Recently, when a friend and I were training with weights, we really challenged ourselves to go heavier in our kettlebells swings. It was so hard that we were both tempted to stop. But instead, we focused on the foundational cues: strong core, root the feet, eye gaze up, upright posture, breathe from the diaphragm, relax! and so on.
Afterward, I was thinking about how focusing on the foundations of the movement are much like our call to focus on the foundations of our faith when life gets challenging. We are called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus in hard times by relying on prayer, adoration, receiving the Sacraments, reading Scripture, and serving God and His people.
So instead of focusing on the trial, the Cross, or the challenge, we stay rooted in the gift of faith that God has given us and immerse ourselves in the love of Christ with trust and surrender. The Church and its body give us many helps, and in fact, as we know, Christians don’t suffer less than anyone else, but we seek to unite our suffering with the love of Jesus Christ.
From Matthew 11:28-30, this is one of my favorite Scripture passages: “Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I’m learning not to ask Jesus to remove my cross but to help me carry it — and strengthen me to carry it with faith, hope and love. I ask Him to help me to grow in the virtues that I need for this particular challenge in my life — and He never fails me. Most recently, I’ve been challenged to grow in the virtues of patience and perseverance and I continue to pray and ask for His leadership in my life.
St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Prayer is not asking, prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depths of your heart.”
When we are tempted to give up or to give in to fear in the midst of hard things, we can be encouraged by the words of St. James, “Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation for he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that He promised to those who love Him.”
I have a friend who is an inactive Catholic whose mom recently passed. It was so beautiful how God led her back to the “foundation” of her faith in these circumstances. She is seeing God incidences all around her, she feels called to pray again and she senses God near her. She is encouraged by the Scripture and reflections I send her. There is a new openness to God again in the midst of this trial. I’m trying to help her fill that hole in her heart with God to ease the sadness of the loss of a dear loved one.
She is being comforted by the one who created her. I am blessed to be a bridge that gently nudges her toward Him — to his love, consolation and His joy that is not of this world. Going back to the foundation of her faith has brought my friend peace and it is helping her carry this difficult cross with love.
St. Cyprian of Carthage said, “What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to climb hills and the summits of mountains! What, that we may ascend to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is less. Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom.”
So let us pour ourselves out to live our faith and to share our faith with others, in both good and challenging circumstances. Jesus can use us just as we are when we are rooted in the strong foundation of faith in Him — with His love and His hope and His peace.
