Come, hide yourself in Me, be still, and know that I am God

The Lord is still GOD in the midst of the storms and tumults.

We feel insecure, shaken, afraid;

He abides in ultimate power and security.

"Come, hide yourself in Me, be still, and know that I am God."

The shouting of wicked voices fills our hearing and the threats of violence makes us ready to spring and defend ourselves.

Yet the Lord remains unshaken, almighty, sovereign.

On top of all the threats from without we are accused within.

The vile seducer whispers guilt and blame into our souls.

We often listen intently to him as he counsels fear and anxiety.

Yet this is not the voice of the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, lost though they may be.

"Hath no one condemned thee? Neither do I. Go, and sin no more."

Chaos, confusion, darkness surrounds us; winds of change and lightning bolts of the apocalypse frighten us.

Yet the Holy One of Israel changes not.

He is ever reliable, faithful, kind, patient, understanding, compassionate, just and slow to anger, plenteous in mercy.

Oh, my soul! Put down your anchor here!

Moor yourself to this holy Rock of all the ages!

Hide yourself in the wounds of the Crucified.

He cannot be moved. 

He cannot fail.

He cannot deceive.

He calls you: come, my child. Come home. I am your exceedingly great reward; I am your destiny and your ultimate end.

Oh the words I long to hear from Thee, my God:

"You are mine."

Fighting our Crosses

One of the most miserable pitfalls of the Christian life is when the believer fights those crosses which God has imposed on us for the good of our soul, even as a necessity to attain salvation. Difficult relationships, stressful circumstances, poor health, even persecution are crosses which God in His mysterious Providence has allowed to afflict us to bring about the fruits of the life in Christ. We make ourselves exceedingly unhappy when we cannot see God's part and focus only on defeating people and having our own way. The voice of faith speaks this way: God has allowed this cross to afflict me; therefore He is providing the grace for me to accept it with resignation to His will and to bring forth good fruits by cooperating with His Spirit and bearing it with patience.

Originally posted 15 June 2018

Prayer in anguish

O Good Master, Who has loved me since I was a drop of blood in my mother's womb; receive my brokenness, my wounded spirit, and the rejection that is crushing my soul. Please take my tears and this agony and unite them with that divine intention with which You praised God while on earth; may my misery which I richly deserve because of all my sins be a pleasing sacrifice acceptable to Your Father. Please do not punish me as my iniquities require, but in Your vast ocean of mercy hear my prayer for purification, perfect contrition, and growth in virtue. No suffering that is offered to God through You our Redeemer and Good Shepherd is wasted. Grant me to suffer in union with Your own cruel torments, that through a modest share in your cross I may merit eternal life. Amen. 

Originally posted 20 May, 2021