Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-90) - Lord, Save Us!

Dearest Goddaughter,

Throughout the Gospels, our Lord Jesus Christ tells us not to be afraid, just have faith in his Father, in him, and in the Spirit. That is a challenge for us, especially in the face of trials and tribulations in our lives, because we fear most what we cannot control. Fear robs us of our peace and joy. In times of difficulties and challenges, we succumb to fear and, after a while, hopelessness creeps in. And just as the disciples saw Jesus asleep as they were being tossed at sea and cried our, "Lord, save us! We are perishing," we start to think that God is not listening to our cries and prayers. However, that is far from the truth.

Jesus hears our cries and prayers. The question is, do we trust Him? Trials and tribulations in life are an invitation to lean even more of God, to be humble of heart and faithful to Him because He always faithful to us and never abandons us. This is a challenge for us because it means that we have to surrender control and, like the Carrie Underwood song goes, let "Jesus take the wheel." Perish that thought, right? It is terrifying to give up control and, yet, let us think about this for one moment. How does the disciples' fear help them as they are "being swamped by waves" in the "violent storm"? Fear does not help them. Rather, turning to Jesus in faith saves them.

Do we have faith that moves mountains? Or is our faith so little that, in the face of difficulties and challenges, we succumb to fear of losing control rather than turning to Jesus in faith and humility, knowing in our hearts that He desires what is best for us and trust in Him? Let us pray for the former because only Jesus can calm the storms in our lives.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: AM 3:1-8; 4:11-12 and MT 8:23-27 (see below).

. . .

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,

so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

but he was asleep.

They came and woke him, saying,

“Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,

whom even the winds and the sea obey?