What am I called to do?
Where am I called to be?
Why am I here at this moment?
These are questions that we may encounter in our lives. As a young individual, I tend to come across uncertainty regarding my future. Throughout 2019, I experienced lots of changes in my life. I had my own fair share of victories, struggles, callings, and love stories. Back in 2018, so much was being thrown at me. From graduating high school, entering post-secondary, and starting a new service role in my parish’s youth community, it was truly overwhelming. God had revealed so much to me from where I was 12 months ago. Throughout 2019, God had guided me to adapt to those changes that happened in the past.
To start off the year, I found myself in a very uncertain position. I dropped out of my program in college due to the difficulties I had encountered in the past semester. The initial program I was in was a heavy burden and it caused me to fail a few courses. This caused me to worry so much about my future. To cope with my worries, I decided to pray and take practical steps to be certain that I will have a good future in school. While prudently discerning for the right program for school, I worked a job for several months. This opportunity allowed me to discover more about myself. Through God, I was able to get accepted into my well-discerned program in September and pass every course.
Last year was also an opportunity for me to adapt to my service role in CFC-Youth. In 2018, I was asked to become the Reaching Out Christ to Kids (ROCK) head for my chapter. I was very hesitant to say “yes!” but, after prayer and discernment, the Lord revealed to me that it is part of His unique plan for me. Having very little experience in serving children, the first few moments of my service were rough. However, when Family Conference came along a month into my service, I experienced the first fruitful moments of my service role by seeing love renewed in the many families that attended that conference. Slowly but surely, things started to come together by God’s grace.
In 2019, I found myself to be more involved in the program than what I initially thought. I formed many life-giving friendships and encountered the many fruits of that service. As cliché as it sounds, I learned that God allows me to grow by placing me outside of my comfort zone. We are continually being pushed to be better versions of ourselves in order to become more like Christ. It may be painful, but the end results are worth that growth.
What I learned was that even when I felt uncomfortable, God was still there to help me carry my cross. Though I was often stubborn, He was still present. I doubted myself many times, faced lots of failures, and had many fears and insecurities. In the midst of those battles, God reminded and reaffirmed me. He had spoken to me through the friends, family, and close ones who had supported me during times when I felt lost. With God, I am determined to remain hopeful and collected. I will continue to allow God to lead me back home, where heaven is at.
Continuing the Journey
2019 was the year where I was called to expand on what the Lord has given me. Wherever I am in life, God will always be there. We may be carrying our own personal cross, but its weight is nothing compared to the burdens of the cross Christ was carrying. We must not be afraid of uncertainty because the Lord is always going to be journeying alongside us. Let us look forward to the many victories the Lord will bless us with and continue into the unknown without hesitation. As we continue to walk in our journey onward this year, let us remain hopeful and faithful in our pursuit of God’s infinite love and grace.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:9
Justin Namoro – South 3 ROCK Head | CFC-Youth Pacific Region
