Inspiration for the battle

Some days everything seems like a battle.

Body battling sickness, grown-ups battling messes, children battling each other, grown-ups battling a 3-year-old's arguments and a 5-year-old's attitudes, Mama battling a wiggly screeching baby (EVERY time she needs clothes or diaper changed)...

Battling emotions, fears, anxiety, frustration, impatience, exhaustion... 

Some days it is a battle not to loose hope and just give up.

But tonight I was able to realize, this is what I was made for: to 'fight the good fight' and "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (See 2 Tim 4:7 & Heb 12:1)

And, really, I'm not battling alone...

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9

So tonight, I will attempt to rest easy and rest in Him.

Rest Easy by Andrew Peterson

You are not alone
I will always be with you
Even to the end

You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
So you can rest easy

Do not be afraid
Nothing, nothing in the world
Can come between us now

You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
So you can rest easy

You work so hard to wear yourself down
And you’re running like a rodeo clown
You’re smiling like you’re scared to death
You’re out of faith and all out of breath
You’re so afraid you’ve got nowhere left to go

Well, you are not alone
I will always be with you

You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
You can rest easy

Bringing our distractions before Jesus

How many times have I come before the Lord - entered His presence - with a distracted mind and heart? Too many to count!

Whether in Mass, during adoration or during prayer times it never fails - distractions happen.

I had been beating myself up internally for letting my mind wander or allowing external things to pull my focus away from God. But that is not what God wants from me - it is not helpful.

Father M, at Mass today, told us that when we start to get distracted by the million things running through our heads we just need to bring those thoughts to God.

Father Benedict Groeschel says that we need to "let ourselves be submerged in the presence of Christ." He then goes on to say:

Soon enough...distracting thoughts will enter your mind and unwanted emotions will surface. Instead of trying to shake these off, I have found it beneficial to try to grasp one of these thoughts and look at it in the presence of Christ who seeks my sanctification more than I can ever imagine. ~from Quiet Moments with Benedict Groeschel

In this way I am still able to be in God's presence, with my focus on God, and turn those distraction around. Instead of leading me farther from God these things can lead me closer to Him.

And so tonight as I sat in Mass, distracted by my three small children, I turned my gaze towards God and gave to Him my distractions. I gave my children to Him. I prayed for them. I asked Him to help them love Him and asked Him to bless them.

And that is the best place for my children to be - in God's care. And that is the best place for all my worries, fears, thoughts and desires to be - in God's care.


Ad majorem Dei gloriam