When I first was introduced to Merton’s writing, I read about him – his death – and thought, “Oh too bad.” Now, the more I read from him the more I am moved. This prayer made me cry – it is beautifully honest and comforting. How lucky that he was here and left us all something to help us on our path!
hugz,
Cully

About the Holy Spirit praying when we can’t; I remember a time, probably ten years ago, when I was in the throes of a blinding depression, and had just gotten off the phone with a friend. I was distraught and unable to think clearly. The cause was a sin I had committed many years before for which I had never felt forgiveness, so it had eaten away at me for a good twenty years. I got off the phone exhausted in every way, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I went into my bedroom to lay down and try to collect myself. I prayed something like, “God, please help me.” I drifted off, I guess into sleep I’m not really sure, but I heard voices talking about me, and one was interceding with God for me. I have never heard voices (unless someone was there ) but then I fell into a deep sleep and when I awoke, it was as a new person, with the conviction that the sin had long ago been forgiven. Everything that had seemed so black inside was gone and it has never returned. I felt a lightness inside that had been gone for longer than I could remember. I was convinced at the time, and remain so, that the Holy Spirit was doing what Scripture says, praying for me when I couldn’t. The experience has stayed with me ever since, but I’ve never heard voices again.

I am glad to hear all of you that pray and get hope for your depression. I do not! I seem to go into a deeper depression when I pray as if God wants me there. I have gone through a lot of trauma in my life -molested as a child, emotionally abused as a child, brutally raped in my home as an adult, and deserted by my husband who walked out on me and our two children. I have always believed that God does not give you anything that he does not give you the strength to handle. Only now in this extremely dark hole of depression I can no longer see, feel or hear God….and I have no strength nor feel His strength.Only when one can feel that hope can one use that hope. I am glad to see that some of you found that hope in your prayers, but some of us can’t. What does one do then?

Rita–
I suffered many of the same things you have in your life. I struggle with a distorted picture of God because of the very things you say: early molestation and abuse, violations of trust, etc. So when in the course of therapy with a Christian psychologist, he asks me to “picture Jesus…” in whatever situation we are discussing, I get very upset, even though I am a Christian. This is not because I don’t have faith, but because at a very basic level, I am beginning to understand my anger that God didn’t save me from the things I suffered.
I confess that I don’t understand why God allows things like we suffered to happen.
One thing I have never said to myself is what you say, that God never *gives* us more than we can bear. I don’t know where that idea comes from, although it is expressed all the time, including by writers on this website. If that is true, then God would have thought that molestation of our bodies, minds, and souls, those of little children,(!)was something we could bear, and that just cannot be true. It isn’t true!
What I and you, and others have to learn, perhaps asking God to teach us, is trust. We have incredible faith — look at all we have been through and we still “bother” with God! We were defenseless and so deeply hurt and scarred, but we still pray, although in my case, with much difficulty.
So that has been my prayer over the last few days — not for guidance, but that God will teach me to trust Him. I also have known God’s gifts and blessings, and I will guess that you can name some too, or praying to God would be kinda nuts :-} and you and I aren’t: just terribly hurt. When I wonder if God gives a rip about me, I remind myself of the ways He has shown His care. In the Old Testament, that was the problem of the Hebrews: they “forgot” God’s provision and concentrated on what God had given them lately.
I read Hope in you posting. You may not feel it, but I do. You are precious to God, even though you were treated like chattel. Ask others to pray for your needs — there is amazing power in the prayers of others. I will include you in mine. Please include me in yours, because you, especially, understand my needs, as I do yours.

I like the idea our friend Mark/Marquos expressed on the question:
“G-d never gives you anything you can’t handle? That’s bull $#!+.
“But G-d loves you anyway.”
As I said at the time, there’s a paradox for me to chew on for the rest of my life …
I hasten to add, for those who don’t know him, Mark isn’t “Mr. Skeptic” like me. He’s a devout Catholic and is exploring paths of service in the Catholic tradition as we speak.

These posts brought a couple of things to mind.
I heard a member at a meeting once say that, when she knows she should pray for someone and she just can’t do it (either because they’ve hurt her or someone she loves), she lights and candle and asks the angels to pray for them until she is able to. That really struck me, and I use that technique all the time. I find great comfort in it.
I’m not sure I believe that God “gives” us terrible experiences. I don’t believe it’s in His/Her nature to want anything other than good things for us. I heard a Bible teacher explain that, perhaps God *allows* things to happen to us, but ONLY if it serves to fuel our purpose here on earth. Otherwise, He/She says no.
I grew up in an alcoholic home and I work every day to recover from the effects of that; but I’m learning that every bit of the crap that happened was necessary for me to fulfill my purpose in helping others, especially children, in the same position. Thinking in this way helps me grow in my trust in God.

Deb:
I like what you say about lighting a votive when you can’t mouth the words of prayer due to your own hurt. (Working in a candle store, I’m relearning the joys of votives from my Catholic childhood!)
But the difference between us theologically is that I don’t think there’s a lot of difference between G-d ALLOWING bad things to happen to us and CAUSING bad things to happen to us, if G-d is all-powerful.
With all due respect to you (and apologies to Rabbi Kushner, given his agonizing personal experience), too many bad things happen to good people WITHOUT FREE WILL INVOLVED for a merciful, all-powerful G-d to have some control over the process.
We’re left with four equally distasteful alternatives:
1. G-d is not merciful, which you do not accept and I, though it’s tempting, don’t think I accept either. (Or at least, G-d only practices the “Severe Mercy” spoken of by theologian Sheldon Vanauken — a BFF of C.S. Lewis — in the book of the same name about the agonizing death of his wife.)
2. G-d doesn’t exist — an option you and I reject wholeheartedly.
3. G-d isn’t actually all-powerful. This would explain some things, but it opens up a whole other can of worms/Pandora’s Box.
4. G-d is a complete and utter mystery, and we’ll never know. And that’s easy for some people to accept.
But G-d (or the Devil) gave me the personality of St. Thomas. So you can imagine how that possibility tortures me.

There’s this priest in Croatia, Fr. Sudac, who has the same blessings as ST. Padre Pio. One day while in NY saying mass, a recovering alcohlic approached him. Without saying a word FR. Sudac said via an interpertor that The Vigin Mary said she was there and suffered with him. ( See The Deacon’s Bench or google Fr. Sudac)Through bridges like this, I have hope through some of the pain.

ok, so, even as I sit here in a deep depression, I have read the posts. Maybe I was led to by an angel I can’t see or hear, I don’t know. But, I am wondering…
The merciful God I have believe in seems to have been no where around me these past three years. Let me give you a run down…
Job with HP Off-shored.
Husband became ill
Myself diagnosed with PPS
My son killed in a car accident
Our savings wiped out
Our home lost
Both cars repossessed
That was the first year.
Homeless for 5 months with both of us ill
Income dropped from $6,240.00 a month to $1,400.00
Living in a tiny run-down dump of an apt.
My husband health deteriorating
The VA sending us bills for his care because we, “make too much money”
That was the second year
This year:
Our only time through the front door is once a week for lunch and once
a month for groceries.
My husband’s health is failing more every day. The Drs. can’t do 3 surgeries needed to relieve his pain, because he is not strong enough to survive the surgeries.
Financially, we run in the red every month and I wonder how I will keep us in this apt. until David is called home.
The bills are in two sets, each gets paid every other month (except for rent that we have no choice on)
My grief for my only child, that is still strong after three years, often blends in with the grief I feel knowing that my husband will soon be gone as well.
And, often, I ask myself….Why go on? What makes me keep getting up each day? Why bother? Where are you, God? How could He sit and watch all of this happen? We are both Christians. We both were going to church and tithing and volunteering our time to the church. We were doing Everything we had been taught to do that would be pleasing to God! You said you would never leave or forsake us, so where are you?
At first I thought, we must be doing something right for the devil to come after us with such a concentrated effort. Then I thought, God must have something really important that He is preparing us for.
Now…now I think and pray, God…call us Both home. We are weary…we are no use to you like this….please, just call us home.
But, even as I say the words, I know it is only my husband that will be given that blessing. I will be left here. And, I will accept God’s will as I have every step of this three year journey. I will accept even that which I don’t like or understand.
Why? Because my love and trust in God supercedes my own need to give in. I may not see evidence of him being here on the day to day but I know without question or hesitation that God will hold me up and hold me together. And, if all of this has come from the devil then all I can say is….Is that the Best, or the Worst you can do?…My God is not afraid of you and neither am I!

i like the Thomas Merton Prayer. Thank you Therese for sharing it. I have written it down as i think its a prayer i will say quite often.
I fully believe but have been away from the actual church for such a long time. I pray….but never in a church…i never talk to a priest…..i feel far away from my religion.

Kay,
sometimes U wonder if it isn’t a BLESSING to feel far away from one’s religion! Let me explain: I differentiate between religion and G-d. IMHO, religion is MAN’S attempt to make sense of our world and Christ’s life here on earth whereas our individual relationship(s) with G-d are His way of reaching us in our hearts without all the pomp and rituals of religion! At least for me, religion actually gets in the way of my relationship with Him because it tries to dictate how and when I can relate to Him spiritually. In spite of the fact that the Bible tells us to “forsake not the fellowship, I think that means fellowship with Him in the way He set it up to be rather than attendance at services in a building specigfied by mankind as the “right” place to fellowship with Him.Again,IMHO The church isn’t a building or a set of rules. the church, as it’s meant to be, is a body of believers to which we all belong and in which we each have a particular purpose assigned to us from our Maker. G-d certainly didn’t write all of the various bylaws or other dogma/creedos/edicts that complicate religion. If he had, there wouldn’t be so many differing institutions all claiming to be THE church.
Since I myself often feel separated from G-d, I understand your fear/frustration, but do yourself a favor. Stay away from an”actual” church (as you call it) and instead continue praying and concentrating on your relationship with G-d through prayer. IMHO we’ve gone WAY too long as a people giving WAY too much power and importance to organized religion(what you call an”actual church resulting in many (most?) of us feeling disenfranchisedChrist is our intermeiary; we don’t HAVE to talk to a priest/minister/pastor/ bishop. We can talk directly to Him. something i’ve taken up (which HAS helped)is prayer journaling in addition to the spoken prayer. for MEa it seems to open up the blockages I feel in my relationship with Him and allows me to get in touch with what i’m truly feeling deep inside. as a matter of fac6t, I find that I wasn’t even AWARE of some of my innermost thoughts/feelings until they flow from my pen or keyboard seemingly of their own volition. You might want to give that a try; maybe it will be edifying for you as well.

Dove,
Your litany of trials and tribulations SHAMES me, making me feel like the man in that old saying who said he used to cry because he had no shoes until he met another who had no feet! You have TRULY been through the mill! i KNOW WELL THAT FEELING OF “Please, Please, PLEASE, take me home, yet I’ve not endured NEARLY what you have. And your final paragraph is a nearly PERFECT example of being steadfast in spite of troubles. With an attitude like yours, you can bet that when G-d DOES take you home, your “mansion” will be among the most spaciousand well-placed. Blessings on you for setting that kind of an example for those of us whose faith DOES waiver; it’s a gift to us!

First, TJ, thank you for you. Discovered you, just before Christmas and fell in love with this pain-killer page.
And, Margaret, I am far from sure that I still do believe in God (though, there is still some mystery stuff that might tug at my arm, now and then!), but I agree.
To me, Organized Religion is to Spirituality… what Politicians are to Real Democracy.
I wish I had not grown so cynical, in the past couple of years… but then again, I’m not convinced I would prefer to stay naive.
Of course, naive can be soothing, so I’ll think again!
Love you all,
Francine, Montreal

Margaret..thank you for your words. I feel they are so clear and I can do away with some of the guilt i feel as you have explained it. I always get a panic attack when i am in church and as such keep away…also there are aother things i do not like, like confessing.

Oh! And, dear DovesDelight,
you are a toughie. It humbles me. I will try to be at my best naive me, today, and ask that Weird Guy to lay off your case, for a while.
I wish you a lot of good stuff, at last! I would say that you are long overdue.
… and, you too, all! “Garçon! Healing for everybody, please! Thanks… put it on my bill!”
Francine

Amen, Francine, to your politicians to democracy analogy; it’s PERFECT! tHANKS FOR SHARING!

To DovesDelight -
I am humbled by your faith in the loss/trials/obstacles you have faced, where you still love and trust God.
I cannot claim to have that same trust and love. I do with my own obstacles (most of the time); however, reading your story, wow – I just don’t know.
You are very special, and I want to thank you for publically expressing your life’s experiences and the continuing love and trust in God.
Nancy L.

Thank you for your kind comments…
For years I saw so many people going through hard times and I always told them…The Devil Don’t Mess With His Own….but deep inside I didn’t know how I would handle it if everything went wrong. I mean, I honestly didn’t know if my faith was strong enough to carry me through it. Then, everything did start going wrong and I would like to tell you that the faith never waivered. But, it did. I struggle with depression…I have days when I beg God to give us a break! I even have days when I am angry with him. But, at the end of those days I still get on my knees and thank God for the blessings we Do have. We have a roof over our heads, food in the kitchen and a friend who takes us to lunch and grocery shopping and doctors when we need to go. And, for now, we have each other.
So I think God understands when I get depressed, frustrated or angry. I think he knows it comes from fear. And, I think, he knows that I am working on facing that fear down. A work in progress so to speak.
Anyway, thank you again for your comments and support.

thank you for showing up at a most precious moment, a moment that i have just been waiting to share with someone. now i don’t consider myself a very religous person, but i do believe in him. i have grown or have learned to carry that with me in my heart, what i am doing right now is saying a simple thank you. couldn’t have timed it better, oh i know its good. i’d have to say the best feeling inside a person can share with another person, i could go on and on about that. but, i won’t. keep it simple and short, for i know that i am not alone and they’re are many others out there that could use this special kind of feeling(s).
had my turn and its someones elses, i want to share it.

Thank you my Almigthy God.
Thank you my Lord and saviour.
Thank you for your Holy Spirit.
Thank you for your being my creator.
Thank you for everything and everyone.
Thank you for allowing me to thank you.
Repenting of all my wrong doings and
thanking you for the wisdom of my
knowing my wrongs.In the name of
Your Blessed Son Jesus Christ
Thank you, Amen-amen-and
Amen.Rene Del Pozo

I moved to Michigan last year. I have been unable to find a job. I recently applied at a temporary agency. My hopes were high. I did everything that I was told to do. When I turned in my paper work, the counselor told me I still needed some more medical records. I am 49yrs old, the doctor that gave me my shots has retired and I do not know how to get my records. I was so disappointed when I left that place, I wanted to cry. As I was driving away it was just starting to snow, I was feeling bad and I looked up and saw a man bundled up with a cane for the blind. It took me by surprise, because I was driving, he was walking, I had to know at that moment that God was talking to me. I did cry a few tears. I went to another place and filled out an application. I came home and got on my computer and started looking for jobs. I came to this page, while listing to The Williams Brothers. The song I was listening to was about Holy Ghost Fire, at that moment I saw this post. I know God is talking to me. I do not know where I will end up, but I know I can ask the Holy Ghost to step in and speak for me. Thank you.

I always get the belief net on e-mail but seldom have the time to peruse as i did today. A testament to God’s work. I needed to read your article and share a spiritual moment. Thank you, CG

I believe that when you ask Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord & Savior . . . he gives you the Comforter, The Holy Spirit. I ask the Holy Spirit to direct my life and ‘undo’ the wrongs that I have committed and those wrongs that have been committed against me. I ask for Atonement. I believe that we start as a Heavenly Spirit . . . born to whom we are born at a specific time in history; completely bewildered most of life and depend finally on the Holy Spirit within us for our path to follow. He is the Mind that moves Heaven and Earth.

You are not aware what a word in due season this is
vast emptiness is a occurance I have fought but to let
God be God and to have Him lead me back thru the Spirit
is moe than I can ask for…

Hi All,
Even I received an email today about belief net and when i was about to go ahead and delete it , just for a second something striked me and i clicked on the link to check out what it was all about . like most people even i don’t go to God unless i am in trouble, but looking at testimonies mentioned above i get a feeling that even when i don’t have God in my mind , he is still concerned about me and helping me.Thanks be to the Lord.

I have always believed that wherever we are in life, it is to lead us to the next place we are supposed to be. (i.e. There are no accidents). That said, I read your column today for the first time, even though I have been a subscriber for months now.
I have always had trouble “letting go, and letting God”…and this was the article I needed to read today. I have a son-in-law who is facing a dire medical diagnosis, and I have been trying to find the right words to pray for a week or so. Now I feel confident that I can let God pray for me, and I won’t feel so helpless.
Thanks, God, for leading me to this page today!

I Love God, I Live For God and I have been slapped in the Face by The Devil so many times latley, It seems that things are finailly going my way and the rug gets pulled out from under me. I pick myself up and dust myself off and continue in life. I will never stop believing in God no matter what. He is my Strength and he gives me So Much Love and determination to go forward. My Mother died three years ago and I felt Happy because I knew that she suffered nomore and she was in the hands of God. I Just felt a Peace come over me when I looked at her for the last time in her casket. I always thought that I would go hysterical when she died, she was my Mother and Best Friend. I dearly miss her, But she is waiting for me in Heaven. My Mother has read the Bible from start to finish three times, I don’t know if she understood everything, But she was at peace with God and very real earth angel then, and Now a Heavenly Angel. I Love You Mom and God always.
Ruthie Smith

This message is for Ruth in Michigan:
I know exactly how you feel re: the recruiter’s office. I am a relocated Yankee from Ohio and now reside in S.C. After going through some very difficult and nightmarish job situations, I am now among the unemployed at age 51. I too had a recruiter call me the other day telling me that she couldn’t help me for one reason or another. I was devastated as I have very good experience and qualifications. I am going to do this on my own and so will you.
Best of luck. Don’t give up!!
R. Laibe
Simpsonville, SC

There has been aproblem in my life for a long time and i have given it to God many times and taken it back.this time i will ask God to pray for me and not take it back iam in desperate need of fianicial help and i believe God works miracles.

There has been aproblem in my life for a long time and i have given it to God many times and taken it back.this time i will ask God to pray for me and not take it back iam in desperate need of fianicial help and i believe God works miracles.

I know we all have been through hardships, loss, and grief. This is God’s plan for all of us, to carry the Cross we have been given. He would never give us anymore than we can carry! My youngest son is in a drug and alcohol rebab and it was not by choice, but through a judge. I was devasted for him, but through God, and the Holy Sprit and the Saints, I found my answers and peace through all of this! He has accepted he sentence and is working on the 12 step recovery program. I know that God loves him sooo much that he too is helping my son, through all of this. It’s not easy for anyone and my son is devoted to God and he feels that he is being punished! I remind him to say his Rosary and he does, and I believe when he gets out he’ll be thanking God and he will relize that he wasn’t being punished! The Holy Spirt has given me peace in my heart and just as soon as my son accepts this, he will have peace in his heart through the Holy Spirit! God loves each and every person and its never too late to ask Him for help, forgiveness, and devote our lives to Him! I wish everyone would turn to the Lord and they will soon realize what a better life they will have! May the Holy Spirt touch your life and you will totally understand how wonderful things will be in your life!

I’m among the people who feel like the devil is putting so much on them, they can hardly take it. I was about to delete this e-mail and the Holy Ghost said No, you need to read this. I was just thinking about all of my financial problems, my wisdom tooth is hurting and I am dealing with family issues. I just felt like the world was on my shoulders. After reading some of the others comments, I had to repent. I must say my life could be much worse. I am self-employed and things are just slow this time of year. However, I thank God for allowing me to work, period. Even though my work has slowed down, it hasn’t stopped. I am learning to be thankful for what I have, where I am and what God is doing in my life. Weeping my endure for a moment, but JOY comes in the morning.

I pray to the lord to help me get passed the trials and tribulations i face in my life and especially in my marriage. My marriage is dying already and needs to be revived before it ends in Divorce. i pray Father you give me strength to be strong and past this test.l In you holy name Amen

Today I am in a place where I need the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf. I have been denied employment after completing my four year degree in education, and I am appealing. My 19 year old son who is a father and on probation, is not complying with rules. Only God can fix the mess the Sate Attorney’s Office has made of a 20 year on issue. I tried to make restitution to a company that I work a check to 25 years ago, but no one in the company can help me.
I am tried and I just want to lay my head on God’s heart, and know that all this too shall pass.

This past week has been an epiphany for me. I have been listening to Tramaine Hawkins new release “I Never Lost My Praise”. I have had my shares of life lessons, some dealt very strongly towards me. But I can honestly say that no matter what I knew I always had my praise. That is my ministry to get through by listening to music and letting the music speak to my spirit. Right now I still have my praise. Thank GOD.

I want to thank you for sharing that inspirational testimony with me. I needed to read it. I have so much to be thankful for; My life, health and strength even if I don’t have anything else. But I do and I need to be more thankful for and now I am. I have a wonderful fiancee who is so loving and kind. And I also have other family such as mother, grandmother, sister, brother, daughter, two grand-daughters, and friends that love me in there own special way. And this is my testimony to you. In Jesus name Amen!!!

I loved reading all of this and I know it will help me I am a young Mother of two and I have seen things I pray my two don’t see.
I need Gods help everyday to be strong and I pray for all in jesus name Amen.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.I have noticed that whenever I in a particular place in my life where I need to be uplifted, God always allows me to have a peace to manifest itself just at the most perfect time. I am so very grateful and honored to serve The True and Living God. Be continuously blessed.

I had to come back to this site. I have been contacted by an airline here that wants to interview me. It also gave me the chance to read other peoples comments. I believe that sometimes in life God directs our paths to meet, talk to or listen to other people. I feel that I have been blessed to read each persons comment. R.Laibe thank you, it does feel good to see someone else that knows what you are talking about. I also have to be honest that I to had a hard time trusting God because of my child-hood, bad relationships, and self doubt. I can only say that he has been speaking to me I just have not been listening. I know I not only have to listen with my ears, I have to listen with my heart. Thank every one for sharing their thoughts.

Thank you Lord for those words of encouragement and reminder that you are here for us at all times, and when we cannot pray, we can ask you to pray for us. Oh God, I really needed to be reminded of that right now, this day, because my heart is so heavy for those friends of mine who are suffering right now. Please pray for them, Lord, I know that you know who they are. Thank you again for continuing to be awsome!!!

Thank you so much for this encouragement and special blessing to me tonight. I have been quite depressed the last couple of weeks and feeling really low. Just got thru thinking about how hard it has been for me to concentrate and pray lately and then this blessing thru this article. Just like always, our wonderful Lord and Savior leads me to things like this to get me back on track and now I know that the wonderful Holy Spirit can pray for me at times like this. Thanks again and may our wonderful Lord and Savior bless each and every one of you. Pray for me always, as I try to understand exactly what I was put on this earth to do. I am 52 and still trying to figure it all out.

It is the most beautiful thought that God is praying for us when we are disturbed and cannot do so ourselves.I feel good and not alone anymore.

Thank you, for letting me know that I’m not the only one that feels like that at times, and all things work for better when I am reminded, “that I’m not suppose to do everything by myself”. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforterer, and our Guide. Thank you, for sharing the great info. with us.

I lend this scripture only in effort that it might bring understanding and perhaps, confirmation of the words spoken by Frank…
Romans 8:25-28
25But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.
26So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
27And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.(F)
28We are assured and know that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Thank you for coming my way via computer e-mail today. I needed today’s blog – thank you very much!

Thank You! God is so good. I was checking my e-mail when I ran across this. Wow, did I ever need that prayer and words of encouragement. I too have felt hopeless as if there is no tomorrow. i always knew that God was always with me, but sometimes I still feel so lonely. My desire is to always love and follow God. Again, this has been a blessing to read and I feel so much better.

I am the Frank who wrote this email to Therese originally. As I read these comments, I realized that it is awesome how God has worked to show me both how much I need Him and also how much He gives me the chance to reach out to Him. Even supplying the tools and the person in the Holy Spirit to reach Him. When I don’t know the “how” to pray, He shows me. When I don’t have the “time” to pray, He makes the time for me. When I don’t know “what” to say, He says it for me. In fact, some of my best prayers happen when I just step out of the way and say “Go ahead, I can’t today…”. Thank you all for being part of God’s message to me today.

Good morning, and all I can say is “WOW” – you really hit home with this writing. This is exactly what I have been experiencing since I lost my beloved wife Rita suddenly six months ago after nearly 36 magical years of marriage. Some days are a little better, but others are simply barren, with prayer being dry and like no one hears me.
I am going to print this writng out and place it on the wall near my computer. It will then serve as a daily reminder that God’s promise is ever true – that He will never leave us orphans – never abandon us.
It is also true that while we may not know the road we’re traveling or why we’re on it, God knows, and has a definite plan for our life. The Holy Spirit will always be our friend and guide, and will gently guide us and give us comfort and purpose. We need to just place our entire trust in Him.
God Bless!

This has really touched me, I can honestly say I know where he is coming from.. I my self some times am not sure if I am on the right path, I pray I am going the way the Lord wants me to go but its so hard and there is times I just wounder . Lord are yoou hearing my prayers anddd than I pick up thee Bible andd open itt to aa page and I have my answer in front off me , so I know with even if I fall short he will be there to pick me up andd put me back on the right path..
God Bless

I am in awe of the gathering of those who love the Lord and praise of God, inspite of so many challenging circumstances. It makes me feel warm inside that we all can come together knowing that only by the Grace of God there go I. In that, we can find the courage to reach out to comfort and love another. Thank you, Therese, for welcoming us all into the special place God has given you to share His love.

Thanks for the honesty yes at times we all feel this way. But just like mother Theresa we are afraid to admit we are depressed and it is a challenge just to make it through the day. May the Lord continue to bless everyone of us …

After stumbling across this posting my only response to all of you IS “ISNT GOD THE GREATEST.” As I ask the Holy Spirit for guidance as I pary tonight Each and everyone of you will be in my Heart GOD BLESS YOU ALL

I too stumbled accross this site. I don’t know how but now I try to start each day by checking in. I am self-employed and at a point of not knowing which way to go. I too have been praying for God to point me in the right direction. It feels selfish somehow because I have been so blessed in my life and I put myself here didn’t I? and now I’m asking for directions? the prayers from Thomas Merton really hit home. I feel very selfish indeed but it is hard to think of others when you are in such turmoil. Thanks for being there. Keep sending the good stuff out here as there is so much of the bad available. I pray that God will show ne the way and that I will be listening when he does.

Yes sometimes our tests, trials is so that our Lord can really work in our lives.God is faithful, nothing is impossible with God. So faith is when you don’t see it but you believe that the blessing is coming. The best worry medicine is praising the Lord. You can praise him so much that it takes away your every care, burden. Why worry when you know the Lord is your Shepard, you are his sheep,that you shall want for nothing.

This was absolutely right on time for me I can’t tell you how much I appreciated reading this and needing this. I really need the Holy Spirit to pray for me and reading the the prayer by Thomas Merton just blew me away. I know God is always with me this is what gives me strength, I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for God’s Grace.