It’s love that keeps us going despite whatever

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

“LET not any man’s heart be dismayed.” (1 Samuel 17,32) This was the response of the young David to King Saul when the former reassured the latter that he was willing to face to the strongman Philistine, Goliath. It was a response that came from David’s strong and deep trust in God, from his working hope that produced a fearless and invincible love that enabled him to slay the brute giant with just a slingshot.

The story reminds us that as long as we have the faith, hope and love like David’s, we have no reason to fear. More than that, we have all it takes to keep ourselves going despite whatever challenges and trials we may face in life. The depth and energy that these virtues give us would keep us so hot that no fly of weakness and temptation can come near and overcome us.

We need to see to it that we are always with God, that we feel his power and strength. This means that we are always thinking of God and of whatever good we can do for him and for everybody else. Only in this way can we make ourselves driven and hot, and at the same time cool and confident, in dominion of whatever condition we may find ourselves in.

The sure sign that we are not with God is when we feel dry and lazy, with our head and heart feeling empty and weak. When we feel the presence and love of God for us, we would always feel energized, we would always be thinking of others, of what we can do for them, the way God thinks and cares for everyone of us.

Thus, if we want to be truly happy and driven in this life, one that is not simply a result of some worldly props and drugs, then we should be focused on God and driven and excited in carrying out his will and in following his ways.

And the simple reason is because, to be blunt about it, God is already the supreme good for all of us. There could be no other good better than him to whom we should be attracted more or who should arouse in us a greater attraction.

God is everything to us. More than that, he loves us so much that he created us to be like him. It’s with him that we can have our eternal joy in heaven, and while here on earth we can always count on his help, guidance and powerful, wise and merciful providence.

Obviously, we need to process this basic truth properly and thoroughly, since it is a truth of faith that certainly involves a lot of mysteries that we have to learn to live with. Once we get convinced of this truth, then it follows that God should be the constant and strongest cause of our desire and attraction. His presence and interventions in our life should be intimately felt by us. Pursuing or being with him should give us the greatest joy.

Yes, sacrifices would be involved here, but to be sure, when we are driven with love that is a sharing of the love of God for all of us, we would always feel happy and light, eager to do whatever it takes to help, and to find meaning in all the conditions of our life.

This is the ideal state of our life here on earth. It’s love that would keep us going whatever may the circumstances and conditions of our fragile earthly life.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com