Keeping Faith

 Sometimes it’s a little tough to maintain your faith.   Bad things happen, right?  But where is it written that because we follow Christ we’re supposed to have things easy?   If I recall correctly, Jesus said “If the world hates you, remember it hated me first…”   He also said “pick up your cross DAILY and follow me.”

There was nothing easy about His crucifixion.  It was the ultimate act of self-sacrifice — personal suffering for another’s benefit.  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.   Christ’s whole example in his ministry was one of self-sacrifice.   If we are to be followers of Jesus, then we have to follow his *example*.   We can’t expect things to be easy.  This is not the time for doubt – but rather a time to double-down on our faith in God.

Jesus did say that we are the beloved children of the Father, and that the father will give good things to His children, just as we would provide for our own children. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer “Give us this day our daily bread….”   I ask daily for the things that I need… be it what I need from the weather, or helping me with financial, health, or spiritual issues — (sometimes it’s all of the above).

I’ve found God to be incredibly generous — not always granting me what I think I want, but always providing me what I truly NEED.  Even when seemingly “bad” things happen, I’ve found that those are the times the Lord is giving me for growth – a chance to learn something, a chance to offer something, a chance to be molded to the new creation He intends for me to become.  Sometimes it’s closing one option to give me something much better!!!  A failed dating relationship, can mean meeting your future spouse next.  I’ve seen this not only in my own life, but in the lives of others.  Sometimes it’s God’s way of getting us to talk to Him – even if we neglect him in good times, we always seem to run to him in BAD times.   There are lots of reasons for suffering.

One of the titles of Our Lady is the “Lady of Sorrows”.  If He didn’t spare his own mother of suffering, why should we expect anything different?  Honestly, I think we get less suffering, because we don’t respond in the same way that she did.  I think my takeaway today is to try to follow my mother’s example, and accept any suffering in my life, offering it back in union with Christ’s suffering on the cross.  Of course, we still pray for resolution to our problems so that we can give glory to God for His infinite mercy in solving our problems too!