"Replacement"

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (NIV),

While cleaning my room as part of my preparation for the new year, one word just randomly came to mind, and that was REPLACEMENT. As I think about it deeply, I realized that 2024 was indeed a roller coaster ride for me.

I began that year with one painful heartbreak, rejection from the community, and loss of my job and began to spiral down into depression. Just when I started to slowly pick myself up, it was that time when I decided to cut off some friends, which broke me again. I was full of hope at the beginning of that year, but after experiencing those things, I actually don't expect any more positive things to still happen. Until one by one, God made His move.

As I cut ties with a friend, God REPLACED it by allowing me to meet the most accepting and kind people, where He reminded me of the inner greatness that I have. I may have been rejected, but God REPLACED it by comforting me through the people at the Feast who never get tired of listening to my stories. I may have lost my job, but God REPLACED it by redirecting me to a place where I have the opportunity to grow and use my skills to its full potential. Through those major blessings that I received, it just goes to show that time and time again, God will never allow me to end up feeling hopeless and distraught.

He allowed me to experience those hurts so He can heal me. He took something away from me because He wants to REPLACE it with something better. He removed those things from me so that I can see Him again.

But just to be clear, he may have replaced my pains with something better, but that doesn't mean everything went well from then on. Honestly, I experienced another setback towards the end of the year, but when it happened, I didn't worry that much because I knew it would just get better from here—and I was right. Just two days before Christmas, he did it once again!

The start of 2025 may not be as fun, as colorful, or as happy compared to others, but God is a God who never fails His promise. God may not stop the storms from coming your way, but He'll for sure go with you through that storm. What He has begun will bring to its completion. All we have to do is to not lose faith in Him. Trust and believe that He is always in control. 🌹