Asking for Patience - 1 Peter 5:6-7

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the

proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.

A couple of days ago I was searching for a verse to help me with my anxiety about graduate school. I knew about verse 7 in First Peter (one of my favorite Letters), and I even have it on many pieces of art throughout my room, but I never took a closer look at the context of this verse. I opened my Journaling Bible to this page and saw the mostly empty page and knew this was going to be my next project, and I thought it was going to be about anxiety. When I started to read the whole chapter and pray, I realized that God was telling me something completely different than what I had thought I sat down to hear. 

In this letter Peter is reminding the Christian exiles that they (us) need to spread the gospel. This, in my opinion, is Peter's main purpose in writing. However, Peter also reminds us to stay humble and respectful of our elders in chapter 5. He tells us to shepherd God's flock, and to not do it for shameful gain, but for God's glory. Then, he continues by telling us that once we humble ourselves God will exalt us at the proper time. This is what caught my attention. I already knew I could fall into God's arms and beg to get into the graduate school that I hope to get into, but what I needed to realize is that I need to be patient and wait for God to tell me that I did or did not get in. Maybe I am not ready to know, and maybe that is what God is trying to tell me. I still sought Jesus' mercy and comforting arms in this situation, but instead of just asking to get a response from a school I asked Him to teach me patience because I knew I would need it again for something else in my life.

From this realization I was able to fully understand that I was in desperate need of some patience. I needed to fully understand that at the proper time God would show me the plan He has mapped out for me and my future. It's still hard for me to just sit back and wait (I'm a stickler for planning and organization), but I have to trust God and His plan for me. Also, God does not want us to just stop worrying about life and let whatever happen happen. He does want to know our worries and our stresses, and He wants us to talk to Him about them. In verse 7, Peter reminds us that we have to cast our anxieties (and fears, and doubts, and worries, etc) onto God because He truly does care for us. He cares about us more than any human being and soul ever could.

I've asked god for patience before. I've God for many things before and I have been lucky enough to be blessed with many of those things I asked for. I believe that this verse is telling me that I need to be more humble, and I think this verse can help so many people remember that God has a plan and that we have to wait for God's plan to be revealed to us. Now I pray that God shows me how to have patience and how to trust in His plan for me.

Thought Questions:

How can we, as sons and daughters of God, help our fellow neighbors and remind them to trust in Gods plan?

In your prayers think about something you have been very anxious about (a new job, acceptance into grad school, graduation, etc)  and ask God how you can become more patient in your waiting.

How can you humble yourself more this year, and how can you trust in God's plan more?

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Galatians 4:7

Galatians 4:7 English Standard Version

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

So my Christmas break was way crazier (and greater) than I had expected. It was so great that I almost forgot the real reason for the season. Luckily, I had many daily reminders of why I was not in school and why I was buying presents for my family and friends. Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year and it always makes me so happy. This year, I was able to visit a lot of different churches, grottos, and shrines over my break and I went to daily mass a lot and just had a much deeper Christmas experience than I ever thought I could.

This past Sunday was the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. I love Mary so much and have had a strong attachment to her ever since I was a freshman in high school. I went to mass this past weekend by myself and was very interested in the second reading, Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. To honor Mary, we have to remember that she is the Mother of God. In God’s Kingdom, she stands as Queen. In Paul’s letter, God shows us that we are no longer slaves (to sin or to anyone) but we are children of God, and if children then we are heirs to His Kingdom.

I love this verse because it truly reminds me of why Jesus was born. With Mary’s strength and courage, Jesus was born in order to ransom us, and save us from sin. Because of Christ, we are heirs to his throne, and just thinking about that is so wonderful! I love remembering that I can go to heaven and that I am an heir through God. Hearing this message in church made me realize how lucky we all are for the magnificent baby Jesus.

In this upcoming year, I hope to enhance my relationship with God even more than I have already and lead new people Christ. I hope to remember everyday that I am an heir through God and that I am worthy of His love and forgiveness. I want God to know how much I love Him, and I want to show the world that I love him, and that I am not afraid to love Him.

Thought Questions:

How can you help others realize that they are heirs to God’s kingdom?

What can you do in this new year to help increase your relationship with God?

How can you show God your appreciation for His love and forgiveness?

Thankful Relationships - 2 Thessalonians 1:3

2 Thessalonians 1:3 English Standard Version

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Relationships are so important in our lives. God wants us to have relationships with others, not just with Himself. In the second letter from Paul to the Thessalonians, Paul is encouraging us to give thanks to God for our relationships, and to know that those relationships are a blessing in our lives.

There are so many relationships to be thankful for. With Thanksgiving just two days away I have begun thinking about all of the people I am thankful for in my life. My friends, my sister, my parents, my boyfriend, my co-workers, and yes, even my teachers. I have so many people to be thankful for, but I also need to be thankful for their relationship with Christ. I cannot be selfish. I cannot only be thankful that these people love me and encourage me. I must be thankful that they have a relationship with Christ, and I must be thankful that that the help me with my relationship with Christ.

In this letter, Paul reminds us that our love for one another is, and should always be growing. Since our love for one another is always growing we must be thankful for that opportunity. I also remind myself that the people in my life are not only here to make me happy, but also to bring me closer to God (even if they do not know that they are doing it).

I am so thankful for my family and what they have done for me. My parents have sacrificed so much for my siblings and I, and I could never thank them enough. My parents have raised me Catholic, and even though I went to a Christian school my whole life it was not until high school when I really started to get into my faith and they were so supportive, and never pushy. If they hadn’t supported all of my crazy trips and conferences my life would not be the same.

My sister and my best friend are two huge blessings in my life. Without these two women I would be absolutely insane. My best friend and I have been side by side since kindergarten, and since then we have helped each other through thick and thin. Even though she may not know it, she has truly strengthened my relationship with God through her love and gentleness. My sister is a complete work of art. God did something so different with her than he did with me, and I am so thankful for my sister because of her wit and her abilities. I think of us as Jane and Lizzy Bennet from Pride and Prejudice because of our relationship. My sister has strengthened my relationship with God through her own actions. She has put so much faith into God that I took her as an example, even though I am older.

I am also so thankful for my boyfriend and friends. My friends, even though they do not know it, help strengthen my relationship with God because of all the negativity that they hold inside them. (I promise not all of my friends are like this.) Some of my friends really help me realize my blessings, and show me that I have to be thankful for what God has given me. Even though my friends do not intentionally help my relationship with God, I still have to be thankful for them and for all they do. My boyfriend is such a joy in my life. He motivates me, and supports me more than anyone I have ever known. His own relationship with Christ has taught me so much about my faith. He is such a wonderful Catholic gentleman (I don’t know how I got so lucky), and his love for others (and me of course) has shown me how wonderful and loving God is. I thank God everyday for him, but I also thank God for the opportunity that we have been given: to grow closer to each other with His guidance, and that together, as one, we can help bring others to Christ.

All of these relationships have helped me grow closer to God, and for that I have to thank God with so much praise! We all have to be thankful for the relationships we have, and even the ones that may not seem beneficial at first. Our love for one another is always growing, and with God's help that love can continue to grow and help others.

Thought Questions:

How can we express our thankfulness to everyone this coming holiday?

How can each of our relationships help us grow closer to Christ?

What is one way I can step out of my way and help others this holiday season?