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I went through with some disappointments by relying on people. I tried to reach out to different people hoping they would be able to do something to help me with one of my personal issues that I’ve been dealing with. Yes, I was instructed to reach out the right people, however I felt that I was just being handed over to someone and kept passing it to someone else over and over.

I was dealing with an ongoing problem about a loud noise with a tenant in my building where I live. I suspected that it was a tenant who lives upstairs and every single night, the loud music that they were playing had caused very strong vibrations which transmitted through the walls and ceilings in my bedroom. The structure of the building where I live is not soundproof. It’s been going on for few months now, and the management and security that handle this issue in my building have not been able to resolve it. The tenant who is making the noise is still continuing it every single night and even during the day for almost everyday. I had reached out to different departments from the management’s office, and even the by-law officer from the local city that I had contacted for help. The by-law officer had recommended that I should dealt with the management from the building where I live. I sent follow-ups with the management and have not heard back from the last time I’ve made a contact. I continued to document notes hoping that I would have some evidences to show if they wanted proofs that it actually happened. The only thing that I do not have is the measurement or equipment to record the decibel level, in which the by-law officer has the ability to perform onsite visits and investigations within the dwelling. Due to these strong vibrations or shaking that I’ve been experiencing, it had already created a negative impact on my health such as anxieties, nervous breakdown, headaches, and of course lack of sleep.

I kept remembering what Jesus had said about your neighbour. He said to “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). I was praying for that tenant. I prayed that he or she would come to Jesus or do pray instead of blasting that loud music on. Perhaps that person has difficulty sleeping. I tried to put myself on someone’s shoes. Sometimes, I have different perceptions with people. I couldn’t help but feel indifferently with some people, especially those who have lack of regards to someone’s situations or just being inconsiderate. Also, for those who wouldn’t go above and beyond their duty to resolve an issue, I would say this matter calls within a work duty. I understand the importance of being patient and wait for the Lord. I also learned about letting God take control because it is a havoc if I would take control of it. I just pray and talk to Jesus, and meditate His Words. I sleep with Jesus besides me and hug Him for comfort. I give thanks to Him for the rest and sleep every nights that I made it to my bed. If I let God take control of my situation, the less I would reciprocate about my negative feelings to others. I had learned that it would be better this way rather than focusing on the negativity about what others cannot do.

God is above and all. People may fail you, but He never will. We may experience rejections, disappointments, and helplessness with some people, but believe that God is greater than our sorrows, and He will lift you up like no one else can. He keeps His promises and no matter what situations or circumstances that we are dealing with our own lives, He is always there for us, and will not abandon His children. This is my source of strength believing that God will surpass my anxieties, and miracles will happen. He will shut the loud noise and bring forth the stillness of the night, like He shut the mouth of the lions when Daniel, the prophet was cast into a lion’s den. For God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

I’ve always known that there is something powerful about praying. When we pray, we usually close our eyes and bow our heads down. We kneel down on the ground. Sometimes we sit, we stand up, and lift our hands up high. There are different ways that we can communicate with God, and through praying, we offer ourselves humbly to Him and open up our feelings and thoughts. We ask God for anything, but not just anything we need. We ask for forgiveness, guidance, protection, deliverance, and healing.

Praying can be spontaneous. You can just talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. The relationship that you have with Him when you pray is so instinctively, so personal. God responds to us whether we are praying in a place of worship, at home, work, school, outside, and while walking in the park, waiting in line or waiting for someone… we pray almost anywhere. Prayer is a beautiful thing.

One of the special prayers that inspires me to do is to become a prayer warrior. To become one, it means you are taking part for yourself or someone’s battle and trying to intercede for that person, and pray that the will of God be done in all things. It takes courage, humility, and depth for a prayer warrior to intercede with God, and be able to understand our standing with God through His Son, Jesus. We need to understand the sole purpose of praying, so when we communicate with Him by speaking…we also listen to Him intensively. We address our communication with God directly when we pray; we depend on the Holy Spirit, and pray “in the name of Jesus” (John 14:13). We must enable ourselves with the “full armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11) when praying as it should be. So, wearing a complete armour means we are fully protected, ready, and prepared to attack those spiritual battles.

We must have a strong framework of prayers to be able to pray for others in order to become a strong prayer warrior. To do this, wearing a complete armour of God is what we need. We can be strong enough to overcome the dark side of this world (Ephesians 6:10-18). We must not feel defeated when we felt lost or failed. If we stumbled, we try to get up and fight again. Just picture yourself in a war and you are in it. There are enemies standing in front of you. When you feel afraid, anxious, hopeless, and overwhelmed, just remember who is in charge of the armies- it is Jesus Christ. He is more powerful than the enemies on stand. He has given you a power to fight that spiritual warfare by praying. So, pray like a strong warrior, equip with “full armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11), and put up that internal fight with the help of Jesus’ victory and glory when you or someone you know is under a spiritual attack. Just remember that Jesus had already won and defeated your enemies (your spiritual battles).

Finding a way out when you caught yourself trapped in an unpleasant situation or even a place where you cannot apprehend the reality or grip of that situation makes you wonder why you got into that mess in the first place? Sometimes, we ask ourselves that same question when we got caught off guard.

Let’s face it, there are countless distractions and chaos that we face in our daily lives, whether if it’s involving work or due to personal matter, school-related issues, home or environmental situations, into our relationships, etc. – minor distractions or even major ones that are becoming involved or intertwined into our day to day lives that soon become destructive… and then we felt hopeless. We thought there is no way out. We started to feel the disconnection of our spiritual well-being, and slowly gravitating to its opposite direction.

People have different perceptions on how to handle havoc into their lives if it did occur. Some are really good on managing it, some might be having a rough moment dealing with it. I think it all comes down on what they believe on. They may be based it on according to their values, upbringing, belief system, and those available resources that are accessible to them.

As a believer, the Scriptures help me understand fully of those different situations where I am at, and if ever I do encounter life pitfalls, I pray that the Holy Spirit guides me and gives me directions on what path to follow. What inspires me to learn is that the way to walk with honour and grace is by continually seeking Him, remembering His Words, and looking on His face. His straight path of righteousness is our desire to follow and walk with Christ. If we could only try to look on His point of view or directions, wouldn’t you feel less of the burden and that weight that you’ve been carrying is off your shoulders? I would say, it feels amazing and relief knowing that you had this will to overcome the diversions, and this is why following His directions is a better way than any other way. One of my favourite psalms- The Shepherd Psalm, the path of righteousness illustrated on Psalm 23:3-4: “He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

We should trust in the Lord and have faith in Him. The world might have a lot of things going on. You may have different things going on whether if its life situations or possibly you’re seeking some answers, or looking for hope. You will find comfort when you have set your heart and mind by pursuing God’s will. And this is done by acknowledging Him and doing things His way rather than your own way. He is transparent, and sure can give you guidance on what path to take. He knows you more than you know about yourself. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Imagine yourself in a forest standing on the ground where you are surrounded with gigantic trees. You suddenly feel so small just by looking up above the sky with those trees around you. Are your fears and failures feel like those giant trees that are so large and overwhelming, and you feel like you are trapped with it? 

At some point in our lives, giants will just show up and step right in, sometimes uncontrollably, and other times unexpectedly. These giants leave us defeated, lost, discouraged, afraid, or even threatened. To some people, giants are personal to them, could be adversaries like fear of standing up for something, illness, relationship problems, family or personal issues, job loss, rejection, lack of self-confidence or self-worth, bullying, and other things. Security and hopes may be unknown to them. They may not even be prepared to fight their giants at all. Would you be ready to face the battles that you were called in and fight with it?  

So, how do we fight the giants in our life? First, we have to be able to see and recognize that these are the battles that we are called in to conquer the giants. Only God can give us that plan, and it has to be according to His timing. We may not know which, how, and when it will happen. But His timing is always perfect. We just need to be patient and wait patiently for Him. And when the right moment comes, God will position us in right directions and give us a courage to slay it. 

Secondly, we need to focus on His Words. God wants us to focus on Him, not our giants or storms in our lives. He will strengthen us and will give inner resources to be able to overcome life obstacles…with Him nothing is impossible. He wants us to be spiritually strong, joyful, and content even in a bleakest situation we are in. This scripture is so important and means a lot to me especially when I need some uplifting even in my darkest circumstances, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.” (Philippians 4:13)

So, why do you feel defeated or lost when Jesus had already won the battle for you? Did you know that you had been set free, whether you’ve been locked up from your own fears, failures, mistakes, worries, uncertainties, and disappointments? When Jesus died on the cross, He had endured those pains for you and rose from the grave so you could walk victoriously. He has already defeated and has overcome the giants in your life!

Do you ever wonder and ask yourself how would you carry on when you have too much burden and pain? Probably not too many people would be able to get through easily. Others, would take long to recover or perhaps, not at all especially when they were severely traumatized from the experience.

No matter what situation you are in, just bear in mind that there is hope and resolution to all problems. Even if the situation seems unfathomably beyond our reasons to believe that there is hope, when you have the will to believe, it surely will help you overcome with whatever you are dealing with…could be that emotional pain that you’ve been haunted from the past, or an ongoing battle that you are facing right now.

Let’s talk about forgiveness. To begin with, we need to learn how to forgive others. When was the last time you had felt peace within your heart and soul? What about those people who had hurt you and how did you move on with your life? I’m sure you have many pondering questions, but unsure on what would be right thing to do. Try not to fixate your mind from the painful past. Ask our Heavenly Father to give you strength to move on with your life. Let Him take control.

I’ve learned the value and lessons of life (and people). There are people who were naturally gifted with humane virtue. They are compassionate, empathetic, altruistic, and so on. Some are intolerable, resentful, and some are really crushed and wallowed with wounded spirit. Treat life as a treasure. Do not take it for granted no matter what situation you are in. We need to be thankful for all those countless blessings that pour in. Forgive those whom you think they have caused you a tumultuous relationship, and for those who had rejected and put you down.

I love this verse from the Scripture. Jesus taught us to show love to one another in actions or words whatever you do… “holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14).