Men's Rosary

Trust is an interesting word.  I am not sure we always grasp the essence of it.  The secular definition is the “firm belief in the honesty, reliability, etc. of another.” (Webster’s New world Dictionary)  In our Catholic faith we  see it as a virtue, believing in God’s strength and relying on Him for help in all things.  The difference is in the secular sense it is something that grows over time and in the spiritual sense it is something that simply is, we embrace it, or we do not.

It is easy to say we trust in God but when it comes time, sometimes we do not show that.  It is in times of struggle that I can find myself shouldering the load and forgetting that without God I am nothing.  I think us men have been wired to always be the ones to fix things, to handle things.  But do we?  As soon as we rely on ourselves, we misstep.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”  (Proverbs 3:5)  This is not to say, “Here you go God.  These are my problems, fix them.”  It is to lay your problems before Him and ask for the strength to move through them.  “He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” (Psalms 112:7) 

When times are hard or uncertain, we should turn to the lord in prayer.  We should unite our sufferings with His and ask for the strength and wisdom to persevere.  Then we will be carrying our cross with the support of Him who carried the heaviest cross for us.  And, like Him, we may do so courageously, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.  “The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)

It is times of trial and suffering that we will grow.  This is where we can meet God very intimately.  It is in these times, with God’s help that we will become strong.  “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)  Let us always find our strength in Him who loves us so perfectly that we may love others in like manner.  Choose to grow in faith, hope and love, rather than to be beaten down by stress and worry.  If we do what we are supposed to do, called to do, and do all things in prayer, we can be assured of God’s blessing and that all will be well.  This is trust in the truest sense of the word.  Sometimes, I fail miserably.  But the important thing is to regroup and come back to Him who makes us strong and makes us whole.

Pray, hope, and don’t worry.  Worry is useless.  God is merciful and will hear your prayers.”     (St. Padre Pio)