Pain… Then Freedom

By APRIL ROSE H. SENSON

BEFORE I joined the Light of Jesus Family, I was suffering in an emotionally abusive relationship.

To protect the privacy of people involved in my ordeal, I am not going into details. I am just deeply grateful that I am now free from that trial.

My life changed in 2017. I live in Bulan, Sorsogon, where a townmate, Gail Bayto, has been my good friend. Yes, she’s the IT specialist-writer-reporter of The Feast Family, so she is based in Manila. One day, I visited her.

Knowing my challenges, she kindly counseled me, invited me to join LOJ Feast. And I joined the morning session of The Feast being held at the Philippine International Convention Center (Feast PICC A.M.) on August 20, 2017.

Here, kindly welcoming me, from left : Gail Bayto, taking wefie photo, Alyssa Dorcas, Anthony Andador, Feast Builder Bro. Audee Villaraza, and that’s happy me, extreme right.

The teachings in The Feast have penetrated my heart so deep that God’s words have been seeing me through my life now, especially during this Coronavirus Disease Pandemic.

This Pandemic has made me realize that nothing is permanent in this world and we’ll never know what will happen the next day– no matter how prepared we can be.

Today, we face a lot of challenges, a lot of struggles, especially for those who lost their job. This Pandemic has taken away hopes and dreams.

In my case, the crisis has taught me life-changing lessons.

In August 2019, my cruel relationship ended. So, I was in the process of healing from this burden when COVID came. This trial hurt so much, but

I must say the pain has made me stronger. Gradually, it has made me a better person. I’m beginning to love myself. I am free! I thought I would never get to this point where I get to be grateful amid everything that happened to me.

At The Feast, I’ve learned that everything has a purpose. I know now that my pains have a reason. They all served a purpose in my life. The difficulties in my life helped me grow spiritually. At The Feast, I’ve learned so much about God’s unconditional love for His people—for me. So, I’ve become closer and deeply rooted in Him.

Here, I am learning more from Bro. Bo Sanchez as I attend The Feast-at-Home, now my new normal.

I’ve also realized that if this ordeal happened to me, it can also happen to anyone. Each of us is facing silent battles and knowing this, I’ve been able to be kind to the people around me.

I am thankful to those who helped me get closer to the Lord. They made me realize that everything I lost in the past has been replaced with something better– and that’s how our God works. That’s how I am loved. That’s how you are loved too. We are so loved by our God.

I just want to close my testimony with an encouragement to anyone who might be reading this… Maybe in your situation now, you think you are not progressing, but there is actually growth in there. In God’s Perfect Time, everything will fall into its right place. All we have to do is trust in His process and His timing.

Yes, God is good. I always have Him no matter the circumstances in my life. And my faith, deepened at The Feast, has helped me to surrender all my worries and doubts to God and simply keep on trusting Him. Trust Him.