As a Catholic, I genuinely believe in God, which is what my heart feels. I do not need to see anything in order just for me to believe. I feel him, and he is always a part of my daily existence. Waking up in the morning is already a marvellous testimony of his presence and ardent love for me. So why is there a need for me to see him first before I believe? He is always with me, and he is the source of everything I need. When my heart is burdened and cannot share with anyone, I pour my feelings unto him. When I have unresolved problems, I seek his enlightenment, and he grants me the wisdom to solve the problem. God also uses people as his instruments to manifest his presence in my life.
— Nelie Buenconsejo
Life is often hard to understand, but God is always good. His love for us is both unfailing and unconditional. He is infinitely compassionate and benevolent. He died on the cross and redeemed us. He is risen to fulfil his promises to mankind. If we have faith like a mustard seed and it grows, nothing is impossible in God. To see is to believe, as the saying goes, but God’s interventions in my life truly show that he exists. I always believe in God’s presence during my ups and downs. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.” I committed some mistakes, and he forgave me. Everything I ask for in prayers, he answers me. Let us keep the faith, pray, believe, and experience God’s presence in our life.
— Flora Diolazo
This present worldwide health crisis had once caused me to at first doubt God’s presence in my life, but eventually, my experience proved me wrong. It strengthened my belief that God really exists and we can only rely on his miracle and graces.
From my mother’s recovery from this Covid-19 virus, I know God can provide us with a way out. My mother is undergoing dialysis twice a week for her kidney problems. Recently, she was tested positive, and by protocol, she must be admitted to the hospital, but no hospital was available. Frustration even led me to question God’s power to solve what my family was going through. Worries filled my heart, not only for my mother’s life as she is old but also for how we would finance her medications. I tried not to, but I asked myself, was God trying to test my faith in him? Was it his way of making me feel that I must hold on to my faith and believe that he is in my life though he cannot be seen?
Eventually, through prayers and requested intercessions from religious sisters and priests and my other friends, I trusted and believed that God would make a way. A hospital finally admitted my mother with voluntary financial assistance from the family I worked for. The medical expenses were the least amount I expected, and she has now totally recovered.
So I knew that nothing is impossible if one believes. During those times of frustration, I experienced doubts about God. I asked for forgiveness and truly repented.
My doubts only appeared on the spur of the moment. Deep in my heart, my faith is still intact. My eyes may not have seen the Lord, but my heart sees him daily. I see him through the faces of my neighbours.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
— Glenda Inesa
Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved.” Faith is believing even without seeing the hands of God working in our lives. When he sees our faith, he will work things out for our benefit. I’m confident that God is always at work in my life, even though I can’t see him with my naked eyes.
— Lelit Turno
We don’t have to really see something to believe in it. For instance, when my dad died in 2017, it seemed like I couldn’t see a good life without him. However, I realised that life is all about moving forward and being able to conquer the things that we think won’t work. And thankfully, I can say that I am doing good towards attaining my goal, with my mom supporting and believing in me, with my siblings inspiring me to achieve all my goals, and most importantly, with my God guiding me on my journey. In times of struggle, I kept my faith by having a good mindset that God would make a way to help even in the darkest times. It may be in simple encouragement from my friends, good help from my family, or even a simple appreciation I receive from strangers. I believe that all of these are God’s ways to enlighten me every day.
— Dave Vidal
