Rejoice and Ignore the Noise!

An article for the JUMP Series of the Makati Feast. Enjoy reading! :)

In a world where confusion and chaos are everywhere, it is a challenge to embrace silence. When our hearts are filled with fear and minds clouded with doubt, will hope still abound? In such a disturbing situation, the greatest consolation we have is we can always “Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,” and “God clearly knows His plans for us.” We should never underestimate the power of hope, as this is where successful people come from.

How difficult is it to live a future full of hope? It is a challenge we face because of the different kinds of “barking dogs” which surround our life. We are afraid of people’s opinion and we can’t achieve our dreams because we think of what they will say. Never try to be someone you are not, the only way you can inspire others is by being yourself. There are also uncontrollable frustrations after falling for several times, so it is hard to get up and try. Focus on your past and be paralyzed, focus on your future and be inspired. The key is to envision what you want to become.

Have you ever been surrounded by people who can’t see the beauty in anything? These barking dogs are the negative people or dream stealers. Be with people who have that zest and passion for life, then you will imbibe the same outlook and hope. Your past failures may also hinder you, but just because you failed in the past doesn’t mean you will fall again. When you feel things are falling apart, that means things are falling into place. Should it fail, then it is an opportunity to learn. Someday those biggest problems will become your biggest blessings.

Surely the barking dogs, feeling of fear, inferiority, and hopelessness are inevitable. Don’t stop at every dog that barks, just keep on walking, ignoring the noise, and listening to God’s voice. There will come a day when you will just laugh at your problems. Then we can say: “it is possible to rejoice in the midst of all tribulations, because our hope coming from God springs eternal.”