Men's Rosary

In looking back at my life, I can see where countless hours have been wasted with worry and fretting about things out of my control.  I suspect we all can do this.  It runs the gamut.  Worrying over grades in school, concern about parents’ approval, college or career paths.  Then there came marriage and children, the stress of providing and doing right by them.  As I had my own business, the worriment about success and liquidity, where the next job would come from.  It is downright exhausting!  But where did I find peace in it all?  That is what is important to remember.

Peace was found when I surrendered the worries to God.  When I stepped back and looked at all the good things, the stuff I worried about seemed to be less.  It was an abundance mentality that helped me to see that God was the one in control, not me.  I was just the worker.  “Always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”  (Ephesians 5:20)   Whenever I did this, something seemed to always “happen” that made things right.  Even in the midst of uncertainty.  Every day is a gift and thankfulness for it is not kept from God’s ear.  “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  (Psalms 118:24) 

The problem is not doing this enough.  I suppose it is simply our human nature that makes us depend on ourselves and not on God.  How foolish to leave out of the loop the One who can do anything!  ”Behold, I am the lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?”  (Jeremiah 32:27)  But, I have done just that, and I am sure others have too!  I can look back and see where I faced situations that seemed like the “end of the world” and as soon as I realized that I could not do anything about it and asked for God’s help, a way was found.  This does not mean that things were easy or as I had wished they were, but there was a way, a solution and accordingly, peace.  “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  (Luke 18:27)

Life is challenging.  And carrying the load alone is tiring.  So, we must unite our trials and challenges to Christ in His sufferings.  He will lighten our load and give us rest if we come to Him.  We must include Christ is all that we do.  “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O Lord, makest me dwell in safety.”  (Psalms 4:8) 

It is a matter of hope and faith.  We hope to do well and please God, and we need to have faith that He will hear our prayers and help us.  This is not to say that He will simply do things with no work on our part, but will supply the wisdom, understanding and strength to do what needs to be done to see that His will is done in everything.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1) 

In most things in my life, it has been through the uncertainty that I have learned and grew the most.  But the key has been the faith in God to provide.  I am sorely ashamed of the times that I have failed in this regard and realize that it has cost me.  But thankfully our God is a merciful God.  He is always there with open arms to us.  No matter how we fail or falter He will help us to make the crooked path straight and amend our ways.  How blessed we are!  In all the challenges we, as men, face, let us turn to God for the guidance and strength to be the men He created us to be and lead our families to Him. 

“Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul.  Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you.  Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.”  (St. John of the Cross)