“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)
This passage is part of God’s promise to the people of Israel of which it speaks to our generation as well. Like the Israelites, we did, and we will still face a lot of challenges while we are still here in our temporary residence.
Year 2020, and even 2021, has been full of challenges for me personally. It started with the soar of COVID-19 cases that eventually became a global pandemic. As a frontliner, dealing with such situation was not easy. Deputizing a COVID Unit was full of struggles. I must deal not only with my own physical, psychological, and emotional health but with that of the staffs as well. That initial stage wherein discrimination towards frontliners in the Covid Unit was palpable, was the hardest because it affected all of us emotionally and psychologically. Thankfully, the culture in the hospital changed because it became the new normal.
Then, by the end of 3rd quarter of 2020, my Nanay was infected with COVID. After a month of fighting the disease, she was taken from us. That was the most difficult time for me. I am here, taking care of COVID patients and I was not there for her. It was an emotional and psychological agony.
2021 came. All of us hope for the pandemic to end, but by 2nd quarter another wave came. This time, frontliners felt the effect of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. All throughout these challenging experiences, God never failed to fulfill His promises through Isaiah 43:2.
Reflections:
- Whatever circumstances and struggles we are facing, He will always be with us and will carry us through it.
- God will use our struggles become a meaningful instrument in reaching out others with same circumstances.
- Trusting Him makes the load lighter and gives me the confidence that God always provide the light at the end of the tunnel.
