Hope For Today "Trust"

When Thomas was told that they had seen Jesus, he doubted that it was true. He was afraid to hope again.  Too many surprises.  Too much information.  Thomas just couldn’t deal with any more. Like Thomas, some of us have known the discouragement of hopes dashed and opportunities lost.  In our broken fearful lives, we doubt the presence of a loving caring God with us to help. 

God wants to lift us out of whatever sorrow and darkness has clouded our own souls with life’s challenges.  Our part is to realize that we are not seeing reality as clearly as we should.  God is with us, has been with us, providing us whatever we need for whatever we face. 

The resurrection of Jesus proves that the power of God’s love is stronger than all of evil so anything challenging that happens in our lives is something we can bring to God and expect His power to make changes in us – not just in our bodies but in our souls and spirits as well.

There is so little that we finite human beings know about what is going on in our world – both the world around us and the world of our soul.  Jesus knows so much more and is so ready and willing to help us navigate things in a way that will be helpful all around.

To grow and mature and do well in any area of life requires commitment. Maintaining our life with God also takes time and effort. The habits and disciplines we practice need to be consistently carried on if we are to grow and mature. 

God wants us to be responsible and generous with all He has given us – time, abilities, money, possessions. God wants us to ask for wisdom and seek His will in how we use the resources we have been given. He promises to bless us when we do.

We’ve all had far too much experience of how life can be challenging at times.  Whether it is personal challenges, family dysfunction, difficulties at work, issues in the community, or world-wide problems, there are many things that can feel like a burden. How then can God promise us joy in the middle of it all? 

God had filled our world with good things – truth, blessings, His presence, hope and purpose – just to name a few.  St. Patrick’s life is certainly a witness to God’s power to be with us through the many different seasons we face.

We come to God and invite Him into all we are and do because our need for His peace and power is desperate in order for us to not only survive but to thrive in the good plans He’s prepared for us.

Just for today I will adjust myself to what is and not try to adjust everything else to my desires. I will trust that God is working all things for good in my life.

DON’T GIVE UP – PERSERVERE When troubles arise in our lives, we often feel helpless to cope with them.

Doughnuts have both dough and holes and when they are first cut from the raw dough, they don’t look good or taste good.