There was such a time when hardships were glorified. Why? Because during that era, hard days forged an individual’s character. As years go by, life became much easier. And with that, talks about resilience and hard work became infrequent. Conversations about fame and popularity was the hot topic.

As life Fastly progressed, subjects about values formation, diligence and perseverance turned boring. There were a lot who prefer short cuts to success. But if there was no struggle, there won’t be joy. Sometimes, the very thing that we refuse turns out to be essential for our growth and development.

The pain and difficulties we are experiencing are never wasted. GOD uses them to draw us closer to him. Once we learn to obey, we are slowly being molded in his ways and persona. He has a purpose for everything. Behind every problem, there is a hidden blessing waiting to be unfolded.

Rainy season is synonymous with a gloomy weather. We can’t go outside so we have no choice but to stay indoors. There are a lot of things we can do while remaining inside the house, but nothing beats breathing fresh air outdoors and being greeted by the bright sun.

A person who remained melancholic for a long period of time will have difficulty dealing with a cheerful individual. Since they are on the opposite ends, there is always conflict. However, there is still hope for an optimist.

We never have to go through it alone. Sadness does not have to be the end. It is only a phase in life we must go through. Being surrounded with patient and caring people helps a lot to get out of that pit of sorrow. God is near to the broken hearted, he consoles them by sending spiritual and “human angels” so we can cope up with whatever is causing our agony.

It hurts if you are overlooked, undervalued and rejected. There are people who would just give up whenever they experienced any of that unfavorable treatment. Lucky are those who look elsewhere and found the right place where they are welcome and accepted.

But what if you mistakenly joined the wrong crowd and instead of becoming better you ended up being the worst version of yourself? What if rather than seeking approval from others, we approach our Heavenly Father and asked for his affirmation? It’s more fulfilling and beneficial.

We never have to compete. There’s always a place reserved for us. In the Lord’s presence we are treated well and never taken for granted. Our Thoughts are properly expressed and our feelings are considered. Our value does not diminish over time. GOD created us and he knows how to treat us well.

Have you ever met a touchy person? The one who reacts immediately when faced with an unfavorable event? The one who can’t control themselves and retaliates easily? I bet you have. It’s very difficult to have a meaningful conversation with that individual.

You must dig deeper to see where that person is coming from. Guaranteed, it won’t be a breeze, but if you have the patience, you’ll eventually discover that they’ve gone through a lot of tough situations which eventually tested them and like a raw egg boiled in a hot water, turned their inner core in a hard one.

Extra Grace is required when dealing with someone like them. We cannot extinguish a fire by spraying gas into it. But GOD can heal their wounded hearts if we show mercy and grace even if we feel like walking in a minefield while dealing with them. Nothing is impossible with the Lord; the Holy Spirit he sent to us will guide us how to love a difficult person the way GOD loved us.

Can somebody relate to this – You always know what to say and do but somehow ended up compromising so as not to upset or offend someone. While it’s an admirable trait to be considerate and sensitive with the feelings of the people around you, in the long run, it doesn’t serve you well. Why? Because you always end up being the mediator if not being the doormat.

People from each generation has different ways of expressing their feelings. We can learn so much if we just spend enough time analyzing the way they talk and act. But if we want to understand them better, we must go deeper. Knowledge helps but wisdom provides discernment and with it, comes clarity which leads to peace. It is easy to judge someone based on how they react in a certain situation without learning where they came from.

But if we have a firsthand experience with them, we’ll know that behind a strong facade lies sensitivity, fears, doubts and worries. Trust issue arises when we felt betrayed by someone closes to us. However, in the Bible, we are instructed to put our trust in the only being who is worth it – GOD.  Because he created us, only he knows what we are made of.

Only he can heal us, sustain us, fixed us and provide for us. He sees through our innermost being – the things we try so hard to hide from everyone else. There’s no shame baring everything to him – he will never judge us because he already knows us from the start, yet he accepts and love us still. So, there’s no need for us to hide inside an eggshell.

When you experience GOD’s goodness wouldn’t it be right to let his other creation know about it? Have you ever been in a dire situation and you don’t even know where help would come from? And just in the nick of time, a miracle came in and you were saved from your impossible situation?

They say that every generation has a different coping mechanism: The Boomers – they engage in physical exercise, using work as distraction and relying on their close community network. Gen X on the other hand approach problems directly, they keep calm and hide stress but under extreme pressure, they choose to withdraw themselves. Millennials choose physical activities and socializing, during crises they either sleep over the problem or rely on in person groups. While Generation Z uses virtual therapy and mental apps, practicing daily meditation and breathing. Often, they seek emotional validation in online groups.

No matter what generation we are in, there is one certain – we cannot do it alone. We need a higher being who can provide the help we need especially during the most difficult circumstances we found ourselves in. Only GOD can do that. He works in all things for our good – he may lighten up your condition by sending people who will journey with you along hardest days, he might send provisions to sustain your needs or he can even turn around the events, making you feel that the storm has passed and the sun is finally shining around your corner.

So, it’s true that the Lord is always present in our lives. He not only sent his Beloved son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, but he also sent the Holy Spirit to guide and bless us. That’s why it is only right and just that we serve as his witness: proclaiming his goodness throughout our lives and throughout the world – the way he intended us to be. Blessed be GOD forevermore.

When you are down to nothing, GOD is up to something. They say when it rains it pours. What if you are constantly being attacked by problems in all directions, that you no longer know what to do anymore?

You tried hardest to keep afloat and fight the good fight yet there’s no improvement in your situation. You sought help, but everybody seems to have troubles of their own – that’s why they won’t pay attention on what you are going through.

Friend, maybe it’s time to look up – The help you are looking for is coming! Our GOD is patiently waiting for you to call up to him. Once you do, the Lord will eagerly send up the complete “care package” you need. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit will also guide you how you can use the assistance GOD has given. So don’t be shy, don’t be afraid to seek only Him because only he can provide – Our Sovereign and Benevolent GOD.

They say a cluttered desk reflects a messy mind. Every bit of her is in different direction. She had a lot of things going on in her life – bills to pay, health scare, worries about work, along with the personal struggles and responsibilities she had to carry.

Every part of her is being pulled in different direction, yet this lady still hopes that despite her current troubles, a day will come for her to be in a much better place. That’s why she still manages to smile, in the deepest part of her heart lies a dream she treasures the most. There are days she doesn’t know how she was able to pull it through. Little did she know that her Heavenly Father above watches over her.

The Lord hears her pleas and in due time will answer her prayer. In the meantime, the Holy Spirit sustains her – giving her the strength to last each day, guiding her every step of the way and showering her with graces she needs daily. She is you, Sister!

Ever met someone whose always in a cloudy era? That person is no fun to be with. You’ll always felt gloomy whenever you’re around with that one.  It’s lucky to have an optimist in your life. No matter how big the odds stack against them, they’ll certainly find something to be grateful for. Treasure them if you have one as they will make life easier to navigate if they are around.

A couple of months ago, I learned through a seminar we attended that discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Now since we have a generous GOD, the gifts we received varies compared to our personalities, talents and skills given by our Lord. How we use and apply them in our lives is a true measure of our faith and trust to the one who gave it all. No matter how much I hide it, it’s always obvious whenever I have conversations with someone – I am always able to discern their motives, what they are going through and able to advise them properly, which does not come easy as I used to have a temper.

Later, I had a revelation that I also have a gift of lightening up a situation by pointing out to the bright side. So much for somebody like me who used to be a pessimist and who denied countless times that I am a light bearer just like anyone else who choose to surrender their lives to GOD. Our Heavenly Father always has funny and surprising ways of revealing to us the gifts we received through the Holy Spirit and how we can bring them to the people and places he will send us to.

Before the advent of social media, they have this idiom “keeping up with the joneses” and when millennials entered the scene a new term was coined: FOMO which means fear of missing out. They both have the same meaning: to ride the trends and social norms so that you won’t feel left out. While it creates excitement and happiness, it can also lead to unnecessary comparison which ends up in anxiety and envy.

It’s hard to fight it especially if you are constantly exposed to it. We need the Holy Spirit to have proper discernment and cultivate discipline to deliberately choose what is right. If we put GOD in our top priority, he will reveal to us the things we overlook whenever we choose to focus on what the world is enticing us. Contentment can only be found if we remain on his side.

Because if He who created the whole universe and gave us the best gift we can receive – salvation through his only son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, what more can we ask for? Whatever we need, He will surely provide, we never have to compete with anyone.