Encouraging Thoughts - For Those Struggling

[MarysLittleFlower]

There might be people here who are struggling to understand their vocation, or maybe their vocation is being opposed, or they're having difficulty renouncing the world or their will, etc. Maybe we could share any encouraging thoughts, to lift each other up :) If you don't have any personal thoughts, that's okay, we can also share Scriptures, quotes by the Saints, etc! I don't really have any right now... but I'd greatly appreciate some ;) lol! The only thought I had is that - God knows the plans that He has for us and they are good, and He already knows the future.. He already knew that we would face certain obstacles, but He can help us if we turn to Him.

 

God bless :)

[Ima Lurker]

I am sorry that you are struggling. There are so many things I COULD say but I don't know what you're facing. 

 

What is bothering you? 

 

Remember that Our Lord said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." I always thought THIS was comforting because a yoke is shared by 2! Which would mean you and the Lord! 

[AccountDeleted]

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   Mt 6:34

 

 

 

Or for a laugh...

 

 

 

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thank you both! :) by the way Nunsense, that's a beautiful profile picture! :)

Edited August 17, 2013 by MarysLittleFlower

[MarysLittleFlower]

I am sorry that you are struggling. There are so many things I COULD say but I don't know what you're facing. 

 

What is bothering you? 

 

Remember that Our Lord said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." I always thought THIS was comforting because a yoke is shared by 2! Which would mean you and the Lord! 

 

That's a great thought, that God helps us to carry our burdens so we're not alone :) I should remember that more...

 

I guess for me, there are various things like feelings of uncertainty, my struggles with scrupulosity and other problems, family expectations, financial obstacles. I'm trying to just pray and trust God, but sometimes I get discouraged... today I got discouraged cause my family expects me to marry I think. It's not causing me to abandon my discernment, it's just making it very painful. I understand it would be painful for my family too if they knew my thoughts. I'd love for my family to understand and accept my vocation whatever it is, if it's not marriage. Anyways I thought maybe others here have similar or different struggles and we could all sort of share things to help each other.

[Ima Lurker]

Years ago, I was where you are now. 

 

My brother who had become a Benedictine (only to find God wanted him elsewhere) told me, "You know, it seems insurmountable. And then you enter. And your crosses change. Because what you thought you'd have to worry about wasn't accurate."

 

Don't fear the Cross. Embrace it! Be strong! :D 

 

And know so many here pray for you. Truly! 

[Julie de Sales]

I have some quotes that I enjoy reading when I have difficulties in trusting God. Here are some of them:

 

My paternal assistance cannot lack to he who abandons himself in my hands. So you will not miss anything, even when I take off of you all comfort and support on earth. Jesus to St Gemma Galgani

 

We only honor God by trusting in Him. St Catherine of Genoa

 

And regarding scrupulosity:

 

It is the love of oneself who produces all our troubles

It wants to have no defaults

A slight fall brings down, disturbs and takes away all courage

It’s a bitter sourness and not a contrite heart.

 

P.s. Sorry for the translation, it's not the best  :blush: 

[MarysLittleFlower]

Those are beautiful quotes! :D thank you! :)

[abrideofChrist]

Sometimes I like to think of Jesus as an only child.  He left homelife and his career as a carpenter to become a preacher and to die on the cross.  His mother was predicted to have her heart pierced by a sword.  He trusted others to take care of her when he died. This is profound trust.  To trust that God will provide for  your loved ones when you marry or enter a convent or become a priest.

[Gabriela]

Relax. He's God.

[Gabriela]

Or Nunsense's story, which I call to mind super-often: "I'll give you your ticket when we get to the station."

 

Thanks for that, Nunsense. :-)

[AccountDeleted]

There's also that lovely poem about waiting that I like.

 

 

 

 

Wait
by Russell Kelfer

 

 

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

 

© 1980 Russell Kelfer. All rights reserved.

 

 

[Lilllabettt]

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[maximillion]

I struggle lots - though I rarely say so, pride, I think..........

 

I draw comfort from the thought of being curled up as His child in one of the Chambers of His Heart, and say often the famous prayer of Julian of Norwich

 

'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'.