At isusulat ninyo roon ang lahat ng mga batas na ito pagdating ninyo sa lupaing mayaman at sagana sa lahat ng bagay, ang lupaing ipinangako sa inyo ni Yahweh, ang Diyos ng inyong mga ninuno.

Deuteronomio 27:3

Not everything that happened this year might have been positive. We’ve certainly made mistakes along the way, whether committing to a bad investment, trusting the wrong people, or just failing to uphold God’s principles for living. These can be frustrating, resulting in setbacks and preventing us from moving forward with exciting plans for 2024. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Israelites in the time of Moses knew a thing or two about disappointing setbacks. The second generation could have entered Canaan, the Promised Land, in just eleven days. But because of their parents’ disobedience, they weren’t delayed by just one year. Instead, they were delayed by forty! They wandered the desert for forty years as a punishment for something they weren’t even responsible for!

Nanghinayang kaya sila? Siguro. Ang bilis lang sana ng paglalakbay nila kung sumunod lang sila sa Diyos. That’s why Moses commanded the second generation to set up an altar of stones containing all of God’s commands as they went to the Promised Land. This altar of remembrance would remind them to obey the Lord so they wouldn’t have to experience the consequences of disobedience, like what happened to their parents.

Yes, disappointments and missed chances can hurt, but like the second-generation Israelites, you have a chance to start fresh. Commit your life to the Lord who loves you so much, and learn from your mistakes while also fulfilling His best plan for your life.