There comes a time when tribulations make us think we are smarter than God. These are the times when apart from our faith, our characters are tested.
Have you been in a situation or situations when you prayed and still everything went wrong? Then you wonder if God answers prayers or even listened to you. Have you ever doubted the presence of God and His promise to be with us in all situations? You now get disillusioned and take your destiny into your own hands as we usually say.
You are not alone. You are never going to be the last person to experience that. I’ve been there and know how it feels. As a matter of fact, I was in such a situation recently.
The most difficult part of Christian faith is to have unflinching believe in the fact that God loves us very much and knows all things…even the end from the beginning.
Everyday life circumstances often conflict with faith. We have no powers over these most of the time.
We are quick to forget the many times things work out effortlessly for us, sometimes even without prayers. It therefore becomes difficult to accept we can and often fail after praying and fasting more than we have ever done!
The simple truth is the fact that we wanted our own premeditated results rather than God’s will. Why is it so difficult to allow God’s will to prevail? This is a major test of our character.
Do we realise that if we lose something, God could have provided a better alternative down the line?
In the middle of stormy situations, we run to God for a quick fix. We pray and fast, expecting the quick fix which never comes. We never think that the storm could have been created by God or with God’s knowledge to help us fit into His plan for us.
Let’s look at it this way:
What would happen if you were to be sacked from your job. During your sad moments after the loss, you try to get another job without success. Then one day, you remember a skill you had and tried to render it as a service. You got “lucky”. Some people were willing to patronize you. Wow suddenly, you forget the feeling of loss and you are now gainfully employed. Could this have been God’s plan all the while? Only God knows! That’s what we should believe.
If you could rewind back to the moment of your loss you will remember how you felt lost and forsaken. How you thought God disappointed you. How you questioned his love for you. Remember how you couldn’t feel God’s presence in the midst of it all. You will remember not seeing any good in the very sad situation.
We go through these turbulences because we will not let God Be God. If you ask that His will be done, you should be ready to accept whatever His will is for you. Remember Christ’s words: “…May your will be done.”
Can’t we be like children who ask their parents for a particular thing, but gladly receive the alternative they are given?
Our lives will be a lot easier if we gladly accept God’s will in all things, no matter how unpleasant. If we profess faith in the goodness of the all-knowing Father, we should totally trust in Him. We must endeavour to pass our test of character. We should allow God to be God, while we do our best and accept whatever finally comes our way.
This Advent as we strive to increase our faith and get closer to God, may He give us the necessary graces to cope with life and worthily celebrate the birth of Christ.
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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