Jobless. Rebellious daughter. Lingering sickness. Philandering spouse. Never-ending debts. Identity crisis. Feeling unloved. Where to find the next meal? In short, troubles.
Aside from change being the permanent thing in this world, I think troubles are also inevitable—as long as man lives and as long as the world turns. In fact, some changes cause trouble to happen.
And no one is spared. Not even the rich and famous.
Let’s stick to our shores. A noted general shot himself. A young actor died in his sleep. A beauty queen was kidnapped and left almost dead. A former president languished in jail. And another former president may follow suit as the drama in government unfolded this week.
My turn. Zoom in to my personal life. Grew up in a middle class family in cosmopolitan Manila. Dad accused of civil cases. Family disbanded. Struggled through college on my own. Visited Dad in jail. Abandoned by relatives like a plague. Encountered half siblings. Dealt with a hurting and ailing Mom. Dad died. Sick siblings. Husband died. Three kids to raise. Some stressful and thankless jobs. Misunderstood by friends. Loved but lost again. Cervical spine disorder. Children leaving home.
A sad saga of events? You may expect me to be a drawn-out person by this time. But hey, I’m still writing columns. I’m travelling more than 300 kms on weekends for missionary work, tinkering with the latest mobile gadget and very computer literate. Most people don’t believe me when I say my age! And I feel good.
Two words: feel good. Despite my troubles of the past and new troubles today, I embrace the feeling of goodness even as I know there will still be troubles in the future.
Difficulty. Troubles. These are a reality. Didn’t Jesus say in John 16:33: “In this world you will have problems”?
But are we going to flatten ourselves out with self-pity and cynicism because TROUBLES are here to stay? This is being negative from the human perspective. But from a biblical perspective, no. There’s optimism.
For every trouble that comes our way, there is a blessing coming up. Jesus promised us, in the same breath that he said there will always be problems, that He has “overcome the world.” He tells us to “take heart” and in Him we “may have peace.”
If that’s not optimism, then I don’t know what negativism is.
So how do we overcome out troubles? By drawing near to the One who has already overcome them; when we stop relying on our own plans and maneuvers; and when we begin to fold our knees and ask God for His will to come to pass, not ours.
Years back, I was humbled to do all these. I took to heart God’s words. And true enough, Jesus made good His promise that I will have peace.
Obedient and well-mannered sons now carving their own successes at work. Dependable and pretty daughter with an inner strength of her own. Understanding siblings. Comfortable work. Loving sisters and brothers in our Christian community. Healing of my cervical spine oppression. Easy travels outside the country. And lately, success in hurdling the recent Licensure Examination for Teachers.
Let me say again: the more troubles we have, the greater are the blessings in store for us as long as we put God in the center of our will and believe that “all things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)
Even the troubles of my past were actually blessings that I failed to recognize.
Coming from a struggling and disbanded family pushed us siblings to make good in everything we do; not to do anything that will tarnish our own integrity. Never mind if our stomachs were sometimes hungry.
Hopping from one house to another because of unpaid rent made us determined to work hard so we could buy a house for our own families. Once we got married, we all resolved to make housing a top priority in our finances. By God’s grace, our families enjoy the comfort of our own homes today.
Having been widowed at a young age, I relied more in God’s bigness. The miracles He showered my family made us survivors in life.
Struggling with finances daily taught my children to value money even if it’s within their reach today. More importantly, they have learned to give back to God tithes and offerings from every new blessing they receive.
Knowing I have this cervical spine ailment has been a constant reminder of my mortality; that death comes to everyone and so every day should be well lived and loved.
The secret of overcoming troubles is not escaping from them or blaming other people, but to embrace them with the eyes of faith … looking up to the One who overcame evil and sin by His own death on the cross.
Want to start carrying your crosses with a smile on your face?