In His Faithful Hands

God's mercy is abundant indeed. In his faithfulness He strengthens and refreshes us. He touches our lives to lift our minds from the mud of worries and keeping us from drowning into the sea of despair. I have to admit that it's very easy for me to look unto myself more than I should. And when I reflect on this, I know that I constantly needs His strength and mercy to heal me through whatever means He wants.

It's pleasant when our friends and those who near us think positively about us. And many times that's what I want: to be perceived as good, accountable and right. What I really need to grasp is that that's not necessarily the case in reality, it can be -at anytime- be quite the opposite. Then I remembered what my lovely friend in Christ saying this, echoing the Holy Scripture: Love is freely given. Love doesn't choke and doesn't control others... How I need to let my beloved brothers and sisters be free to interpret who I am; to honestly say what they think of me regardless its 'objective' validity. Sometimes it's not an easy thing for me to simply accept what they might think about me and there's an urge to defend "hey, would you clarify that I am like this, this, blah, blah"! Lord, have mercy!

The Lord is faithful! He is my strength and in Him my soul finds rest and peace. It is His hands which work wisely and timely in every single day of our lives to work what is good, noble and holy in us. Yes, even when something seemed for us to be bent, broken or not as what we want. He patiently works in us and sanctify us into His likeness when He allows these things to reach us. When somebody said harsh thing about us, let it be to keep us from vicious vanity. When somebody thinks badly about us, let's bring him into Lord's mercy and pray for them. When somebody unfortunately forced us to do something and tied us to please him, as long as it's not against God, let's do it joyfully to make our body and soul be humble and pleasing unto God. When being cursed, let's fill our heart and mind with blessings. The Lord knows everything and He is merciful... lest these things which come to us to sanctify us be a stumbling block for us to rejoice in the Lord... And being in this circumstance, we'll see clearer, Who is our Master.

We are what God said we are... and that's what I trust, and always remember that we are Christ's. When we see Christ constantly and make Him our only Joy, we will have great shalom to participate in the Life and Love of Most Holy Trinity and all the saints, in His mercy we'll have the courage to embrace and love our neighbors, overlooking others' weaknesses and hatred... Our life is hidden with Christ in God. So, let's welcome everything which come to us in peace and joy, trusting that the Lord is faithful and His Spirit will guide us in wisdom and make us more Christ-like. Glory to Thee O God! Glory to Thee!