“I have messed up my life beyond repair.”
“I am a failure.”
“No one will ever truly love me.”
Nolo Lopez struggled with these thoughts before meeting Jasmine.
Perhaps, you have said these to yourself, too.
Nolo and Jasmine’s story was featured in this year’s Tanikala Special, Tugon, whose love story began after connecting through social media during the pandemic.
They, too, have their own fair share of failures and mistakes in the past, but have proven that God is a God of second chances.
Here’s how you can start a new life after a messed-up past according to Tanikala presents Tugon:
Tip #1: Surrender everything to God
Raise the white flag, get on your knees, and surrender.
In Tugon, Jasmine can be seen constantly asking God when the right partner would come. She surrendered her love life to God because she knows based on experience, that God will always show up at the right time.
Jasmine once tried ending her life. But when she was about to drown, something happened that saved her life. Right there and then, she knew that God can still turn her life around.
Surrendering doesn’t always mean it’s the end. Sometimes, it means you have accepted that you cannot be victorious on your own.
Many people may find this hard to do so, especially when they’re used to handling everything on their own.
But God wants to help you. It is said in Psalm 34:18 that God is close to the brokenhearted and to those whose spirits are crushed.
Instead of handling everything on your own and exhausting all the possibilities, surrender it all to God, even your messy past.
“This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him” (Psalm 91:2, NLT).
Tip #2: Rediscover your dreams and passions
Nolo always wanted to become a singer and an actor. Since he was young, he would accept gigs and projects, waiting for his big break to happen.
However, the pandemic struck just as he was about to have it.
He was depressed, brokenhearted, and lost. But when he saw Jasmine’s video on TikTok, and heard her sing, he was inspired.
Nolo started writing songs again and shared them with her. Eventually, the two connected more deeply because of their passion for music.
Rediscover your passion. Recognize the gifts and talents that God has given you. Recreate those dreams that were on hold because you think you have failed.
And remember who you are in God’s eyes: You are loved. God doesn’t look at you through the lens of your mistakes and failures. He looks at you with love in His eyes.
It was best shown by Him when Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of humanity.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV).
Tip #3: Believe that you can live a different life
Have faith that everything will gradually fall into place if you have made the decision to surrender your ways and rediscover God’s gifts and plans for you.
As for Nolo and Jasmine, they put the past behind them and put God first in their lives. In return, God led them to each other.
God is a good Father and He has wonderful plans for you. He can bring you out of the pit, out of the mud, cleanse you and turn your situation upside down.
He is more than willing to give you a new start, despite having messed up in your past.
The past cannot be undone, but will you allow it to define your future, when God promises you a new life?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).
If you are blessed by this year’s Tanikala and you want to support the ministry in producing more inspiring films, you may do so through cbnasia.com/give.