Beauty Will Rise

by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

Just like every beautiful story I have read and watched, there are plot twists that make it seem like darkness overcomes the light, evil wins over good, and the antagonist defeats the protagonist. In light of this pandemic, just when we thought the victory is at hand, the virus continues to ravage lives, families, communities and nations.

For some nations like the Philippines, the situation worsened despite the availability of vaccines. The number of cases has risen tremendously, it’s overwhelming. The mutated strain of the virus has become more contagious and more destructive. Families upon families contract the virus, it has become unstoppable.

On Facebook, many people have been turning their profile pictures to black because of losing their loved ones to the virus. I have been seeing posts of friends, family and even strangers asking for help and prayers because the whole family has contracted the virus and there are no more hospitals to accommodate them.

My husband and I have been receiving prayer requests because loved ones have been exposed to the virus. A friend of ours lost his brother and mother to the virus. Another friend of ours is isolated from her one-year-old because she is COVID-positive, and she couldn’t comprehend where she got it because she works from home and she hasn’t left the house.

Another friend was stunned when he went FOR a swab test A DAY before his flight to Germany where he was about to start a new life, he turned out to be COVID-positive despite not having any symptoms. Someone we look up to as a father is now fighting for his life in the hospital.

This unseen enemy has truly ruined plans, destroyed families and inflicted pain in unprecedented ways.

I can only imagine the physical exhaustion, the emotional and mental stress, the hopelessness this pandemic brings to our frontliners who have been working tirelessly for more than a year now.

I notice that there’s a greater sense of fear and despair among everyone at this time more than the time this pandemic started.

I was looking forward to writing a story of victory after more than a year this pandemic has begun, but unfortunately I might have to wait a little longer. But this I know for sure, and it gives me hope; most, if not all of the stories I have read and watched ended on a good note.

Light overcomes darkness. Good wins over evil. The protagonist defeats the antagonist.

We just commemorated the greatest story ever told early this month, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

His disciples thought that it was the end when he died and they were full of despair that fateful Friday. On Saturday, they were clueless what will happen and what the future holds. But on Sunday, He rose again. May we anchor on this truth that He Has overcome. He has won.

We might not see it yet, but there is an end to this pandemic. We will definitely have our victory in due time.

This is a call to endure and persevere a little more. This is an encouragement to continue to hope even if all seems lost. This is to implore all of us to have faith and look beyond our circumstances and look to the One who is with us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

He can and will rescue us. I say to you rejoice, again, I say rejoice in the midst of our suffering because He is faithful.

We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials for, we know that they help us develop endurance, and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead us to disappointment. (Romans 5:3-5 NLT)

This season, I have been singing songs to breathe hope and encouragement to my downcast soul and broken heart. May this song by Maverick City titled “Ruins” lift your spirit up just as it did mine.

I look around and all I see, burning buildings, barren trees, hopelessness is starting to wreak havoc. Son of man, I know You see the deepest depth unknown to me. You have planted seeds among the ashes. You rebuild, You restore all that’s broken from the ruins. You redeem, You return all that’s stolen from Your children. That’s what You do. So be still my anxious heart. All that’s gone is never lost. Emmanuel is here and He is faithful. I won’t let praises stop. I’ll sing it from this rubbled rocks. I know You are good and You are able. You raise beauty from ashes, that’s what You do. You turn sorrow to gladness, that’s what You do. I give glory and honor for all that You do. I will sing Hallelujah for all that You do.

Out of these ashes, beauty will rise. Someday, we will dance among the ruins. Our story will have a happy and beautiful ending. Be still our hearts, take courage!


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