Part Two

By Anthony B. Sia

July 20, 2009

10:29pm

It’s almost a year now after the chemist licensure examination. And here I am. So far, I did not pass the board. And I am not proud of that. I am just proud that after everything, I still have a relationship with Jesus.

Back then, I was so insecure and worried. Here’s why; I had three 5.0s in my transcript of records, I am a terminated DOST Scholar (though I graduated on time by God’s grace), and I did not pass the board. We were oriented in college (and even in a review center where I went) that if you don’t have the PRC Card that states your name and your designation on it (Chemist, that is), industries would discriminate you and your career in the world of Chemistry will be incomplete. Not to mention a threat of a very low salary because you don’t have the card. Now that’s a little bit scary.

When I was in high school I used to feel so safe and sound about my future because I had really good grades. But now, it’s different. I am a college graduate. Pressures are plenty. Some are pretty stressful.

Whatever the future has in store for me, it will be a matter of how much I will trust God’s wisdom for my life. And He is powerful; beyond any measure. It’s true, He is in control of everything. Up until now, I’m still amazed of the surprises He has for me. Things that I have never imagined would happen.

Well, about that scary thing, I just entrusted it to God and acknowledged that He has planned the best for me. That’s what Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. And I believe it. I knew in my heart that God is faithful to His promises.

About two weeks after that scary thing, God surprised me. A close friend of mine back in College texted my brother Pogs. His message was an invitation for a job application in a polymer company in Bataan where he is working. Now here’s the bigger surprise; there are two vacancies for QC Laboratory Analysts. And he told nobody but us; Me, and Pogs, a brother in Christ who is my college classmate. I wanted to call this brother Joshua (name issues, long story) but I’m still trying to find a good timing for that. So we sent our resumes to him and he made the rest of the effort aside from submitting the resumes to their HR.

After a month, the company gave us a call. We were invited for an interview. And the next events were coming so fast. Before we knew it we were hired and enjoying God’s blessings in a place that I’d like to call a place of inheritance (because this is where I realized that wherever God leads us to go, He has an inheritance for us there)—in Bataan.

I remember our first day, the interview, we were in informal (denim) outfit and we just asked permission from a small fresh coconut store owner to allow us to change our clothes inside his small cute wooden home. Thank you manong and we would like to thank our sponsors; thank you sponsors! (this one I learned from Mike Corpuz). We brought some formal clothes but we decided to change upon arriving in Bataan so that the iron-pressed outfit would be preserved before we entered the company’s compound.

And we were there ready for the interview. Just by seeing the surroundings and the setup of everything, you could tell that we will be hired. First, we were faithful that we will be hired. Second, there were only two applicants, Pogs and me, for two vacancies. When God gives you a surprise, you will really be surprised.

So we were hired. And, by God’s grace we are regular employees now; enjoying a compensation that is good for a starting young professional. Best of all, enjoying a relationship with God and relationship with the saints we met in Olongapo and in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Our God is awesome. This is the title of the book (given by a disciple) I wish to finish this year. He has an inheritance for each of us and He will keep on creating things that will make us in awe of His power and will teach us to be still and know that He is God.

Part One
December 23, 2008; 12:30mn
By Anthony B. Sia

When you don't know what to do; when you fear about the future; when you are in a great sadness and depression; when there is a enormous challenge and task ahead--when you are in these situations, the best thing to do is be still and just feel the presence and comfort of the Lord.

The night of September 8, 2008, a night before our big day (the Licensure Examination for Chemists), everybody at the dormitory was so nervous. I myself could not sleep with my heartbeat so fast. I don’t know what to do. I knew I am not going to pass the exam.

I fear the consequences of not passing it. I fear about my future.

If you might ask the reason behind my statement of not passing, well, here it is:

April 2008, we enrolled at a review center. I was excited. Despite my health situation I was eager to just study hard and do my best. The first two weeks of the review was really tough. It was the most stressful weeks of my life.After those weeks, I was bed ridden. After sleepless nights of completing the three problem sets, I was really sick.

Now, about my sickness, I don’t want to discuss it here but my close friends and many disciples know it. Anyway, I was bed ridden and I just decided not to attend the review classes anymore.

Going back to the night before the big day. When you’re about to take the board examination and you are sure you will not pass it, it feels like that is the most depressing night of your life.

Good thing the sister of my grandmother (mother side) gave me this old-school but good mp3 player. During that restless night of torture, I just listened to some Kingdom songs. I came across this beautiful acapella. It was not really my favorite christian melody, not until that time.

That night, the song was so comforting and I never thought it was that beautiful. Sang by the ICOC Kingdom Choir entitled Be still and know I am God, the song was probably inspired by Psalm 46 which has the following wordings in verses nine to ten (NIV):

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

After listening to that tune I told myself: “It is sad when all the wories and anxieties of this world overwhelm us with great dispair without us realizing that our God is great, far greater than any problem or situation we could ever imagine. That our God, our Lord Jesus, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Name above every name, the One who has been entrusted to rule over the heavens and the earth—He is the One who holds the future. He is the One we should put our faith and trust in.”

As I realized that, I just felt deep within my heart an awesome sense of security and encouragement. Who holds the future but God alone.

And so I slept that night (that horrible night) and just thanked the Lord that I can be still and know that He is God.

I arrived at the apartment 8:45 this morning from a night shift in polymer laboratory. I just took a bath and slept right away. I woke up 3pm and I was very hungry. I decided to go to balanga city. A friend told me there's a great fastfood in the city; the name is called J2 Fastfood. I entered the place. A "pang-masa" ambiance welcomed me. I searched for the food. Wow! It looks delicious and clean. I ate 1 piece of fried fish and 1.5 cups of rice. I also asked for a soup. The soup was great. I also ordered 1 buko pie worth php17; also good. After paying php110 for my food it was worth it for a delicious and good food.