, "Lord, ka-give upon na ko. Kapoy na jud," but nevertheless, I stand firm and continue following Him despite sa mga gipang agian nako.
God really sustained me this year. He even leveled me up; gi-iappoint ko Niya sa mas dako na responsibility na dili pud jud basta-basta. Yet at that moment, I began to doubt myself. Syempre, bombarded kaayo akong utok with all my problems—family, finances, and even my own capabilities. I have questioned if I am really worthy of what God has appointed me to do. I felt so disqualified, unworthy, and not fit for the position, but the Lord really knows what is best for me.
John 14:2-3 NIV My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Kani na verse ang nagpa pukaw sa’koa na even if i-disqualify ko sa world, para kay Lord, I am more than qualified. After ani, I thought this was it. Kanang, “Ay okay na Lord. Yehey!” But little did I know, mao pa diay ang sugod. I said yes to that bigger responsibility. So, naa jud pud ihatag si Lord para i-prune ko Niya and masigurado na makaya nako ang victory na giplano Niya sa’kong kinabuhi. August 2023 was the month where God revealed to me how His love would sustain me through delays and setbacks. Kanang diri jud na month gipa realize sa’koa na dili jud diay ko mabuhi if wala si Lord. Dili jud ko maabot kung asa ko karon if dili tungod kay Lord. A big storm happened, and naka ingon jud ko, "Laina Lord uy, kanang kung kanus-a nag reward ko sa’kong self mag lingaw-lingaw the whole day, then pag uli naa diay nahitabo. So di jud diay nako deserve mag lingaw-lingaw, Lord?" It happened on August 1 and then on August 2, supposedly ready na mi for the flight pa-Manila for Campus Revolution, and at that very night until midnight of August 2, kay naga duha-duha na jud ko’g dayon. But God didn't let me. Nag ingon siya sa’koa, "Gipaboran Nako na dili ma-cancel inyo flight back and forth, so just go. Ako'y bahala sa imo." I was hesitant, but at the same time, I obeyed. And lahi jud diay sa feeling pag ni-obey ka kay Lord. The Lord really proved to me that He is my Jehovah Jireh, my sustainer and provider. Until now, Manila trip has been a trip na dili jud nako malimtan; it is not about the conference and the laag, but about how God cares for me and how he loves me unconditionally. Despite all the delays and setbacks, His plans will always prevail. Deuteronomy 11:11-12 NIV But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. He cares for the land; how much more, ako na naga-pagamit dira sa Iya? And this verse also reminded me of the academic life verse in Zechariah 4:6: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. We can never be successful if we cannot rely on God in everything we do. The Lord will help and equip us to be whatever He has envisioned us to be. So ikaw na naabot og basa kutob diri sa ulahi. Maybe you are discouraged because you feel missed out, unworthy, or hopeless. But the Lord, our God, is telling you to rely on Him. Cast it all to Him. He is telling you that everything will be okay because He is with you and will always be with you if you just allow and acknowledge Him. We really need setbacks and delays in our lives for us to know that there are things we cannot control that only God can. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! I hope this somehow encouraged you and reminded you that God loves us unconditionally, despite what season we are in right now. God bless you! 🥰
I will leave you with this verse:
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
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