La Vida

2023 was one of the hardest years of my life—a season of heartbreak, challenges, and confusion. Yet as 2024 began, it came with a promise: the promise of healing, clarity, and a deeper walk with Christ. This year became a year of revelation and growth, and through it, Jesus taught me invaluable lessons about standing firm in my faith and the beauty of friendships rooted in Him. Taking a Stand for Christ One of the biggest lessons God revealed to me was the importance of taking a stand for Christ. In Revelation 3:16, God warns against being lukewarm: "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." This was a wake-up call for me. I realized I needed to take a firm stand for Jesus and His truth, refusing to dilute my faith to fit in or entertain worldly values that contradict His Word. Taking a stand for Christ requires assertiveness. It means having a voice, setting boundaries, and not allowing others to pull you away from His truth....

2023 was one of the most difficult years of my life. I went through a lot of emotional ups and downs, faced challenges at work, and dealt with personal issues that left me feeling incredibly sad and alone. During those times, I thought spending time with friends might help lift my spirits and give me the motivation to keep going. I reached out to one friend, let’s call her Sushi. I asked if we could spend the weekend together because I was struggling and thought her company might help. But she told me she was too busy and couldn’t make time. I explained how hard things were for me, hoping she might understand, but she did not understand the gravity of my situation. Feeling discouraged, I reached out to another friend, Susan, but she also said she was too busy. Then I tried talking to Natalie, but she was going through her own struggles and didn’t have the capacity to support me. One by one, I realized that the people I considered friends weren’t there for me during one of the hardest t...

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known tales from the Bible, symbolizing the triumph of the underdog and the power of faith. David, a young shepherd, faced the giant Goliath with just a sling and a stone. While he had only one physical weapon, David’s true power came from the combination of his skill and his unshakable faith in God. It’s a powerful reminder that even a single talent, when used with purpose and faith, can lead to extraordinary outcomes. David’s strength wasn’t in his physical might or experience in battle; he wasn’t even a soldier. He had one skill—using a sling—that he had honed while protecting his sheep from predators. It may have seemed like a small, insignificant ability in comparison to Goliath’s armor and weapons. But David’s confidence came from his faith in God, who had been with him in every battle he’d faced, big or small. He believed that with God by his side, his one skill was enough. In many ways, David’s story parallels Jesus’ parabl...