trials in life – From Worry To Glory

Reverse Isolation

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Jonan Castillon

Lessons Learned from My Sickness Part 27: Reverse Isolation

I confess there were lots of things that I didn’t like during my hospitalization.

Foremost is the cost. I found out that it’s really very expensive to get sick.

It’s no wonder why many people who need immediate medical attention, just preferred to stay at home and learn to maximize the use of alternative or herbal medicines.

I even read of a joke about a patient who was already healed of his heart ailment and was given the go-signal to be released after his long confinement. But he died of cardiac arrest when he saw his hospital bills!

I certainly hope that it’s really a joke and not a true story.

Next that I dislike is the pain and discomfort related to or resulting from my treatment. But I have come to accept them, since I knew that they were a significant part of my healing.

But there’s still another thing that I didn’t like – no matter how this doctrine was explained to me.

They called this Reverse Isolation.

According to this phenomenon, I can’t accept visitors in my hospital room because they might have colds, cough or flu, and their virus may affect me.

While I understand that this was a valid way of safeguarding my already feeble health, I find it difficult to just accept it.

That is why there were some instances that I struggled against the insistence of people looking after me, to allow people especially those who came from far away places to enter my room and pray for me.

I really sympathized with those people who came from churches that I previously served as pastor. I knew that they came from remote communities.

They traveled long distances, and spent their hard earned money for transportation just to show their love and affection to their former pastor.

In a way I’m grateful that my requests for exemptions such as these were also granted by my guardians.

Isolation is never a good thing for me because I just don’t want to be alone.

Posted on FB: 19 March 2015 – 7:18 PM

About the Author

Rev. Ronny Luces is the Minister for Administration and Community Service of Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC), Iloilo City, Philipines. He and wife, Martha have been with JEC’s ministry since 1994.

Pastor Ronny graduated from Central Philippine University College of Theology in 1985 and was pastor of several Baptist churches.

In January 2015, after tests and two long hospital confinements, Pastor Ronny got the word he has lung cancer. He is undergoing chemotherapy.

Praying for healing and going through all the medical processes, Pastor Ronny writes his reflections “Lessons Learned from My Sickness”.

May Pastor Ronny’s series of reflections and meditations strengthen your hope and faith as you go through your own life’s battles. Please pray for Pastor Ronny’s healing.

You Are Called To Persevere

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Jonan Castillon

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
(1 Peter 5:10)

Have you been in a situation where after you finally decided to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering your life and receiving Him in faith as Lord and Saviour, you suddenly faced tremendous trials?

I know of many who after gaining their new-found faith faced trials in many forms. They experienced rejection from family and friends. Some suffered financial losses, lost a job, relationship conflicts, sickness or even death of loved ones.

Suffering for your Christian faith happens in every situation and location

It’s understandable and expected that a Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim who becomes a Christian will certainly suffer persecution, oftentimes severely. I read and learn about the persecuted church through Open Doors.

How about when you are living in a nominal Christian family and community and then you discovered Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

For sure you will suffer from isolation, not primarily because the nominal Christian environment you are in will reject you. Your renewed relationship with Christ will lead you to thirst for more knowledge of your Saviour.

As a true disciple of Jesus Christ your focus now is how to strengthen that relationship. Eventually, you will find yourself avoiding the people and environment that would take you back to your former nominal Christian living.

Would you believe that your most painful persecution could come from within the Christian community or environment?

It’s when you thought that the Christians around you would stand for what is right and just and you found yourself all alone making a stand.

Worst, the Christian leaders whom you expected to take the lead have become accessories to the wiles of the unjust.

The scorn and insult would become inevitable when after you have settled in your heart that you will trust Jesus Christ alone, follow Him in baptism, and commit your life, your family to serve Him each day, something untoward happened unexpectedly.

Perseverance in faith brings freedom, happiness and joy

When you are facing debilitating trials, read and remember the story of Job. Despite suffering from severe trials, he remained steadfast in faith. Read how Job persevered and gained God’s restoration.

Yes, Christians are called to persevere, especially when our faith is under trial.

Keep holding on to your faith no matter what happens. When you persevere, you will witness God’s amazing power sustaining your life along the way. Then when you have overcome, you will find peace and happiness that you have never experienced before.

Starting your new life in Jesus Christ could place you in lots of challenges but persevering in your new found faith means a life of freedom and victory.

Just come to Him in prayer. Hold on to Jesus, He’s always there. Trust His word, He loves you always now.

Are you going through tough times today? May this post strengthen your faith in Christ.

Encourage someone by sharing this post to your friends. Just Click on the “Share” button below. Thank you.

Faith, Inspirational

Each Time I See a Rainbow, God Reminds Me Life Will Be Alright

Posted on July 28, 2012July 28, 2012 by Jonan Castillon

Rainbow brings peace and assurance of God's eternal promise. — My wife took this rainbow image through an office window at Carlton Gore Road, Auckland.

Yes, this is the thought that would readily come to mind each time I see a rainbow.

It is God’s way of reminding me of His sovereign power and atoning grace.

Seeing a rainbow in the sky makes me recall God’s promise to Noah after the great flood.

Noah’s flood story is one of my favorite Sunday school stories. The rainbow that marks God’s promise to never bring flood again makes the story more unforgettable.

Read and realize the assurance that God gives through the rainbow in Genesis 9:8-16.

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth.

I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Are you going through difficult and uncertain situations today? Do you see your life leading to uncertainty?

Are you experiencing tremendous trials for standing firm on God’s righteousness? Or maybe despite your faithfulness to God you are in a situation which doesn’t seem to make sense at the moment?

Don’t give up. Focus on your faith on God’s promises. Learn about how you will surrender and obey His will.

Asking God “Why?” and finding reasons for things that are currently affecting you will push you towards resentment.

My friend, when you see your situation as unbearable, look up to the sky, watch out for a rainbow.

When you see one, be reminded of God’s everlasting covenant.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12).