I Take off the MASK!

Grief and Healing - Download the eBook

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the hearts.
-Proverbs 21:2, WEBBE

I have come to understand today that even if I did not accomplish any of the things the Lord is demanding of me, I know that I shall be rewarded as if I had fulfilled everything, because He sees the intention with which I begin, and even if He called me to Himself today, the work would not suffer at all by that, because He Himself is the Lord of both the work and the worker. – St. Faustina

People can often set up standards we could never meet. Even if we do our very best, and even if we have the best of intentions, everything would still be inadequate for them and all the work we do would be unappreciated and unrecognized.

Not so with God. It is our intention that is important to Him. Whether we fail or succeed in doing what we ought, we can find confidence in God’s pleasure if we have done everything we could to do His will.

God knows what we can and cannot do. He does not expect us to do something beyond what we are capable of. If ever He intends to use us to accomplish things beyond our power, He will give us all the power we need and fill whatever is lacking in us.

Praise be the Lord of compassion! Praise Him who knows us well and recognizes all our efforts to please Him. Blessed indeed are those who serve Him because He understands our weaknesses and supplies all the strength we need to accomplish His will.

God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding admonishes you do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and aids you that you may be able. – Saint Augustine

This very moment I may, if I desire, become the friend of God. – Saint Augustine

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. – John 15:15, WEB

What does it take to be someone’s friend? Common interest perhaps? An attractive personality? A good sense of humor? Similar hobbies?

For some people, it takes a certain social standing before they accept you in their circle. To others, what is needed is talent or intelligence. Still to some, physical strength and a passion for adventure is needed to be considered as a good company.

But what about God’s friendship? How do you become friends with Someone who is the Creator of the moon and the stars? How do you approach Him who rules over the earth and to whom the angelic beings bow down and give their allegiance?

Unfathomable as it may seem, all that is required is our humility and faith.

There is no person on earth no matter how poor he may be who cannot achieve friendship with God. There is none who truly desires His friendship and His love who would ever be rejected and cast away.

Each person can be His friend. Each one accepted and loved.

It doesn’t matter what your past may be. It doesn’t matter how weak or frail you are. Young and old can come to Him. Sinners can be forgiven. Those who are broken can be healed and made whole again.

It is the tenderness of God’s compassion that caused Him to reach out to us all. Even when we were not even looking. Even when we knew not we could be found.

Blessed is the man who looks at last to Him who is faithful and true! He shall have One True Friend forever who will never let Him down.

If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend… What more do we desire from such a good friend at our side? Unlike our friends in the world, he will never abandon us when we are troubled or distressed. Blessed is the one who truly loves him and always keeps him near. – St. Teresa of Avila

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. – Psalm 23:4, WEB

Never think that God is only with you when things go well. He is not a fair-weather friend who gets frightened when things start to fall apart. He does not leave us alone just when we need Him most.

On the contrary, He is closer to us when it’s darkest. He stays with us through the most difficult times.

When all else walks away, we can count on Him to be there for us, comforting us and strengthening us, guiding us until we can find our way back into the light again.

In your darkest night, you can count on God to be there for you. It is there when you can know Him better. It is there when you would realize how much He truly loves you so.

O guiding night!
O night more lovely than the dawn!
O night that has united
the Lover with his beloved,
transforming the beloved in her Lover…
I abandoned and forgot myself,
laying my face on my Beloved;
all things ceased; I went out from myself,
leaving my cares
forgotten among the lilies.
–St. John of the Cross

God is an ocean, a fire, a living fountain…That is the essence of prayer: this contact with a living God, a God who reacts not like a simple inanimate being but like a living person, with a thrill of joy, with the gift of Himself. – Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, OCD

God is a real person. He moves, He thinks, He sees. He watches over you. He knows your name. He hears, He feels, He loves. He cares about you more than anybody ever did, more than anyone ever could.

Why turn away when He speaks? Why ask for other things when you can have all things in Him?

He knows your every tear. He shares your joys. He is aware of your highest dreams.

You don’t have to live your life alone for He is there. You don’t need to carry your burdens on your own for He is more than happy to share it with you.

Whenever you feel tired or deserted by everyone, know that you could always go to Him. He is real. He is closer than you could ever imagine Him to be.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.” – John 14:6-7, WEB

The LORD, your God, is amongst you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
-ZEPHANIAH 3:14-17, WEB-BE

The world has failed you, lovers have hurt you, friends have turned away. Why continue seeking love from whom it could not be found?

It isn’t that we are meant to be alone. It isn’t that we are not to be channels of love to one another.

But if we do not allow God’s own love to fill us, our hearts would be so empty that no human being could ever love us the way we yearn to be loved.

Only God’s love does not fail. Only such a love can fill us to the full!

Until when must we turn our eyes to someone else? Until when must we keep Him waiting, the only One who truly loves us so?

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace. – St. Augustine