Rooted in Reason

I can’t live life alone. I often find myself feeling like I need to do something, but I don’t know what to do or how to do it. There are times in life we need to act, and times in life we need to surrender. I play a part and God plays a part in getting me through life. It is up to me to pray and to act when I understand His plan. It is up to me to listen and to surrender when I don’t understand it.

I make room for answers by sitting still in the quiet. Meditating. Praying for help.

Sometimes the answers come clearly. Sometimes I feel compelled to read a book, listen to a podcast, or seek out a friend and so I follow that intuition. Sometimes I still feel uncertain. In those times I take Matthew Kelly‘s advice and “just do the next right thing.”

I am finally starting to surrender to and find peace with the fact that I can’t control what happens in life. I can listen to God, act as He guides me, and trust His plan. When things don’t go as I had hoped, this new way of living…this new way of surrendering…actually brings me peace. In the midst of stress and suffering, I find hope knowing there is a reason. I search for the lessons and the goodness.

It wasn’t until I started acting for Him, listening to Him, and being with Him that I felt true peace and joy. A few months ago I started praying every morning, “God, please help me be who You want me to be today, and do the things you want me to do.” I began actively giving up  control for trust and surrender.

As I was contemplating sharing this in my blog this week, I got a note from an amazing man and teacher I recently met, Father Dustin Vu. Follow his insights on Instagram and Facebook! He sent this to me from Mother Teresa (a human I have always adored and admired). God knew I needed to hear this, to share this. Thank you Father Vu, for hearing the call of the Holy Spirit and sharing this with me!

“One thing Jesus asks of me: that I lean upon Him; that in Him and in Him alone I put complete trust; that I surrender myself to Him unreservedly. I need to give up my own desires in the work of my perfection. Even when all goes wrong, and I feel as if I was a ship without a compass, I must give myself completely to Him. I must not attempt to control God’s action, I must not count the stages in the journey He would have me make. I must not desire a clear perception of my advance upon the road, not know precisely where I am upon the way of holiness. I ask Him to make a saint of me, yet I must leave it to Him the choice of that saintliness itself, and still more the choice of the means which lead to it.”