IN GOD WE TRUST

As a new administration assumes office of the Philippine government, new set of promises are made to better the life of every citizen of this land. Yet, these promises sound the same as the previous promises done in the past twenty four years; promises that never realized. Thus, the hopes and dreams of national prosperity remain elusive.

Broken promises made are perhaps one of the hardest to accept. One feels rejected, abandoned or betrayed. The scar left by such experience are deep that oftentimes results to hopelessness and distrust for those who broke their promises.

Despite our distrust of politicians, in God we trust. The Filipinos had remained steadfast hoping and dreaming for true change that someday shall usher in a more just and healthy society. Our faith comforts us that “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

In God we trust as we hang on to his promises for our beloved country, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

It is unfortunate however that at sudden moments of crisis, we tend to almost lose faith in the Words of God. We oftentimes do not see the hands of the Almighty working in our lives because we base our assumptions of His faithfulness on prevailing circumstances alone. We have delimited His power as if we can use at our own disposal. Yet He said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the Lord. For as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not here, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that go forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:8-11)

Furthermore, we tend to expect God to work on our own time. Yet we have to realize that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“Therefore say unto them, thus said the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged anymore, but the word which I have spoken shall be done.” (Ezekiel 12:28)

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3).

“To whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.” (Jeremiah 1:2).

“The grass wither, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8).

“He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.” (Psalm 105:8).

“Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, whish he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” (I Kings 8:56).

It took 40 years until the Lord’s promise to the Israelites came true when they finally had the land of their own. For most of us, it is a long time. But God has to prepare His people for the life they will lead in the “promise land”. Those who doubted, questioned or became impatient of the Lord weren’t able to enter the land that included Moses to whom God entrusted the leadership of His people.

Thus, despite the broken promises of politicians and government authorities who failed us and betrayed our confidence, there is a God who will never fail us. We keep on trusting Him in the midst of uncertainty, anxiety and seeming hopelessness as we hang on to His Words knowing He is faithful to every promise He makes to us. Therefore, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” (Hebrews 10:23) If we do, truly in God we trust!

Let us pray,

O God Almighty,
You are the Lord of our land and King of our people.
Reign in the hearts of our leaders that they may be
Your instruments of change for a better country.

Give us the grace to trust You more and more
especially in times of great crisis.
Shield the fragility of our spirits in time of
natural calamities and disasters due to our faults.

Teach us to work together for national unity
and progress; that each citizen may fulfill every
lawful responsibility to bring about a just and
moral society.

And that peace may reign upon our land where in
Your hands we entrust our destiny.

With full trust and confidence, we humbly pray
through the Name of Jesus, Our Lord together with
the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for peace in the Philippines.

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, Pray for the Filipino people.

Blessed Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, Pray for the Filipino people.

Blessed Pedro Calungsod, Pray for the Filipino people.