I usually start my day with a simple prayer. I don’t regard myself as very religious but I try to read the Bible as much as I can. It has been a part of my life and my source of strength for some time now.

My life was anything but perfect. I had been having a difficult time, and if it wasn’t for my faith I don’t know how I could have survived. There are times when I felt weak, insignificant and alone. My imperfections led me to constantly dwell on negative feelings on account of what I was going through. I focused on the mistakes that I made and what I did wrong. Thus I held bitterness and resentment in my heart.

I had a hard time allowing my emotional wounds to heal, even though I felt that God could help me to heal. The beautiful words of St. Paul in Philippians 4 : 13 which states : “I can do everything through Him who strengthens me,” gave me hope to carry on. Still, for the longest time, I never felt happy. Hurtful memories kept coming back and I could not forgive myself. There were times when I wanted to give up but then God filled my heart with so much hope. It came to me that He could heal me of my hurtful memories if I let Him.

God held me tightly and showed me the right path by cultivating peace in my heart. I surrendered everything to Him and let Him control my life. There was nothing else I could do, yet it was the right thing to do. I let Him take away my anxieties, worries, pains and disappointments. That’s what He wanted: to be my friend so I could lean on Him; to let go so I could seek Him with all my heart. Thus I began to read and trust in His word. I asked the Lord to renew my faith in Him. I knew I was lost without Him and I knew he would never give up on me. He was my constant friend. His word became a beacon to lead me out of darkness into the light whenever I tended to slump into despair or carelessness. I moved slowly from hurt to healing, to joy.

I prayed to the Lord to reveal His purpose in my life. To my great surprise, He used my weakness to fulfill His promise of new life in me. He allowed me to focus on Him and on His strength, and not on my weakness. What a revelation that was! The Lord took away my resentment and anger so that I could put on Christ, and become a new person through His strength within me.

I am still struggling to become a better person. I know it’s not easy. But knowing that “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength,” enables me to focus on Him, and not on my own weakness.

Offered by an Anonymous Reader of these messages.

Comment:
There are miracles and miracles, but the above miracle of spiritual healing is surely one of the greatest.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy