Those who have experienced or
are experiencing a spiritual awakening tend to develop a loss of ability to
worry. (The 7th item on the list we have been discussing this
year. The complete list is at the end of this reflection.)
The work we are doing to grow
spiritually, whatever it may be, bears fruit in our lives. These consequences
develop gradually and naturally over the course of time and can’t be rushed, or
hurried, or stressed. We simply do the work, and experience the consequences
that result.
This is particularly true of
today’s item: a loss of ability to worry.
How does this happen? It takes growth in our ability to trust that God is
active in our lives at all times, that His love for us is total and unending,
and that he works to bring good out of anything difficult that might occur.
Never forget that his ultimate will for us is that we be saved and enter
the Kingdom of Heaven for all eternity. Also remember what Saint Paul so beautifully
said, that “everything works together for the good of those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)
It can be helpful to look back
over the landscape of our lives and see (even if only for the first time) how
God has guided, sustained, blessed, healed, protected, comforted, inspired, and
helped us in the past, and continues to do so in the present and for the
future.
My own personal journey of
growth in trust began in a special way when I discovered the 2nd
chapter of the Book of Sirach. Maybe it can help you as well:
Trust God and he will help you; make
straight your ways and hope in him.
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy,
turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust him, and your
reward will not be lost.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
Study the generations long past and
understand;
has anyone hoped in the Lord and been
disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his fear and been
forsaken?
Has anyone called upon him and been
rebuffed? (Sirach 2:6-10)
One last thing: sometimes it
might seem to us that we have been disappointed, or forsaken, or
rebuffed by the Lord. Even then, however, do not give up hope. Time will show
you that He is working to answer your prayer, although not in a way that you
would have liked Him to satisfy you at the moment. Once again, I encourage you
to look back over your life and see if you can find times when this has turned
out to be true.
Think on these things. Pray
about them. Journal about them. Continue your program of meditation. You will
find yourself worrying far less; you will experience times of calm when
everyone else is running around fretting and fearing. You will know peace. God
bless you!
12 Signs that one is
undergoing a spiritual awakening:
1.
An increased tendency to let things happen rather than to make things happen.
2.
Frequent attacks of smiling.
3.
Feelings of being connected with others and nature.
4.
Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
5.
A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past
experiences.
6.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
7.
A loss of ability to worry.
8.
A loss of interest in conflict.
9.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
10.
A loss of interest in judging others.
11.
A loss of interest in judging self.
12.
Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.
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