Fr. Mark-Mary and Sr. Mariae Agnus Dei talk about how to let love deal with your “stuff”.
We all have things we struggle with—it’s just a part of being human. But if we don’t let love into our struggles, they’ll never be healed. When we let love in, we find peace, healing, and hope in our trials. When we run to cover our struggles with anything else, all we’ll find is emptiness.
So, how can we let love deal with our stuff? We have to start with faith. If you look at the miracles in the Gospels, every miracle is preceded by faith. God has us at all times, and is never without control. The first step in accepting his love for us is to trust that he is going to take care of us and our struggles.
The next step is to give God your struggles and all the “stuff” you’re ashamed of. The hunger that God has for our hearts is infinitely greater than we could ever imagine. He not only desires all of our talents and gifts, but our failures and struggles.
Try these four things to give your stuff to God, and let love into your struggles:
- Set aside 10 minutes a day and be honest with God, telling him all the things you’re struggling with.
- Ask God what he thinks about your stuff, and just listen.
- Ask God what you should do about your stuff, and again just listen to what he has to say.
- Thank God, and trust that he has heard your prayer. Know that he will help you through this.
God never misses an opportunity to help us. Let love transform your life and your struggles first through prayer and faith, then through actions and miracles.
Check out The Sisters of Life podcast, “Let Love”.
Meet Fr. Mark-Mary
Father Mark-Mary was ordained as a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal (CFR) in 2018 and lives at a friary in the Bronx.
The mission of the CFRs is to wholeheartedly embrace Jesus through fidelity to the Church and her Sacraments. Paired with their commitment to prayer, contemplation, and study of Sacred Scripture, the CFRs serve those around them, especially the poor, in the footsteps of Christ.
Discover beautiful music from the CFRs and Fr. Mark-Mary’s book Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Spiritual Progress, both available from Ascension.