I knew becoming a Little With Great Love contributor last year would be a blessing, but as He always does, God has given me way more than I anticipated. He’s just generous and loving like that.
For one thing, I got some amazing new sisters! The ladies of LWGL are so kind, encouraging, and wise, and they’ve given me so much love and support. I really can’t thank them enough for their friendship and mentorship.
Another great gift I’ve received as a contributor is the opportunity to learn about God more than I ever have before. I’m inundated with God’s love now, and God in His mercy has opened my eyes that much more to see Him for Who He is. Goodness, Truth, and Beauty. Love. I’ve come to recognize God as Someone I can trust because He wants nothing more than what’s best for me, His beloved. He desires my salvation—eternity with Him.
I’m in awe every time I think about this.
When I’m afraid, anxious, sad, anything other than joyful, I’m finding peace faster now because I know God even a little bit better. I’m able to confidently seek comfort and strength from the One Who loves me with all His Heart and never abandons me.
I still have much more growing in trust to do but even getting to this point felt so far away to me last year. Getting here hasn’t been easy either. I’ve been pushed, stretched, and challenged. But it’s all been for my restoration. After all, there’s no Resurrection without the Cross right? No rainbow without the rain?
God hasn’t sent me to battle unprepared
citlalin ossio
Still, God hasn’t sent me to battle unprepared. Throughout this year He’s given me many new (for me) resources for times of worry or unrest. Resources that remind me to rely faithfully on Him instead of myself.
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
With Food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
I first came across this comforting song when I was praying the Liturgy of the Hours one morning early this year. To know I’m so loved by God that He leads me to the best nourishment for my soul, and never leaves me lost when I stray but seeks me and joyfully brings me home to His Heart, fills me with warm encouragement.
I feel truly loved and protected. What do I have to fear when Jesus, my Shepherd, is a loving, merciful King Who has dominion over all?
Heart of the Gospel
I talked about Heart of the Gospel: How the Beatitudes Show Us God’s Plan for Happiness by Father Sebastian Walshe in my blog, Short but Powerful Spiritual Reading, but to reiterate, this book helped me see how perfect God is and works. He is detail oriented. Everything He does and says has meaning and is for my own good.
I can trust God because He is a God of reason with a deliberate plan (and backup plans for when I stray). That is so reassuring.
The Litany of Trust
Recently I’ve started praying the Litany of Trust composed by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, SV of the Sisters of Life and I only wish I’d prayed it sooner. (LWGL even has a free download and I still didn’t take advantage of it!)
It’s such a beautiful prayer! It encompasses so many doubts I have on the daily, some that I didn’t know how to express and others that I didn’t realize I had, and surrenders them to God. Praying this litany gives me courage to face the uncertainties of the day because I know I’m not alone.
The Crucifix
While my parents were in Mexico this past spring I worked from my dad’s computer in their bedroom as I do when they’re away. Above his desk is a large Crucifix, which I’m sorry to say I never paid much attention to before. Then one of my sisters and I got COVID this spring, and because we share a room with our older sister and didn’t want to get her sick, we decided to stay in our parents’ bedroom.
So for almost a month, sleeping, working, and praying in their room, I continually looked at the Crucifix over my dad’s desk. I don’t think I’d ever contemplated Our Crucified Lord so often.
Looking at the Crucifix during my morning prayers once, it resonated with me a little more just how much Jesus loves me to have chosen such suffering to save me. More than feeling sorrow, I felt gratitude and awe. I was confident that Jesus wouldn’t experience the worst agony and humiliation imaginable for me only to abandon me or lead me astray. The Cross is proof that He is all good and all loving.
I can entrust myself and my loved ones to Him because He will bless us and answer our prayers perfectly. He loves us. Forever. He is too good to do anything but love us. And that gives me a lot of joyful peace.
My favorite Bible verse: 2 Corinthians 9: 6-10
Honestly I want to share a bunch of my new favorite verses but that could probably be a whole blog itself (there are definitely more than 10 in my top 10 list). So I’ll just share my favorite.
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 9: 6-10
I mentioned this verse in my intro blog and how it was the first reading at Mass the day after I agreed to join LWGL. It gave me peace about my decision, which I was still nervous about, and became my favorite verse.
It still comforts me when I have self-doubt. It encourages me to do my best without fearing my littleness because God multiples our efforts. He gives us all we need to help us grow strong, all the time with love.
There are more resources that help me see God’s goodness like the sacraments, saint stories, other spiritual reading, and more. But these are the ones He gave me this last year that I’ve kept close. These reminders of His unfathomable love fortify me when I’m afraid or sad, and I hope they comfort you too.
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