RICH LIFE SERIES: 4 | STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

Each of us strive to make our lives richer – capture moments of joy, experience new things, and spread love to people we connect with. This is what this series is all about: despite all your major problems, you can still make your life richer and better. Kapit, kapatid, it will be a fun ride. :) NOTE: IM A WORK IN PROGRESS«« Perfection not achieved yet. :)

RICH LIFE SERIES: 4 | STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

Being strong in the midst of weakness and trials isn't an easy thing to do.

A rich life should progress despite all these, because a rich life knows how to be strong in all situations.

Pwede ba yun?

I am trying, since I just recently experienced a heartbreak that had taught me a lot... I admit I'm not as strong as I should be, but praise God I'm getting there. Ngayong umaga lang, I saw a comment in a Facebook thread that obviously referenced on one of the foolish things I did a month ago. Boy, I'm having a hard time refocusing! Here I was, trying to pick up myself, and people will do that to me? Then I thought... Lord, is this what you really wanted? I'm still weak, can't You just make me strong by stopping these persecutions and attacks? 

On one moment of weakness because of that heartbreak, I decided to change the color of my hair. Not just put on some shades –– I had it bleached. I was angsty and I thought it was cool, so I posted stuff on Instagram saying this is golden change. After a week, I learned that moment of weakness will only cause more pain –– people laugh at me, people insult me, and people judge me for these things. Talk about draining my remaining strength. Eventually I had to cover it up with black again, but you know, the damage is done. People will always remember that and make fun of that, kahit anong explain ko na nasaktan naman kasi ako at kahit anong pakiusap ko na maging sensitive naman kayo. And I have no control on the thoughts of others –– and that is another weakness too... We can't control what others think of us.

Our weaknesses prove our human nature –– it spells out our inequities, and it adds flavor to life. Even heroes have the right to bleed ika nga... And because we're only human, there's always that possibility that we'll do something foolish, fall down on one episode, and become ultimately weak and disheartened.

In the Bible, God placed very important people in weak beginnings or those who had weakness episodes in life, and these are the ones he brought up to be the greatest characters that glorified His supremacy. 

King David (sikat eh, palaging nae-example) came from humble beginnings. The shepherd boy, the youngest in his family, the boy who battled Goliath with a slingshot, the boy who was chased by the King and was supposed to be killed, tapos nag-adultery pa siya at nagpapatay pa ng tao –– realized how God blessed his life. In 1 Chronicles 17:16 he prays in worship, "Who am I that you have brought me this far?" and that was because He knew apart from God, nothing like these things can ever happen to him. God was providing him the strength he needs to survive. God was fighting his battles for him...

Who would forget Joseph the Dreamer? Joseph was the least of his brothers, sons of Jacob, but he was favored by his father. In Genesis 37:23 we read that his brothers conspired to strip him off his clothes, throw him into a cistern without water, and later on sold him as a slave! Joseph tried to remain strong, and at one point in the next few chapters (39:20) we see him imprisoned just because Potiphar's seducing and cunning wife had set him up. These are great sources of weaknesses, when Joseph could have wished it ends right there. But he didn't, and God sustained him with promises, and in the end, God uplifted his family through himself – the youngest boy who hit rock bottom...

Apostle Paul had great beginnings. He was an enemy of believers, but his encounters with God changed his heart and God used him mightily to spread the gospel to many places. He appears strong, because he was able to withstand the challenges of fulfilling the great commission... But Paul, as previously mentioned, boasts of his weaknesses (2 Cor. 11:3): Paul admits he is unskilled in speaking (v.6), he was imprisoned in Damascus (v. 32), persecuted, stoned, lashed and challenged many times in different circumstances, (v.24,25,26). Yet in all of these moments where his body and emotions are weak, even asking God that it would all depart from him (12:8)... what did God tell him?

"My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (v. 9)

Where is your weakness coming from?

When brought down by others, insulted and persecuted, remember John 15:8.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Jesus first. Kinaya Niya Yan.

When all hopes are lost and nothing seems to shine bright in your life, remember Psalm 38:15.

David trusts that he can hope in God, because He will answer him. Sagot Ka Niya.

When you feel your life is nothing but insults and challenges and disappointments, remember Phil. 4:7.

If you commit it to God, the peace that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind. Chill Lang.

Is it Sickness? Fatigue? Worries? 

You maybe weak, but with God, you are stronger than you think.

Your weakness gives room for God to show His awesome wonders.

LET HIM WORK IT OUT. Allow Him to carry you through all these things,

because He is your STRENGTH.

Your battlecry should be just like Philippians 3:13:

I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

Normal lang kapatid ang maging mahina, manghina, matumba o madapa. Life is a journey, you won't be on your feet all the time. Humans that we are, we will commit foolishness, we will commit mistakes... Maybe not, but instead we will be challenged by people and events, circumstances and emotions. 

But always take note of James 1:2-4:

"Consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials of many kinds... because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you maybe mature and complete, not lacking anything."

As for me, I am now trying to look at things differently. 

Kung iinsultuhin ako, tuloy lang nila. Hindi ko kaya, pero kaya ng Diyos ko.

Kapit lang... In this moment of weakness, let people see how strong you are.

How strong you are because the power of God is on you. 

Continue living life, and make it richer and fuller. 

To stronger, better days ahead. :D

RICH LIFE ADVICE:

Challenges and inequities bring out our weaknesses. But it doesn't mean we should be weak whenever they come and surprise us in life. Relying on your own strength may not do it, because at one point, you will really feel the pressure, the pain, the difficulty. But always remember that God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever ––– He won't leave you nor forsake you. You can rest in His arms as He brings you out of all these hardships, because He is stronger, and bigger, and much more powerful than all the challenges in your life combined. Walk through life knowing you are stronger because you have a BIG GOD. You are stronger than you think. Kayang kaya mo yan. Kasi kayang kaya ni God yan.