My lesson of late is to learn to accept what comes to me each day. Instead of complaining about things that don’t go well, I’ve been trying to trust that God is teaching me something, and I just need to surrender in the moment. I have been relatively peaceful despite what has come my way. I was beginning to think I was finally getting it. St. Faustina in her book, Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, said that at certain times, souls enter into intimacy with God and find peace and joy. They believe that they have already overcome a vice because their defects and faults are asleep within them and, thus they think they’re gone. Nothing seems difficult for them. They are carried along by grace, and don’t consider that the time of trial and testing may come. I was quickly humbled this past weekend as I found myself slipping back into my perfectionist.

I have to remind myself of what Jesus told St. Faustina, “Most dear to Me is the soul that strongly believes in My goodness and has complete trust in Me. I heap My confidence upon it and give it all it asks.” (p.200) That is a huge promise and is a reminder about the importance of putting all our trust in Him. When I’m tempted to despair, I try to remember this and say, “Jesus, I trust in You.” I need to keep my eyes on Christ and not on the storm raging around me.

“All your adversaries will harm you only to the degree that I permit them to do so.” (p. 191)   “He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God.” (p. 175) I’ve had to practice forgiveness to those people who are causing me much harm due to their dishonesty. It’s not easy, but it is a lesson God is teaching me.   St. Faustina said that the wounded heart will regain peace in due time. Our spirit is strengthened through adversities. My prayer for those suffering is that “The God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory through Christ Jesus will Himself restore, confirm, and strengthen you after you have suffered a little. To Him be dominion forever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10)