Here's a little weather report: It has been so stormy in the past week and the river of tears was just overflowing.
My stepfather passed away and it's just too sudden. We thought it's only a simple fever and cold. Turned out it's something terminal and he eventually took his last breath. I got the news at around 3:15 AM from my mom. No, no, no! Wait! PLEASE WAKE ME UP!!! I hoped so hard that it's just a bad dream. The storm is approaching hard.
Oh, storms. Early in my Christian life, it's been established in my heart that we don't have a storm-free life. Our life is like the Philippines ... may dadating at dadating talaga na bagyo (whether you're a Christian or not). I was also taught na mas marami pa ngang storms ang Christians. But then, there's hope.
Oh, hope. Though we can't have a storm-free life, we can have a storm-proof one. How? By having the right foundation. And our only foundation is JESUS CHRIST. Having Him can make the pressure inside stronger than the pressure outside. Having Him as the source of hope, security and peace is everything.
When I read Narnia, one of my favorite moments is when Aslan was reminding a girl to always remember the word that he spoke to her because it'll be very hard to hear it once she go to Narnia.
Same is true with me in my reality. It's a challenge to be reminded of God's Word and who He is when I'm in the midst of a storm. I tend to forget. I tend to be overwhelmed when I start staring at the storm and stop fixing my gaze on Him.
I'm grateful that because of the past storms that went by, I learned that the best thing to do in times of suffering is to keep on praising Him. It helps heaps to declare to your hurting and weary soul who He is and what He can do. In the most painful moments, earphones were stuck to my ears or sobrang lakas ng tugtog ng worship songs sa bahay namin! HAHA! It's my suffering hack... and it points me back to Jesus, back to His love, back to my hope and future that He is. It helps me hold on all the more to what He told me in the past.
Are you suffering? Are you losing hope? Is your faith gone? Is the fear strong? Is the pain real? Is it hard to heal? Is your joy stolen? Here's how I fight my battles (but ultimately, He's fighting for us): I read the Bible, be reminded of the past words He spoke to my heart through my journal, ask friends to pray for me, pray and I listen to these Christian songs:
When I read Narnia, one of my favorite moments is when Aslan was reminding a girl to always remember the word that he spoke to her because it'll be very hard to hear it once she go to Narnia.
Same is true with me in my reality. It's a challenge to be reminded of God's Word and who He is when I'm in the midst of a storm. I tend to forget. I tend to be overwhelmed when I start staring at the storm and stop fixing my gaze on Him.
I'm grateful that because of the past storms that went by, I learned that the best thing to do in times of suffering is to keep on praising Him. It helps heaps to declare to your hurting and weary soul who He is and what He can do. In the most painful moments, earphones were stuck to my ears or sobrang lakas ng tugtog ng worship songs sa bahay namin! HAHA! It's my suffering hack... and it points me back to Jesus, back to His love, back to my hope and future that He is. It helps me hold on all the more to what He told me in the past.
Are you suffering? Are you losing hope? Is your faith gone? Is the fear strong? Is the pain real? Is it hard to heal? Is your joy stolen? Here's how I fight my battles (but ultimately, He's fighting for us): I read the Bible, be reminded of the past words He spoke to my heart through my journal, ask friends to pray for me, pray and I listen to these Christian songs:
It is well - Bethel Music
And far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see
And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea
And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And through it all, through it all
It is well
Peace - Hillsong Young & Free
There's a peace far beyond all understanding
May it ever set my heart at ease
Dare anxiety come, I'll remember that peace is a promise You keep
Peace is a promise You keep
Fear must have thought I was faithless
When it came for my heart
‘Cause I got a song that will never die
I know Your love is the reason why
The stars in the sky will hang there
'til You tell them to
The faith in my heart will still sing
Of what Your love can do
And even when life weighs heavy on me
I know You're in control
And You're all I need
Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
'Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart
Find You on my knees - Kari Jobe
So what if sorrow shakes my faith
What if heartache still remains
I'll trust you
My God I'll trust you
'Cause you are faithful
Our God - Chris Tomlin
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Dessert Song - Hillsong Worship
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Hope of all hearts - Planetshakers
In darkness,
In trial, my soul shall sing
Of his mercy, and kindness
Our offering of praise
Our God never fails
Our God never fails
Even when it hurts (Praise song) - Hillsong United
Even when the fight seems lost
I'll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell
I'll praise You
Even when it makes no sense to sing
Louder then I'll sing Your praise
Defender - Rita Springer
All I did was praise
All I did was worship
All I did was bow down
All I did was stay still
Yesterday was the last day of my stepfather's funeral. It still hurts that he'll not be around. I still cry when I remember how a blessing he is to us. I still have the pain, but as I listen to these songs, I know the future will still be bright because I have Him there.
May you also be reminded that God is in control, He is good, He loves you and your loved ones, He is your peace, your victory and NO MATTER WHAT, IN EVERY SEASON, HE deserves all our praises, worship and all the glory! He is our greatest blessing! More than the songs, it's actually His love that can keep our heart together. Tara let's praise, worship, bow down, stay still. Smile for Jesus!
May you also be reminded that God is in control, He is good, He loves you and your loved ones, He is your peace, your victory and NO MATTER WHAT, IN EVERY SEASON, HE deserves all our praises, worship and all the glory! He is our greatest blessing! More than the songs, it's actually His love that can keep our heart together. Tara let's praise, worship, bow down, stay still. Smile for Jesus!
(Proverbs 23:18 NIV)
