I had spiritual direction on Tuesday. I always look forward to this hour because I have a wonderful spiritual director who helps me to understand my heart better, where God is leading me and how to be more docile to His will. As I continued to talk I felt a freedom take my heart captive and my soul felt SO free! My tone became more excited! As I spoke about the struggles and joys of the past few weeks I couldn't help but feel engulfed in God's merciful love! I was so joyous that I almost cried. The beauty of merciful Love, very often, overwhelms me!
The more I talked the more I understood what God is doing in my heart. He is teaching me how to be more child-like again. I have been reading Story of a Soul to help me prepare for the retreat our LifeTeen group is having this November. This is my second time reading it and I feel as though I understand, in a different way, what St. Therese meant about her "Little Way". Through my spiritual reading and my daily lectio divina (prayerful reading of Scripture), the story of her life has helped me to see how God is allowing me to grow as His child; how to let go and allow my Father to take care of me. It's humbling to have to depend on someone, but beautiful to be able to depend on God like that!
One Scripture verse that has really been speaking to my heart lately is from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "...but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' I will rather boast more gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." Children can't always do things on their own although they have the heartfelt desire to. It's the same with all of us, especially with me! I want so badly to do great and holy things for the glory of the Lord, but because of my human weakness, I can't do it on my own. As I sat there talking with my spiritual director, it hit me. The more I'm content with my weakness the more I am glorifying the Lord and doing great and holy things in His name. "Great and Holy things" are not always defined by our actions but by our submission to His will in our lives - winning or losing!
This week I would like to submit a challenge to everyone, including myself. Let's take this week to be more child-like and content with the way God works through us in great or small things. May we allow the peace of Christ to reign in our hearts and remember how, as a child, we have nothing to worry about because our Father in Heaven is taking care of us!
Written by: Alycia
