31/12/2023
“Lost Sheep”
Just want to share a little story bago matapos ang taon, you can choose to skip or read.
7 years ago, I was 21 and currently onboard a ship(Apprenticeship), everything was going well because I got everything I prayed for, I was so close to God, I pray to him kapag may free time ako. But just like every sheep in a herd, one tends to get lost in Sin. I got depressed, naging suicidal, naging mabisyo(alak at yosi) and nung time na ‘yon naging sobrang distant ako from God. I never tried to go back, hindi na ako ganon kadalas lumapit and may pray kay God because of my anger, I kept asking bakit ganon? Bakit nangyari yon? And dahil naging ganon ako everything got taken away from me. Because what God gives he also takes back(to teach us a lesson syempre). I was battling depression for 2 years and yun na yata yung isang bagay na ayaw kong balikan ulit kasi it was almost a life and death situation back then. So nag-start ako mag-work as a call center agent, met a lot of people, made a lot of memories and somehow na distract ako. Pero dahil na-distract lang ako, there are still times na nahihila ako pabalik sa putikan na inaahunan ko na. One night, I was on rooftop, naka-tambay, nagyo-yosi, nag-iisip ng mga kung ano-ano pero yung utak ko talaga is sabaw lang, walang balak na gumawa ng plano para sa future, I tried to be quiet for a minute and I asked for a sign from God na if may purpose pa ako sa mundong to bigyan nyo ako ng sign, but God was so good, hindi lang sign ang binigay nya sa akin, he sent me an angel(my wife), and na-realize ko, hindi pala basta-basta nagbibigay si Lord ng blessing, you have to find yourself first, find your way back and repent. I started changing my habits, wala ng yosi, wala ng kahit anong bisyo, nag-focus ako sa kung anong gusto kong gawin talaga sa buhay, and every single decision I made is dina-daan ko muna sa prayer and petition, and maniwala ka man sa akin or hindi, God answers, you just have to stay patient, sabi nga nila God’s timing is perfect and legit yon. He will not only send you grass and water but he as the shepherd will leave a whole flock or sheep just to get you back. And since that day until now, doors have been opening, lot’s of opportunities are knocking and there is not a single time na hindi ako nagpapa-salamat or humihingi ng guidance sa kanya even with the little things. God will not only give you what you pray for, a lot of other things that will make you a totally different person like maturity, humbleness, understanding, patience, healing, strength, knowledge and love. This is your choice to make, pero I want you to come so Jesus our one and only savior, kasi kahit anong pinagda-daanan mo, may it be depression or financial problems, ia-ahon ka nya from it. I am a living proof that God did save me from drowning. Sabi nga sa Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”. It may take some time kapatid, but TRUST God’s timing, it’s worth it. ‘Wag kang mahiyang lumapit, he is only one prayer away.
