Too many people are carried away by their problems and the difficulties of this life and have made “God, what will you do for me?” an anthem! Every place you turn, you find someone’s head down, and they’re complaining! Asking God “Why?” I am sympathetic towards peoples’ situations and whatever it is they may be going through. I have immense compassion for the poor, the broken-hearted and the lonely.. By all means, I want to do something to change and touch the lives of the broken… the ones the Lord will entrust to me and the ones I come in contact with. But I admire the broken-hearted people who choose not to complain in the face of suffering! Grumbling is totally wrong… you accept good gifts from God and thank Him for it, why not accept trials and thank God for them as well? You want to keep on swimming in royalty? That’s not possible, my friend. Before you can enter Heaven, you’ve got to be ‘tried and tested’ and oh! You’ve got to pass. This is what the saints had to go through, had to endure before receiving the reward: Eternity! Some of you might probably sigh, after reading this and say “How can I persevere in the face of suffering when I am likely to lose everything?”, you aren’t the only one… people have lost families in floods, wars, to diseases, etc… and I definitely know of a good number of these people who’ve offered up that suffering to God and have refused to complain, grumble or question God.
Will you do the same or are you just going to sit in your shell asking questions forever?
You are reading these words from one who has been through trials herself. I have endured a lot of persecutions just because I’ve made up my mind to live an upright, moral life. Society has a way of impacting people.. I have never been impacted negatively, I have never lived life a certain way just ‘cause I thought it was cool to live that way. I have never been a victim of peer pressure. I don’t live the way society wants me to live; I live the way God wants me to live. People might see my life as boring and all that but I know whom I’m living for and will keep pressing on. My ultimate desire is to see Jesus , face to face! Yes! I’ve been through trials and have never wavered and I want to urge you to do same. Instead of asking “Why?”, choose to be happy! Choose to accept, with open arms, whatever God has for you and He will be so delighted and bestow on you more blessings, beyond your imagination!
Manuel Lozano Garrido was struck by paralysis for most of his life, he never questioned why? Those who knew him, say, he always had a happy countenance and never lost his sense of humour. Today, Manuel is known both far and wide and will be beatified on the 12th June, 2010. St. Rita of Cascia was refused entry into the Monastery, she never gave up. In the end, she was rewarded. When St. Anthony’s sermons were met with rejection, he didn’t lose hope; stories have it that he begun preaching, instead, to the fishes and this act, was what drew peoples’ attention. When St. Therese of Lisieux wanted to be in the Monastery at a young age, she was refused but she never gave up and yes! She was rewarded, she did infact enter the Monastery at age 15.
You see, the Saints, before you had been faced with trials but what sets them apart from the rest? They held on! When I am discouraged or weighed down, I always, always love to read about the Saints and great people who preserved ‘till the end and it gives me hope. Those who fight on will never go empty. So ask the Lord today in prayer, “Lord, what can I do for you? How can my life be pleasing to you? What task have you got for me? How can I glorify your Name, more and more each day?” This will put a smile on the Father’s face and He will love you even more!
And if you’re a beginner in matters like these.. There are countless ways to make God happy. Live a Godly life… choose to do the right things… whenever the devil comes with his lies and deception, bundle and throw him out…back to where he came from – The dirty pit of Hell! Dedicate your life caring for the needs of others and make it a duty to make Christ known where He is not known, even if it’ll cost you your life! I always say this, I desired martyrdom as a teenager. I was desperately seeking an opportunity where my efforts for Jesus would cost me my life. I would get in arguments with people who’d misinterpret the Bible but somehow, martyrdom never came and I kept wondering to myself. So I did what St. Therese did, I prayed to God, I wanted Him to show me, to reveal my vocation and dear friend, God did just that. My vocation is Charity and teaching! I am in this world for others… friends would call at anytime of day just to tell me about something unpleasant that happened to them, I’d receive emails and SMS from people wanting prayer and seeking direction and I’d direct them to God for He only has got all the answers. I’d sit for long hours listening to people tell me their stories and how stuck they are in their present situation and I’ve got no choice but to listen to them all for this is why I’m on earth… this is what I’ve decided to do for God. Your vocation mightn’t be Charity but pray and seek God’s face, ask Him to show you what you’re on earth for and what you can do for Him and believe me, He will answer.
When you dedicate your time in His service and make “God, what can I d for you?” your Motto, God will be so pleased, He’d do something for you as well.
It is time you start asking what you can do for God and not what God can do for you, for even the air you breathe, the gift of life is enough miracle, enough privilege to be thankful for, so what will you do for Him in return?
Praying you find your vocation and use it to the glory of God,
Rita Pam Tarachi
