Pray, Hope and Don't Worry

            The title for this post is borrowed from St. Padre Pio, a man of extraordinary holiness.  In times of trial, it behooves us to remember that God is with us always.  Nothing that happens is an accident--He allows things to happen to fulfill His plan for us.  He is all loving, all knowing and all merciful--He only wants what's best for us.  

            When facing difficult, bewildering conditions, trust in God.  Be patient, pray for His guidance and wait for an answer.  The following psalm tells us to do that:

Psalm 37 

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good;

so you will dwell in the land, and be nourished in safety.

⁴ Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will act.

⁶ He will bring forth your vindication as the light,

and your right as the noonday.

⁷ Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;

do not fret over him who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

Do not fret; it tends only to evil.

¹⁸ The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

and their heritage will abide for ever;

¹⁹ they are not put to shame in evil times,

in the days of famine they have abundance.

²³ The steps of a man are from the Lord,

and he establishes him in whose way he delights;

²⁴ though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,

for the Lord is the stay of his hand.

²⁵ I have been young, and now am old;

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or his children begging bread.

²⁶ He is ever giving liberally and lending,

and his children become a blessing.

²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good;

so shall you abide for ever.

²⁸ For the Lord loves justice;

he will not forsake his saints.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks justice.

³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;

his steps do not slip.

³⁴ Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way,

and he will exalt you to possess the land;

you will look on the destruction of the wicked.

³⁷ Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright,

for there is posterity for the man of peace.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

            he is their refuge in the time of trouble.

      Go before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and take some time to pray with this Psalm; ask our Lord for the peace that only He can give and pray for patience, detachment and guidance.