God can turn things around in an instant.
A peek inside God Moments II: Recognizing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Joseph Karl Publishing; available Fall 2011).
A peek inside God Moments II: Recognizing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Joseph Karl Publishing; available Fall 2011).
Chapter 8 ~ Patience
“God does not require of us the martyrdom of the body; he requires only the martyrdom of the heart, and the will.” St. John Vianney
Maybe a Little Personal
God can turn things around in an instant.
By Sharon Cecil
This is difficult to share, but if it helps one person to find comfort the way I did yesterday, it will be worth it. For the past couple of weeks, I have been experiencing some great sadness. I attributed it to a couple of changes going on in my life, especially because of some very stressful economic problems. I get down as everyone does, and what I have found works best for me is to allow myself to truly feel the way I do. After a day or two, I usually feel better, actually empowered knowing that I am in touch with my feelings and can handle it.
While I always rely heavily on prayer, especially during such times as this, sometimes it is difficult to pray. I look for comfort in scripture and take my mind off of things by reading, mostly something spiritual like encouragement from one of the saints. This two week period was starting to frighten me though, because I had never experienced these feelings for so long without some obvious or serious trigger.
Well, I got the answer to my prayer last night - it came straight from the words of Padre Pio. I have always loved Him and even had the great blessing of being prayed over years ago by someone who acquired one of his blood stained gloves. I knew of his powerful intercession, just like some of my other favorites like St. Gerard Majella, St. Therese the Little Flower, St. Francis, St. Augustine --- they go on and on. But I scrambled for relief after offering my suffering again and again.
I had actually been looking for a book of mine that I often go to by Ronda DeSola Chervin called "Quotable Saints." I finally found it and came across a quote by Padre Pio that started this healing process. "Walk with simplicity in the way of the Lord and do not torment your spirit. Learn to hate your faults, but to hate them calmly." I had been beating up on myself pretty bad during this time, trying to figure out how to overcome some of my challenges. So I went to the computer and found a site www.padrepiodevotions.org where I saw another quote that woke me out of my gloom. "Don't allow any sadness to dwell in your soul, for sadness prevents the Holy Spirit from acting freely." I felt so much grace and comfort from his words, which like all of the saints, point to following Jesus to the Father. I actually felt that there must have been some component of the devil preying on my weakness to incapacitate me. However, I accept the grace of God to allow times of suffering for His purpose.
I do not want to turn anyone away from professional help for emotional problems or imply that when we have depression or anxiety that it is because we allowed it. I simply am praising God today for the healing words that our friend Padre Pio gave me. I want to share that God can turn things around in someone's life in an instant when we seek Him and patiently live out His Divine Providence. The book and the website I mentioned may benefit you, too, or someone that you know.
Sharon Cecil is a mother, grandmother, writer, and evangelizer of God’s love. Her multi-faceted lay apostolate draws people to parish life, focuses on the patron saint of each parish, conducts homeless outreach, and promotes the Rosary, especially to end abortion. Visit her blog at www.savebabies-savesouls.blogspot.com.
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From the back cover of God Moments II:
In the sequel to God Moments: Stories That Inspire, Moments to Remember, Catholic authors, pro-life advocates, bloggers, home educators, a radio show host, speakers, a Marian Catechist, and publishers join author Michele Elena Bondi in sharing their encounters with the Divine through stories which encourage you to recognize the Holy Spirit working within you and through you. Experience the inspiring God Moments of Nancy Carabio Belanger, Belinda Bondi, Andre J. Bottesi, Rejeanne Buckley, Chris Capolino, Sharon Cecil, Maribeth Criscenti, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Gene X. Kortsha, Janet MacKinnon, Tom Mulcahy, Sean McVeigh, Paul A. Ray, Susan Schoenstein, and Jerry Weber.
May God Moments: Recognizing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit create a greater awareness of God’s unfathomable love for you and for every person, increase your understanding of the meaning and purpose of your life, and inspire you to greater virtue and deeper surrender to God.
Available Fall, 2011
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God Moments II cover copyright 2011 Joseph Karl Publishing. Cover design by award-winning graphic designer Roseann Nieman of Niemanart Graphics. www.niemanartgraphics.com