All people, even the children of God, are not exempted to the trials of life. Rich or poor, men or women, young or old, bad or good people, even animals, plants, and most of the material things here on earth are subjected to testings. Why did I say that? Sa animals nalang, there are predators and preys, isang malaking pagsubok kaya ang tumakas sa isang malaking hayop na gusto kang lamunin ng buo. Like humans and animals, hindi rin ligtas ang mga halaman sa pabagu-bagong klima ng panahon. Aba, apektado din ng bagyo, tag-lamig, at tag-tuyot ang mga halaman. If they didn't survive the test of weather, they will wither and die. Even material things need to undergo testings bago ilabas sa market. Meron pa ngang product items na hinuhulog sa mataas na palapag to test the quality of it. Pero sa lahat ng ito, may malaking kaibahan ang pagsubok na pinagdadaanan ng mga taong matuwid sa paningin ng Diyos. They undergo trials to test their faith.
1 Peter 1:6,7 (ESV)
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Anytime you get into difficulties, it is well to turn to the book of Job. The story of Job is very close to my heart, because I can somehow relate to him during the greatest battle of his life. This book is part of the poetical books in the Bible. It is not only the direct word of God but also a great literary masterpiece. Some have said that it is perhaps even the greatest poem ever written in all literature. Imagine, this beautiful expressive poems were the result of terrible sufferings of a man. This only proves that out of the unpleasant situations in life, there's a delightful event that awaits you, if only you will look beyond.
Each of us has his/her own battle. The question is, are you fully equipped? Job is a blameless and upright man, but it didn't excuse him from facing various kinds of trials. Job lost all of his wealth and children (He has 7 sons and 3 daughters) in a short period of time. Kapag binasa mo ang pagkakasunud-sunod ng pangyayari, hindi pa natatapos mag-report yung unang tauhan para ibalita ang masamang nangyari, dumating na agad yung pangalawa. Hindi pa din ito natatapos mag-ulat, dumating na yung pangatlo, at gano'n din nung dumating yung pang-apat. At ang huling balita patungkol sa nangyari sa kanyang mga anak ang nagdulot sa kanya ng matinding pighati. Ngunit hindi ito ang nagpabagsak ng kanyang pananampalataya sa Diyos.
Job 1:20, 21(ESV)
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
If you were in Job's situation, will you also do the same? Could you still praise the Lord after all the bad things that happened? Hindi lang sa pagkamatay ng mga anak ni Job natapos ang lahat. Nagkaroon din siya ng nakadidiring sakit sa balat na bumalot sa buo niyang katawan.
Job 2:8-10 (NIV)
8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
In all these sufferings, Job remains faithful to the Lord. His story brought me back to the past trials of my life. Like him, our financial status had fallen apart. As in naranasan namin yung buhay na walang-wala talaga. Aside from that, I also experienced how it was to lose someone you love that belongs to your family. I lost my sister, and then just after 2 months, I also lost my mother. They both died in an illness. Tulad ni Job, I have so many questions in my mind. I was unable to understand God during those times.
Job 10:2 (ESV)
I will say to God, do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.
Job seeks for answers, but instead of being answered directly, God Himself came to Job and displays His wisdom and majesty. Then after that, Job realized that he doesn't have the right to question God. For He is above all.
Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
These Bible verses shows the sovereignty of God. Kung lagi natin nababatid ang dahilan ng lahat ng nangyayari sa atin at parehas lang natin mag-isip ang Diyos, ano nalang ang kaibahan Niya sa atin? Para saan pa't naging Diyos Siya? Kaya kapag nakararanas tayo ng mga pagsubok, marapat lamang na mas lumapit tayo sa Kanya. Our faith will lead us to the answers.
Matthew 10:29,30 (ESV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Kahit ang maya ay hindi mahuhulog sa lupa ng hindi kalooban ng Ama. Pinapakita lang dito that God is in control, kaya walang dapat ikatakot. God will permit whatever testing that is necessary to test our faith. It is also said that even the hairs of your head are numbered. It only means that God knows you more than you know yourself, He knows your capacity. Kaya hindi niya tayo bibigyan ng pagsubok na hindi natin kakayanin. So, instead of being anxious whenever you are facing trials, why not think of being victorious? Ang pagsubok, hindi dapat kinakatakutan o tinatakbuhan, let's take it as an opportunity to become victorious. Dapat hindi nawawala yung excitement kung paano tayo idedeliver ni God, because in our difficulties, that's the time we can experience more of His glory. How we respond to trials is the reflection of our faith.
1 Corinto 10:13 (TPV)
Wala pang pagsubok na dumating sa inyo na di dinanas ng lahat ng tao. Tapat ang Diyos, at hindi niya ipahihintulot na kayo'y subukin nang higit sa inyong makakaya. Sa halip, pagdating ng pagsubok, bibigyan niya kayo ng lakas upang mapagtagumpayan iyon.
Trials make people mature. It can mold one's personality and mindset. The testings that I've been through taught me to be more compassionate on less fortunate people. I learned to give not because I have much, but because I know exactly how it feels to have nothing. Kung hindi ko siguro naranasan ang mga iyon, baka hanggang ngayon ay madamot pa rin ako. Madalas ipinaparanas sa atin ang mga pagsubok, hindi lang para bigyan tayo ng aral, bagkus para din magsilbing inspirasyon sa buhay ng iba. Hindi ba't mas nakagagaan ng loob mag-share dun sa mga taong dumanas na ng kasalukuyang pagsubok na pinagdadaanan mo? Sapagkat mas batid nila ang nararamdaman mo, and they are the living proof na malalagpasan mo din iyon.
Job 42:10 (NLT)
When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!
Ang buhay ng Kristiyano ay tulad ng isang punong-kahoy, dumarating ang panahon ng tag-lagas. Kapag ikaw ay nanatiling tapat sa Diyos, He will surely bring the spring into your life. Always remember that our present suffering is nothing compared to the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Rewards will be given for endurance through trials and for faithfulness to God.
(If you are blessed with the topic, feel free to share it.)
No comments:
Post a Comment