Christians are not spared from difficult moments in life. Some mistaken versions of Christianity preach that if we give ourselves over to Jesus, nothing bad will ever happen to us. But our life experience teaches us that is not true. Looking at scripture, the devil tempted Jesus to throw himself from the Temple, claiming that angels would protect him. However, Jesus refused to put God to the test by asking for miraculous protection (Matthew 4:5–7). Faith does mean a life without suffering.
What, then, does faith mean? What are we supposed to do when living feels like one battle after another? Faith is a living relationship with God. It means trusting Him and accepting what He reveals (CCC 150). God is with us through every battle. Remembering that is perhaps the most important thing of all.
Jesus did not have it easy. People questioned his authority. He was beaten, mocked, stripped of his garments and crucified. Most of his closest friends abandoned him in his moment of need. He also knew grief and wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35). The God we serve knows our struggles and weaknesses. In Jesus, God has entered our suffering (CCC 1505).
Ray Repp’s song, Sing Out, My Soul, offers helpful words for difficult moments.
Sing out, my soul, to the Lord
For He alone understands
The loneliness you live in
Place all your cares in His hands
In moments of crisis, we can feel utterly alone. No one seems to have time to listen or understand. Their words and advice do not seem to make a difference to that hollow feeling within us. Ever felt alone while surrounded by people? What can we do? We can turn to the Lord and pour out our hearts through tears, words or silence.
Don’t be afraid to bring anger, loneliness and frustration to him. Prayer is a space where we do not need to pretend that we are fine. Even when words fail, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). Tears are not a failure of faith.
His Love will Carry You Along
Never forget, as you pour out your soul, that God loves you. Even when you have strayed and messed up your life, He calls you home. The father in the parable of the prodigal son runs to welcome his returning child (Luke 15:20). God’s mercy invites us to repentance and reconciliation. The most basic truth of our faith is that we are loved by God.
St Paul assures us that neither death nor life, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38–39). Our suffering does not mean that God has stopped loving us.
Yes, my soul, He can mend your heart
And make it whole
Heartbreak and emotional pain are sometimes worse than physical pain. When our hearts are broken, we may turn to alcohol, drugs, sex, endless scrolling, food or overwork to fill the emptiness inside. These things can become ways of avoiding pain and usually leave us more wounded than before.
However, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). St Augustine reminds us that our hearts are restless until they rest in God (CCC 30). Our deepest longing is for the God who made us and loves us.
Both spiritual and physical healing take time. Give things time and space. Muddy waters left to settle become clear.
Yes, my soul, He will show His Face
In all you need
Faith means trusting that God is with us in our suffering. Sometimes relief comes quickly; at other times, it does not. We may never fully understand why. The Catechism acknowledges that even intense prayer does not always bring physical healing (CCC 1508). We can keep praying and hoping…
God’s love reaches us through people who listen, check in on us, correct us and encourage us. We can become those people for someone else.
We encounter Christ in prayer, Scripture and acts of charity. He promises to be with those gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20). At Mass, we bring our wounded hearts to Him. In the Eucharist, Christ is truly present in a unique way, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity (CCC 1374). We can sit before Him with the things we cannot explain. Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament really does heal.
When we mourn someone, Christian hope does not erase their absence. We still miss their voice and presence. But Christ’s resurrection opens a future beyond death (CCC 1681). For those mourning, please grieve, cry and pour out your heart to God, entrusting your loved ones to His mercy.
And so today, sing out your soul to the Lord. Place your cares in His hands. He’ll be there when you’re in need and His love will carry you along.
To listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXVVT0eyzFo
