The Odyssey – Year 2

Just a question to ponder:

What do you do when you find yourself facing giants in the battlefield?

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I remember a previous blog entry. I wrote it in the second semester of my third year in BS Biology (January 2007) after attending an orientation for an NMAT review class. Here’s an excerpt:

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Nagsimula na ako ng NMAT review ko nitong January. … I’ll be taking my NMAT this April, malamang sa gitna ng buwan ‘yun, at isa rin ‘yun sa reasons kung bakit mukhang malabo nang maka-attend ako ng KC. …

The first lecture was an orientation; yu’ng may-ari nu’ng review center yu’ng nag-lecture.  Parang sabi n’ya, “This will be your life for the next 15-17 years…” Sabay pinakita n’ya ‘to sa OHP projector.

So ‘ayun. No more refunds daw after that morning, sabi nu’ng may-ari ng review center. Hehe. Kasi most likely daw e madi-discourage kaming mag-med after the first lecture. Haha. ‘Ayun. Nakakadepress talaga, kasi ang hirap isipin.

Pero now that I think of it, hindi ko pala dapat inunahan ng worry yu’ng dim prospect ng future ko, kahit ga’no pang kamiserable ito sa paningin ko. Kasi dapat patuloy akong nakatingin lang sa Kanya.

“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ ” – Jeremiah 29: 11-13

And so, my odyssey begins. To God be the glory.

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It’s been two years since I last saw that table. Haha.  I only remembered about it a while ago. And I remember, sobrang na-depress talaga ako nu’ng session na ‘yun, kasi parang ang hopeless talaga, na tipong “gusto ko ba talagang maging doktor?” Parang ang bleak masyado ng future. Hahaha.  At kung titingnan ‘nyo yu’ng progress ng timeline na ‘yan, parang palaki nang palaki yu’ng mga problemang haharapin sa buhay bilang mga doktor.

Year 2 pa lang, at mas mahirap na talaga siya, given na ‘yun. Mas demanding ang pagdadaanan namin ng mga batchmates ko this year, subject-wise, requirement-wise, even yu’ng mga schedules for extra-curricular activities like LadyMed at TRP. In fact, mas mahirap pa nga ‘ata yu’ng sa clerks and interns kung base d’un sa table na ‘yun. Mas marami ring responsibilities, sa klase, sa lower batch, sa kanya-kanyang affiliations, at sa iba pang mga bagay. Mas mahirap na rin maging united as a class. Pero I hope in the hope that is unseen; mahirap man ‘tong taon na ‘to, I believe na magiging fruitful pa rin ‘to para sa Panginoon, in every good way possible. This hope I have is in the promises of an unseen and unchanging God. At kung itong hirap ng taon na ‘to yu’ng makakapag-bigay ng papuri sa Kanya, then come on, bring on the rain.

To those who hope as I do, when the storms come, when the walls come crashing down, when all else fades, do not be discouraged. Do not doubt in the darkness what God has shown you in the light. Rather, be excited!  Why? Because God is about to show you how great a God He is! And that will be truly amazing.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

“For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.” – Psalm 48:14

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So what do you do when you find yourself facing giants in the battlefield?

You look to the God who is greater than any giant on the battlefield – you trust Him – and you fight the giants alongside Him.

And so my odyssey continues.  To God be the glory.