Have you ever just stopped for a while and gazed around, a moment of silence to simply appreciate life as it is?
Lately, by chance, I read a book about time travel. Then today, I watched a movie with the same theme. It was so cool. Filipino films are evolving — they’re not just about love anymore. They hold plot twists that speak to one’s values, even challenge how we see life. Unlike the stories back then, which often revolved around heartbreak and sorrow, today’s redemptive narratives feel more healing, more whole.
As I grow older, I realize I no longer enjoy stories that are full of pain. Life is already hard as it is. I’d rather watch something that leaves me better; stories that redeem, restore, and remind me of hope.
I’ve written many blogs in the quiet corner of my room. They were born out of silence, but somehow, they’ve found their way into unexpected spaces. Maybe even into the space between your heart. And if you’ve found your way here, I hope you also find a friend in this space.
In person, I might not seem that friendly. Maybe it’s the awkwardness, or the way introverts like me tend to hide behind quiet smiles and soft nods. But thank God for my job — I get to meet hundreds of students each semester, and somewhere in those moments, I open a little more. And surely, once I feel safe enough, once I get comfortable, you’ll find the MerrelYa in me that often hides. The writer. The soft warrior. The girl back then, but a woman now, who sees beauty even in silence.
We're all so excited to grow up.
When you’re young, you often talk about the future — how exciting it is to grow up, to build your dreams, to travel to places you’ve only seen in movies. You dream of meeting your person, of slowly becoming your future self, fulfilling the life you’ve always envisioned.
But somewhere along the way, life happens. And you realize it’s not just about achieving dreams, getting what you want, or chasing pleasure. You go through seasons of deep emotions, some so overwhelming they cloud your mind and make you feel lost, even disappointed with life.
Things change. What once felt familiar may fade. Sometimes it gets better; other times, it gets worse.
So how do we really live?
Yes, we look forward — we hope, we believe in the beauty of what’s to come. That’s a wonderful kind of faith. But hope also exists in the now, in moments we hesitate to step into, in days we can barely smile.
The present, after all, is called a gift for a reason. We can long for the beauty of tomorrow, but we’re not always promised another day. The people we love may change. We ourselves may change. The life we worked so hard for might unravel. Everything can shift.
That’s why I deeply admire people who live with open hands. Those who aren’t bound by past pain or paralyzed by fear of the future. People who smile quietly, who live with contentment, not because their life is perfect, but because their hearts are at peace.
They have this gentle presence, not needing to prove anything to the world just faithfully walking, serving the Lord. There’s something so beautiful about that kind of life. Not loud. Not flashy. But full of meaning. Full of peace. Full of presence. Full of gratitude in the present moments.
And they made me realize that now is something we shouldn’t take for granted.
So how can we honor this moment?
How can we live in peace even when life feels uncertain, unstable, or heavy?
Maybe that’s why you’re here.
Maybe you’ve been searching for something deeper — something that lasts.
If you haven’t heard this redemptive story before, let me tell you why now matters so much.
Thousands of years ago, someone stepped into a place that was never meant for Him. He was the kind of man we might call a “walking green flag” today — pure, gentle, and righteous. He lived a blameless life. He sought out the broken, the lame, the sick, and the forgotten. He met people in their darkest hours. He became a friend to the lonely, a Father to the lost, and a Savior to those who had no one. People who had lost all hope came to Him. And that includes us.
But because of sin, the one that crept deeply into our being, we deserve nothing but death. Our sins separate us from God's glory. Yes, God loves us, but He does not love the sin lurking inside us: our pride, self-centeredness, materialism, greed, discontentment, hardened hearts, disobedience, lust, and unforgiveness. Being a holy and loving God, He cannot let sin remain in His presence. We deserved to be cast away.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God didn’t leave us in the pit of our sin. We can come to the Father because He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ so we can have eternal life. Jesus died in our place.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) reminds us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
He didn’t abandon us in our brokenness; instead, He cleanses us.
And here’s the thing:
You don’t need to list your good works.
You don’t need to prove you’re good enough to be saved.
You don’t need to work hard to earn it.
The Bible says in Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV):
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
All it takes is a heart that confesses.
A heart that surrenders.
A heart willing to be changed.
A heart willing to come to the Father and fall into His grace.
And when you do, you can hold onto this promise:
Romans 10:13 (NKJV) – “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
And if you're wondering how to grow this faith, it starts here:
Romans 10:17 (NKJV) – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Do it one day at a time. Come as you are. Be here, now — in this present moment.
This is how we honor today. This is how we live in peace.
To come into His presence with open hands, so it feels lighter when we lift our hands and bend our knees.
Come, stop for a while.
