forgiveness Archives

If God is Good, Why would He Allow Me to be Miserable?

Posted on August 28, 2021 by jeanethpanti | Leave a Comment

Have you ever come to a point where you questioned God’s goodness?

“Why is everything so difficult?”

“Why am I all alone?”

“Is there anybody on my side?”

Difficult and painful circumstances often lead us to doubt the character of God.

This is how Lito Marasigan dealt with life growing up.

He was devastated as a child upon seeing how his mother suffered when his father abandoned them for another woman. He often asked God,

“Why is my family broken?”

“Why do I have a miserable childhood?”

“Why am I abandoned and left on my own?”

At an early age, Lito had to be the breadwinner of his family. He did everything to make money to support his family, from selling balut, cigarettes, and newspapers to trading scrap metal.

As he struggled in his everyday life, Lito longed for a complete and whole family. He wondered if God was really fair and good as people said He was.

Do Lito’s sentiments sound familiar to you?

Are you like him as a child? Have you been forced to stand on your own when you still needed someone to guide and walk you through life?

Because he lacked the guidance of a father, Lito was left to fend for himself and grew up a troublemaker.

Lito’s mother encouraged him to trust God’s plan and to live a decent life, but he went on the wrong path to survive on his own.

He struggled to see the purpose of his pain and brokenness. He lived his life with no direction.

Because Lito could not see a future for himself because he had to find the means to survive each day, he resorted to stealing.

But even as Lito broke the law time and time again, God never gave up on pursuing him.

When his partner in crime got mobbed and escaped from being salvaged, he turned to Lito for help.

Overwhelmed by fear and helplessness, Lito was left awake in the middle of the night.

In his restlessness, Lito chanced upon The 700 Club Asia. Listening to the host, Lito that even if he lived his life in his own terms, he was still miserable.

That’s when Lito surrendered his life to Jesus. As he cried for help, he invited Jesus to come to his life and to forgive and make him new.

“Lord, I am tired! Would you move in my life and show me Your miracle?” Lito cried out to the Lord.

Is your heart crying the same prayer as Lito’s?

It’s time to give up control and surrender your life to Jesus. He is gracious to forgive you and embrace you for all you are and all that you have—your desires, concerns, and even your troubles and mistakes.

God’s grace and forgiveness empowered Lito to live a changed life.

Though transformation is not an instant process, he claimed God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5b, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

The Lord is faithful in changing us to be more like His Son Jesus.

Step by step, Lito chose to follow Jesus. Eventually, this path led him to meet his father and to forgive him for abandoning their family. Without hesitation, Lito gave his father the same forgiveness he received from the Lord.

Are you exhausted living on your own? Do you struggle to forgive someone who ruined your life?

Has your pain or bitterness blinded you to see God’s goodness?

Rest in the knowledge that God has always been there for you. He has the power to change your future no matter what kind of past you have.

Though Lito chose to live a reckless life, God still pursued him and showed him His goodness.

Today, God entrusted Lito to lead many people to experience the power that can change lives. God used Lito to plant several churches. And what’s more, Lito is serving God alongside his sons!

“Only God can fulfill the good life you are longing to live,” Lito declared.

Do you want to experience God’s grace and forgiveness? Our Prayer Center is available 24/7 to pray for you.

Do you want to partner with us in reaching many people who struggle with hopelessness and brokenness? Donate now and be a CBN Asia partner today.

Experience God’s overflowing favor and boundless grace as you extend His goodness to others. God bless you!

Struggling to Forgive your Parents? Here are 3 Steps to Help You

Posted on April 15, 2020 by aprilrosemagpantay | Leave a Comment

Are you angry with your parents? Taking care of a longtime resentment toward what they did in the past?

What’s stopping you from letting it go?

Forgiveness isn’t easy, especially when the pain is just too deep, and it came from the people who were meant to protect you.

However, God wants you to forgive and honor your father and mother (Ephesians 6:2), that you may live a good life – with a heart free from any burden.

Here are 3 steps to help you begin healing and forgiving, from CBN Asia Holy Week special Suklob:

Step 1: Acknowledge the pain

“If you’ve already forgiven someone, you won’t remember the offense.”

Have you heard this phrase before? Forgiveness is not a denial. You shouldn’t pretend that the offense did not happen. You don’t have to forget it completely.

The first step toward your healing is recognizing the fault and accepting that it really happened.

Nett Gochuico, played by actor Kristoffer Martin, suffered verbal and physical abuse at the hands of his own father and felt neglected by his mother. He grew up harboring hate for both of his parents. He only started to forgive them when he acknowledged the pain they caused him.

Think of the offenses your parents may have committed against you and surrender them to God. Ask Him to heal each and every offense that keeps you from forgiving.

Step 2: Choose forgiveness.

In Suklob, Nett has decided to forgive his father after realizing that it is the will of God and that his anger does nothing but harm his family. Despite being treated badly, he took the courageous step of breaking free from his cruel past and choosing forgiveness.

If you keep on waiting for the feeling of forgiveness to come, it might not come. Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision to make. It might not be easy, but the Lord can help you along the process. Ask Him to bless you with a forgiving heart and acknowledge that you cannot do it on your own.

What wounded you doesn’t have to hold you forever. Choosing forgiveness is choosing peace.

Step 3: Initiate forgiveness.

When you’re hurt by your parents, you want them to own up to all their wrongs and apologize to you. But what if they don’t? Healing then would be difficult.

As Nett chose to spend time with his father, it gave him an opportunity to know him more, and understand that his father was hurt too. He recognized his father’s goodness that was pushed aside by pain. Nett put an effort to sit down with him, talk about his childhood wounds, and wholeheartedly initiate forgiveness to his father. He even brought his father to the saving love of God!

Remember, to forgive is not to tolerate the bad habits or hurtful actions, rather, it’s freeing yourself from its bondage. Don’t be afraid, God has planted the good seed of forgiveness in your heart and He will help you through.

You can’t change your past. But here’s the good news: the tale of the past pain doesn’t have to be in your future. Have faith that God has the power to heal you from any emotional trauma, free you from your emotional prison and turn your painful past into good!

As Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Are you struggling to forgive your parents right now? We’d love to pray for you. Send us your prayer requests and visit The 700 Club Asia YouTube channel for inspiring stories of forgiveness and reconciliation.