WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT MARCH 29-APRIL 2, 2021
The famous superheroes comics that have become movies are the DC and Marvel comics. As we transition into the month of April, we will be focusing on some encouragement we can learn from some famous and loved superheroes while also recognizing the hero in you and the best hero of all, the only One who truly saved the world, Jesus.
Justice League. Snyder’s Justice League was recently released, showing the full story of how Justice League came to be. In summary, Batman knew an enemy was coming and wanted to assemble a team. He reached out to Wonder Woman who helped him recruit the Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Superman. It took a while to get them together, but the hero inside them to use their special gifts for the good of the world grew inside them and fueled them to do whatever they had to do to ensure victory.
We won’t be going in detail due to wanting to avoid spoilers, but we will be talking about a general lesson here. Teamwork, unity.
In almost all the hero movies, teamwork is a highlight. When people try to do things themselves, work for themselves, or think only of themselves, gifts are wasted, seeds miss being planted, and energy is drained. And maybe you feel like that at the moment.
• For parents, trying to work hard for the family and efforts don’t seem appreciated, acknowledged, or affirmed. And maybe you feel as if you’re the only one working for your family, trying so hard to make things better when you only feel tired.
• For students, trying to just pass every subject, not minding the sacrifice you make in the effort to do better in school.
• For families, trying to get by every day, in the individual work, that as a family, you only seem to be under the same house without feeling like you’re a home.
Your family is your team. So there’s Batman, trying to get everyone to work together and Wonder Woman who wants to help but also has some challenges to overcome too. And then there’s Cyborg who feels useless and thinks he looks like a monster, Flash who wants to do something so badly but needs guidance, Aquaman who wants to do things alone, and Superman who was just resurrected.
Which are you in your family? As you reflect on that, remember that neither of them are to be cancelled or invalidated. Every emotion and every challenge is valid but it does not provide the excuse to sulk, isolate, or stay in that situation. Just as the Justice League learned to open up, set aside the unimportant things, and work together, your family can too.
There are individual challenges that can help each one grow but there are family challenges that are also there to help your family grow as one. Each season may not be easy, but they are necessary to help you grow from one situation to the next.
But how?
• Survey. Survey the situation you’re in and the situation your family is in. Every family has different cultures, beliefs, and struggles, so one family’s way of fighting battles won’t always be the same for others. Survey your own situation as well, for you won’t know how to go on if you don’t know where you are.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2
• Submit. Wives submit to your husbands (Ephesians 5:22), kids to your parents (Ephesians 6:1). This is not to “be under” someone or be bossed around but to be under guidance and follow the structure that God originally designed for families. Submission is not a bad thing. It’s actually freeing. It may take a while to get used to obedience, rules, respect, and guidance, but it helps bring order, peace, and wholeness.
“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6
• Surrender. Surrendering to one other in a family could be in the form of opening up, sharing what’s going on, and for kids, releasing full control to parents’ control. Once again, not to be “under” someone but to show respect and honor. And above all, surrender both individual and family problems and struggles to God. The results to your prayers may not be answered right away but every prayer isn’t wasted. Stay faithful.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:10
The Justice League’s individual powers are great but more powerful and impactful together. They were able to overcome their personal struggles by also working together to overcome and defeat the main enemy.
Blessings!
PRECIOUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DAVAO