Do you have a family member who sometimes makes you feel that it’s just a hopeless situation? Have you told yourself, “I thought it couldn’t get any worse but it did”? Again? And again?

If you were the wife of an abusive man whose history involved drugs, drunk driving resulting in car wrecks, being in and out of jail and if he left you and your children in favor of womanizing, would you overflow with hope for his future (let alone his future influence on the next generation of men)? Would you be grateful for having him in your life? Would you pray for him day and night even if all indications for years and years tell you that there will be no change?

Today is the day to be encouraged! Here is a testimony as another living proof that no one is beyond God’s reach, that He can transform prodigals. The scenario described refers to the real-life Urquicos in a seemingly “hopeless situation” turned around because the wife did not give up on God. Based on evidence from human eyes, the husband seemed like he was beyond (positive) change. Waiting for him to change would look like a foolish thing to do or a waste of limited time and life.

1Cor 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are

God’s sense tends to be opposed to human “common sense”. And many times, that’s the reason God’s Word is not followed. The formula seems wrong in human eyes. But it is an eternal formula from an all-knowing, all-encompassing, all-good, omnipresent God that is not limited by human common sense. It is a formula that defies science, logic, emotion, tradition, culture. But it is a formula that works.

Isa 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The wife in our real-life story looked not on what was seen. Instead she fixed her eyes on what is unseen and the unchanging character of God based on His Word. It required sacrifice on her part. But she kept focused on God and not the circumstances.

2 Cor 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

She not only believed in God; she believed Him. Knowing that His character is supremely holy, she knew she could trust Him even when the situation did not warrant it.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see

She obeyed His Word. And God was faithful to answer her prayers. We heard the story of the wife who prayed her husband home to God.

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Her husband, Danny Urquico, has since come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In 2005, he became a youth pastor and in 2008, he was entrusted to handle Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) Taytay, Metro Manila as its church pastor. He received God’s grace, and now he is a channel of it. His past experience as a prisoner and juvenile delinquent moved him to start CCF’s Jail Ministry in 2004 and the Gabay sa Landas Foundation for street children in 2008. Pastor Danny has dedicated his life to sharing the secrets of his life transformation: Jesus Christ and the Bible. He speaks not only at church but at Marriage and Family Retreats to teach God’s Word to husbands, wives, children, and communities.

The next few posts will share the story of Pastor Danny Urquico, an inspiration to men who think they are hopeless and their families who agree with them. He is now God’s instrument of godly transformation for the next generation of men.

If today you feel hopeless about a loved one, if you feel like giving up on them, remember, do not give up on God who is greater than the most hopeless-looking situation that you are facing today.

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

At 18:26 of the video below, Pastor Danny teaches about Stewardship in Family Relationships during a recent church fast:

Part 2 : Early Years to Humbling Experience

Part 3: The Prodigal Comes Home

Part 4:  From Prodigal to Pastor