With all the
things that happened in my 2015, who would have thought that I could come out
of it alive? Kidding aside, such year was a whirlwind, but I’m grateful that in
the end of it all, I am more than ready to face what lies ahead of me in 2016.
I welcomed the year 2015 with much optimism, thinking that with this kind of attitude, all
things would be in my favor and would work according to what I had planned. But
then, God has another plan - His best one - and He was clever enough to teach
me a lot of things in ways that I didn’t expect.
He wanted me
to surrender everything to Him, even if my stubborn self was still bargaining
for that one thing which I thought was an answered prayer. Little did I know, that
was an initial step in order for His divine plan to happen, and months after
this surrender, I came to finally grasp the truth that all things work out for the good of
those who put their trust in Him.
What happened
to me this year led me to humbly discover more of myself – my strengths, my
weaknesses, my potentials, my inhibitions – as I embraced more opportunities
like traveling to places just to search for a comforting refuge from all the hurt
and pain. I kept myself busy and preoccupied with a multitude of interests in
order to consume my attention. But I
guess, I can only do so much, and all roads still led me back to Him.
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| El Nido, March 2015 (#2015bestnine in Instagram) |
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| Eden Nature Park, April 2015 |
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| Cebu, July 2015 |
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| Badian, Cebu, July 2015 |
I came to experience
even more of His love in the beauty of the places I’ve been to this year,
manifested in the colors of the various sunsets that welcomed and bid me
goodbye, the luscious foliage on the mountains, the different shades of the
seas, the warmth and the laughter of the company, the conversations that all
these places heard but never spoken of. I experienced His goodness and abundant provision
in the adventures I had, regardless whether planned or spontaneous, every
single thing brought joy to fill in the deepest voids in my heart.
And to that, I am really thankful.
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| Cape San Agustin, May 2015 |
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| Cateel, Davao Oriental, June 2015 |
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| Zambales, October 2015 |
I am
thankful that these challenges were actually blessings in disguise and through
it all came out a woman who I believe is wiser, more faithful and more rooted
in God’s love. I am thankful that these trials were actually opportunities for
me to test my endurance and sharpen my character. I am thankful that these
stumbling blocks were actually a way for me to reflect to others God’s work in
me. I am thankful for the unanswered prayers which paved the way to all the
more put my trust in Him to fulfill His promises and to be patient enough to
wait for His perfect timing. I am thankful that all of the things that happened
to me this year made me grow more and more into the person that God has planned
me to be and more equipped for the things that the coming year has in store for me.
2015 has been the best year of my life so far. And as it finally comes to an end, I embrace a new year with this certain truth: with
God with me, it can only get better.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! WISHING
EVERYONE A BLESSED 2016!
