By Marc Massery
Turn to any page of St. Faustina’s Diary, and you’ll find spiritual gems. Like this one:
When I was close to the Lord, He said to me, 'Why are you afraid to begin the work which I have commanded you to carry out?' I answered, 'Why do You leave me on my own at such times, Jesus, and why do I not feel Your presence?' [He replied], 'My daughter, even though you do not perceive Me in the most secret depths of your heart, you still cannot say that I am not there. ... My daughter, know without doubt, and once and for all, that only mortal sin drives Me out of a soul, and nothing else.' (Diary, 1181)
Have you ever been paralyzed by fear?
Are you worried about the state of our world? Are you afraid of failure or rejection? Are you worried about money? Are you suffering from an illness? Are you afraid to die? It’s natural to feel afraid and anxious at times.
Even St. Faustina felt this way, as if Jesus abandoned her. So much so that she questioned Him about it. But the Lord said that He’s always with us, even when we don’t feel His presence. The only thing that can drive Him out of our souls is mortal sin.
If you’re not in a state of grace, go to Confession the next chance you get. In the meantime, say an Act of Contrition to the Lord. It’s difficult to admit our faults, but this will give you the peace you desire. If you are in a state of grace and you’re still frequently anxious, don’t take that as a sign that Jesus has abandoned you. He’s with you all the time. It says in Scripture, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)
God wants you to have peace. But peace doesn’t mean contentment — that everything is going according to plan. It means that Jesus has given you the grace despite circumstances to rest in Him. The more we rely on Him, the more we petition Him in prayer for peace, the more He will give it to us.
In 1995, after praying in front of the Divine Mercy Image above the tomb of St. Faustina, St. Pope John Paul II said:
Anyone can come here, look at this Image of the Merciful Jesus, His Heart radiating grace, and hear in the depths of his own soul what [St.] Faustina heard: 'Fear nothing; I am always with you.' [Diary, 586] And if this person responds with a sincere heart, 'Jesus, I trust in You,' he will find comfort in all his anxieties and fears.
So when your anxiety spikes, venerate a Divine Mercy Image. Say the prayer “Jesus, I trust in You” over and over, and He will give you the grace you need to persevere through any situation.
Image: Caleb Woods at Unsplash
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