20/05/2024
DO YOU DESPAIR WHEN YOU CANNOT DO WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU SHOULD?
Try trusting - and read the following witness!
WORLD WIDE WOMEN'S WAVE OF PRAYER: 3.20.
Today I am in Greece - and I discover new things that prevent me from doing a live Prayer meeting!! I am using a different computer, and the camera will not work with the server!!!
But I will not despair! Jesus tells us that we will have many trials in the world. And the more we have suffered in the past, the more these current trials lead us to recognise previous suffering which we have overcome in some way - but not known how to allow Christ's forgiveness and purity of heart into.
I have had a throat infection for 6 days now - and when yesterday I thought it was really getting better, I was so relieved... but today it is painful again. What it triggered in me was my childhood despair and grief.... lack of human kindness and lack of trust in God's Love.
I had never consciously - from that pain - forgiven my family for their indifference to my needs. They knew not what they did. But in maturity in Christ, I have to re-learn MY response. If my life in Christ, is on the cross, and I have little freedom to move or act, I keep looking to the Father, and see what is possible for me to do. And do it.
St Paul said 'I do not even judge myself', and we too need to be open to the mercy of God - not simply for others, but for ourselves when we cannot do what we have expected ourselves to do. I re-consider His Word alive in me, leading me, and SEE in Wisdom, Love and compassion, what is possible.
Christ responded on the Cross to 'what He saw the Father doing'....and the prayers that were emerging in His Heart because of His physical pain.. Forbearance, blessing and praying for the broken-hearted and abandoned souls, ... and in effect joining us too to His Mother, and encouraging us to be like John, the only disciple to stay with Christ to the Cross, and become the son of Mary.
And He prayed forgiveness for those who crucified Him..'they know not what they do'... and finally He commended His Spirit to God the Father.....
I think of Christ's pain while on the cross - and the wonder of what He achieved, because He still trusted in His mission of salvation...being obedient to God the Father, and did not sink into self-pity - even though He cried out in His Pain, 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'. And we too - whatever we are suffering long term - we call out to God - and call on the prayers of our Lord while on the Cross and give trust to God the Father. If we are trying to please people, we will never serve our Father in Love and thanksgiving. Only the Holy Spirit will see us through. Not the human spirit and the impurity of self-interest.
So I will prayer for the whole world -
For all people to face their suffering, grief, shame and intransigence - that we forgive and repent, and seek the pure heart of Christ, in Love for the Father and live for the prayer and Love of Christ, to Strengthen us in Love and Grace. That even in the tiny acts or prayers of mercy that can emerge from a broken, but undivided heart hidden in Christ in God.
And I pray for the prayers of the people of Faith to build those who govern in all areas of the world. Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us.
HOW DO YOU FIGHT THOSE MOMENTS OF DESPAIR, SELF-HATRED OR LACK OF TRUST IN GOD?
