Walang makakagapi sa iyo habang ikaw ay nabubuhay. Sasamahan kita gaya ng pagpatnubay ko kay Moises. Hindi kita iiwan ni hindi pababayaan man.

Josue 1:5

Ilang taon ring labas-masok sa ospital ang ama ni Stefano. Malaki-laki na rin ang nagastos nila pero hindi bumubuti ang lagay nito. A few months after Stefano reached the age of twelve, alam nilang hindi na magtatagal ang daddy niya. Ang huling sinabi ng ama bago ito pumanaw, “You are now the man of the house, son.”  

Those words were uttered in a whisper, dahil hinang-hina na ang daddy ni Stefano. But for him, those were big words with big impact. Mga salitang alam niyang magbabago ng kanyang buhay. Stefano is the eldest in a brood of four. Bagama’t malakas pa at may trabaho ang kanyang ina, alam ni Stefano na sa pagkamatay ng daddy niya, he might have to make a lot of sacrifices, and grow up sooner than he really wants to.

There are a lot of Stefanos around us. Most of them are either unprepared or hesitant to take on the challenge. Sigurado akong lahat sila ay dumaan sa matinding takot, kaba, self-doubt, and hesitation. Baka isa ka ring Stefano. Be encouraged by the story of Joshua. When Moses died, the Lord called him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, so the Lord assured him, “Just as I was with Moses, so I shall be with you” (Joshua 1:5).

Kaya bigla ka mang binigyan ng responsibilidad na sa tingin mo ay hindi ka pa handa o hindi mo pa kaya, o hindi ka makatanggi sa challenge dahil maraming umaasa sa iyo, take hold of this wonderful assurance from the Lord. Sabi Niya, “Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Alam na ni Jesus ang challenges na haharapin mo at may paraan na rin Siya upang magtagumpay ka. You need to “keep this Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night … then you will be prosperous and successful.” (v. 8)