Life for many of us is full of hardships. Many times we are faced with difficulties in our families, health, and other issues in life. I’ve learned as I was growing up that I can either overcome the difficulties in life, or it will overcome me. The Lord said in Isiah 43:2, “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you”. This passage reminds me that whatever I go through in life, as long as I have strong faith in God, He will not abandon me.
I was five years old when my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 bone cancer. I was too young that time and curious why my mom is always in the hospital. My grandmother often says that my mom’s ill and I have to pray to God if I want my mom to not go to the hospital anymore. At that age, I do not really know who God is. As I was growing up, I was not exposed to different religious activities.
All I know was we go to church because my mom needs to be healed by someone they call God.
My parents decided to transfer me to a Christian School in Quezon City to continue my studies. A relative of ours who is a Born Again recommended the school to my parents. This school opened my eyes to who really God is. He is someone we may not see with our physical eyes, but we can “see” God’s beauty with our purity of heart, purity of faith, and purity of life. I believe that He used the school as an instrument for me to know Him. I was very blessed to have teachers who helped our family to believe in God that my mom will be healed in His own perfect time. These teachers taught me to keep my eyes on God for He was my source of strength. Things may be difficult at times, but God always seem to provide for us.
As I grew older, I developed a daily habit of reading the Bible and spending time writing my devotion. This is when I started to commit myself to God. Every Sunday, I attend the Sunday School and became a part of small group discipleship. This helped me to strengthen my relationship with God, and to learn the deeper meaning of His teachings. Being committed to God means that I trust Him and His beliefs, as well as the Bible. They are a considerable part of my life both at home and school. The love and respect I have for God, as well as His for me, help build a better and stronger relationship.
The Sunday School also taught me that we, Christians, are called into the service of God. It is our responsibility as children of God to help those who are in need. Whenever the school organizes outreach programs, I also engage in it. I believe that compassion thrives in a person who rises above his selfishness and who finds enough virtue in others to appreciate and understand them.
Should Christians be competent? We now live in a world which is increasingly intolerant of failure, prizes, and the power of achievement. However, God accepts us as His children, as who we really are, not because of how good or competent we are. In my journey of faith, I learned that God is a forgivable God. He offers forgiveness for our failures and loves us despite our incompetence.
These experiences of mine taught me that we may often forget God, but He will never forget His beloved children. Our family may have struggled over the years, but God never left us hanging. The Bible says God gives good things to those who ask. So what was the gift in my mom having cancer for eleven years and still counting? I can honestly say that it was a blessing in disguise because it opened a door for me to believe in Him and to also encourage others to trust in God.