When things get beyond our control

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

 

THAT’S when we just have to abandon ourselves in the hands of God, in his most wise, powerful and merciful providence. He never abandons us and he will always have the last word no matter how things turn out in the world.

Let’s go back to those reassuring words of Christ when things in our life precisely get beyond our control. It’s in the gospel of St. Matthew where Christ said: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature”

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (6,26-33)

We have to learn how to develop and live this healthy sense of abandonment that is nourished by our Christian faith, hope and charity. Let’s put into vivid memory the example of the many saints and of Christ himself who lived by this sense of abandonment.

St. Paul, for example, was simply a sport with all the trials and difficulties he had to go through to follow Christ. “I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers,” he said.

“I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep. I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food. I have been cold and naked.” (2 Cor 11,26-27)

In this life, we will not be spared from suffering. We should never be surprised by this condition. It’s part of our earthly life. But if we have faith, everything will be taken care of.

Again, let’s remind ourselves of these reassuring words of St. Paul: “All things work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8,28)

We should just train our emotions and feelings, our memory and imagination, and most especially our intelligence and will, to be guided by our faith rather than simply by our human estimation of things.

Our first and spontaneous reactions to trials and difficulties may be too human, but let us not allow ourselves to stay long in that condition, dominated by fears, worries and doubt. We should rectify as soon as we can and try to regain our spiritual and supernatural bearing.

We can always do that because the grace of God is never lacking. We should just do our part!

 

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com