“My Grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“Consider the life of God…for the salvation and sanctification of your soul. Consider the use that you make of these treasures of grace, of these efforts of My love” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1758
Living in the world can make the soul feel like it is dehydrated. Thirst, fatigue, increased heart rate, shortness of breath and dizziness are just some of the effects dehydration can have on your body. Struggling through this world can certainly cause weariness, stress to make your heart race, make the world spin and take your breath away. A lack of trust in God causes a thirst within your soul. “O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” Psalm 63:1
The times we face that seem barren and hottest create a thirst in our soul for God. The soul finds itself feeling restless because of this thirst for God. As St. Augustine said in his ‘Confessions’, ‘our hearts are restless, until they rest in God’
I feel that God allows these times to enter into our life to help us learn that He is the answer for this thirst. I think that God does this to make us thirst for Him. For only in God do we find true peace.
I have looked back over my life and seen so many times that I was restless. In each instance, God was present and pouring graces into the moment. I recognized the peace I felt but didn’t allow myself to draw upon what God was offering to me. I call these moments my “Christmas Lights Theology”. God has been present and prevalent at all times of my life, both the good and bad. To look back at one’s life in retrospect and see His presence as a ‘twinkling light’ is what this ‘theology’ is all about for me. I can look back as far as I remember as see God’s brightness shining through the cold and dark periods – the challenging times as well as the incredible blessings. I can see the moments clearly and suggest everyone to take time to reflect upon God’s presence throughout their lives. Here are just some examples. When I was in basic training, God gave me peace and strength. You can imaging the stresses of basic training – strange place, lots of yelling, pressure to perform and so much more. But, I remember the first Sunday, after 4 days of this relentless stress, we had the opportunity to attend church services. The drill instructor highly suggested for us to attend. At church, they played praise music and the reverend gave uplifting messages of God’s love. Mostly, we weren’t getting yelled at. Looking back now, I can tell this was really God speaking to me through the present storm to call me to Him. I felt so great in these services each week, but I wasn’t ready to listen to God. So, when basic was done, I didn’t maintain attendance on Sundays. I know this bothered God and broke His heart, but He is persistent and ever loving. He continued to pursue me and never will stop through all my life.
Remember the times that God was present, even if you didn’t care at that moment, and draw upon the refreshment of His presence and grace. God is timeliness and will pour graces into that moment from your present joys and prayers of thanks for that Divine presence. I journal all the moments God was present in my past as I recall them. I’ve learned trust through my reflections on my life’s ‘Christmas lights’ because never was there a moment when God wasn’t present. In all the moments of my life upon which I reflect, God is always there asking me to quench my thirst on His living water. He has never failed to love and guide me, or anyone, He never will fail. That knowledge has bolstered the strength of my faith and someday, I pray that faith burst from its seedling into a great tree.
Trust God and open your heart to His guidance and Will – be open to His grace. And don’t forget to show your thanks to Him.
“Oh, how indifferent are souls to so much goodness, to so many proofs of love! My Heart drinks only of the ingratitude and forgetfulness of souls living in the world. They have time for everything, but they have no time to come to Me for graces”. Divine Mercy in my soul # 367
“I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” 2 Corinthians 12:9