J.A.P.A.N. (Just Always Pray At Night)

Have you heard about the man out on his boat enjoying fishing as a hobby, then he encountered a terrible storm? His boat was trapped in an island and he ended all by himself.  Weeks went by and he was so miserable, so problematic.  He didn’t think he would ever be found by the authorities.  He prayed every day, but it seemed like God is not answering his prayers.  He tried to make the most out of it.  He even built a small bahay kubo for his shelter and became quite good at fishing.

Time passed and there were no signs of his situation changing. In fact, one day just when he thought it couldn’t possibly get any worse, he was out trying to find food and came back to find the little bahay kubo he had built was on fire. He just sat there, stunned, watching the only thing he had left going up in flames. It was like pouring salt on his wounds. He fell to his knees and said, “God, I give up. I asked You to help me, but one bad thing after another keeps happening.”

Well, about an hour later, the Coast Guard showed up to rescue him. The man couldn’t believe it! He was thrilled. He said, “How in the world did you find me?” They said, “We saw the smoke coming from that huge fire you built.”

Friend, sometimes what looks like a disappointment to us is really God positioning us to go to a new level. Maybe you feel like this man, hit by the storms of life alone on an island with your bahay kubo on fire. Maybe your one of the many people struck by the earthquake and tsunami at Japan, you were just hit by earthquake, massive flood and after that putik naman…then no food, no water, no transportation, then all of a sudden, here come’s the government agencies, United Nation, US Marines, Japanese Government, different local and multinational companies, in the spirit of worldwide unity helping you out and giving massive assistance to everybody.  Maybe your favorite car floated along with the trees, be happy that you are not on it. Maybe your house is damage because of the flood, be positive that you aren’t there and still alive and now your house is up to a major general cleaning which you are really planning way back pa.

Instead of getting negative and bitter, recognize that God still has a good plan for your life. He’s working behind the scenes. He’s taking those disappointments and discouragements, and He’s using them to launch you into freedom. Even when you don’t understand what’s happening in your circumstances, understand that God is using them for your good. He has a plan to bless and prosper you and bring you out better and stronger than ever before!