If you have experienced living in a dark place for quite some time, chances are, a little flicker of light will dazzle your eyesight. But if you are the kind who longed to get out of that darkness, you will be enchanted by the brightness and probably walked towards it.

In our lives, we sometimes find ourselves in a dark path – whether it’s of our own doing or because of a conspiracy of events. We might have done a lot to get out of that situation before seeking help. By that time, we probably have exhausted ourselves and if we’ve been through a lot of unsuccessful attempts that we resigned to the idea that we will never escape that rut anymore no matter what we do.

In those moments, a miracle is most welcome. For us to encounter a divine favor, we need to believe first that we are a finite being. We need to acknowledge that we need a savior to save us, to pull us out of that pit. Breaking through is only possible if we’ve been through the breaking – because only then we will be able to admit to ourselves that without GOD, we are nothing.

Having a 20/20 vision nowadays is already a gift worth celebrating for, especially if you’re already in your late forties like me. A good eyesight gives a lot of advantage, but of course, maintaining it that way takes a lot of discipline and care. It makes it easier for a person bestowed with it to function well in any given task.

People who can see things in just a glance and remember them immediately are impressive. So does someone who can react instinctively based on what they see in side view. We all know that GOD gave us an eyesight to aid us in seeing things clearly. But sometimes, we prefer to view things “sideways” which often, clouds our judgement.

Physical eyes are good to view things just the way they are. But if we want to discern things in a wiser way, it would be advisable to ask the LORD to open our minds and heart to see the essential – which is invisible in our eyes.

In some ways, we all have experienced discouraging situation in our lives. The kind wherein you hoped for a favorable outcome, yet what you get was only disappointments.

If you have been fighting for good on the battles of this life and never got a fair result, you will get tired and probably cease striving anymore or give in to the corrupt system.

Daydreaming for deliverance from struggles is much easier to do than get up and try again. It’s comforting to know that in the Bible, there are numerous stories about the faithful ones who remain steadfast and in the end, GOD rescued them.

Even in the last book of the New Testament, it was revealed that our resurrected Saviour will come again to redeem us and restore everything the way our Heavenly Father has always intended it to be. What a wonderful plot twist – a happy ending worth looking forward to.

Most of us have different definition of Freedom. For some, it’s not being restricted, for others it could mean having a lot of choices.

But what if being free meant staying within your limits? Of not going overboard? Our Heavenly Father has always given us free will. Part of that gift is an expectation that we will choose what’s right.

If we will think about it thoroughly, obeying his will meant having protection everywhere we go. We no longer have to please other people or choose ourselves. It should never be burdensome if we truly desire peace – because it’s the prize we will gain if we remain in the confines of GOD’s loving boundaries.

When we were young, it’s so easy to be true to ourselves, to choose between yes or no. Life was so simpler back then, less worries to handle. But once you get older, there are so many things you need to put into consideration. It’s quite tough to answer directly. You always need to weight a lot of things before making a final decision.

As we consider the feelings and opinions of other people, we sometimes have to forget about ourselves. There are also instances wherein we really must sacrifice. But when we are alone and having a private moment with our Heavenly Father, we can be transparent. Because we know that we will not be judged and he understands us. We never have to hide in a mask. We already know that we are accepted and loved from the start.

GOD desires for us to be true to ourselves and not to compromise just to fit in. He knows us thoroughly. In his presence, we never have to be an “in between” or a “maybe” just to be acknowledged or to fit in. In HIM, we have freedom to be who he created us to be in the first place.

We already know that our life here on earth has different stages. When we are young, we are in learning stage and must depend on someone to raise us. During adolescence, we discover a lot of things about ourselves and somehow it causes confusion.

At middle age, we experience midlife crisis and question ourselves if what we believed and pursued before still matters at that season of our lives. By the time we reached senior citizenship, clarity is more defined and if we were lucky enough, at that stage, we are slowing down and no longer joining any form of proverbial race.

We must admit that those shifts are not easy. They are scary, much more if we don’t know where help would come from. But as we transition in that season of our lives, there is someone constant and unchanging – Our Heavenly Father who accompanies us in those chapters and who never left our side.

Because of him, we were able to shift from one stage to another after surpassing the trials involved in those transitions. In GOD’s own timeline, we become the better if not yet best version of ourselves.

It’s easy to obey if you were given the full picture of why you should do so in the first place. But what if the instructions are vague and you have lots of doubts? The Old Testament in the Bible is full of stories of GOD’s chosen people who had a lot of questions when the Lord spoke to them and ask them to do something for him.

The said characters were imperfect yet somehow through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they managed to fulfill the task. And because they do so, Our Heavenly Father made sure that their names are forever part of HIS story. Fast forward to these modern times, it’s quite confusing to discern if the calling that we hear really came from GOD. We need to confirm it through testing. As we go through the challenge, our character develops.

We learn to be patient, persevering until the end. We transition from doubting to trusting. While our trust is stretch, we are slowly developing faith. As our faith deepens, we become more flexible and courageous. We learn to face our fears and bravely surpassed the trials. In the end, we will see that GOD was there with us through it all. We will then experience breakthrough as a reward for the tiny effort that was once called Obedience.

Not long ago, there was a time when things have simpler definition. But as evolution takes place, what once was easier to understand somehow became complicated. Generations ago, having a great job meant sustaining for the whole family until retirement. Nowadays, job hopping and doing side hustles is common.

The measuring stick of success became taller and wider than it was before. Contentment is no longer an excuse to settle for anything less. But if we follow how this world operates, we’ll get tired of the endless cycle. Fortunately, GOD has a better solution. Our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned the cure on his sermon on the mount:

1) Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2) Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.

3) Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

4) Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.

5) Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy

6) Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see GOD

7) Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of GOD

8) Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

9) Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me

These Beatitudes might be a long list but they speak of having the right attitude towards things we cannot control. It shows how trusting GOD will end up attaining blessings beyond what we can imagine – which is more rewarding.

When things are tough and money is tight, it’s easy to be stingy. However, a generous person will always find ways to give no matter how little they have. If you are in a season of scarcity and thinking that what you can offer to the Lord is too small, then maybe you need to go back to the story of the Multiplication of loaves and fish in the New Testament.

Please know that the Holy Spirit guides each one of us to be creative in sharing our resources. After all, money or material possessions are not just the only things we can share, we also have time and talent to bestow to someone who is in need. A faithful believer will always give whatever they have in them knowing that GOD will have used for it no matter how meager it maybe.

Being in a season of necessity, forces us to depend on the one who is infinite – Our Heavenly Father. He has unlimited supply of everything that we need. Whatever we freely surrender to him as an offering or sacrifice, he will return in surprising ways beyond our expectation. In our Obedience and in his right timing, our lack will turn into abundance.

Once in our lives, we must admit that we experienced a sort of life crisis – more often during middle age. But some do so earlier. If you have been into a situation wherein you were unable to pursue your dreams due to unfavorable circumstances, then you can relate.

After you have dutifully fulfilled your responsibilities and obligations, you might be asking yourself what your purpose really is. Our Heavenly Father has placed a divine void inside our hearts that only he can fill that space.

GOD has a calling for each of us. When we answer the call, we will be able to live a fulfilled life. How do we now his call for our lives? By knowing his heartbeat. Spending time each day reading his words through the Bible, listening to devotionals and praying.

Slowly, through the Holy Spirit, our natural strengths, unique skills and amazing talents will be revealed. The Lord will guide us how to use them through the situations that we will encounter in our lives. He will accompany us towards the end to accomplish GOD’s perfect will.