Trusting in God and Giving Him Praise, Even In Times of Trouble

Trusting in God and Giving Him Praise, Even In Times of Trouble
- Kim Lee G.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We have to remember that “God works with those who love Him…and will turn all to their good” (Romans 8:28) because “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). We need to trust in the Lord, and know that “there is a time for everything…and all will be done in God’s time” (Ecclesiastes 3). So often, we react too fast to situations. We fail to trust that God has a plan for us. Our imagination is taken over by the temptations of blowing up a situation to more than it perhaps is, or pretending it is something else. It’s like Dante’s Divine Comedy where Dante goes to Hell and sees the devil up to his waist in ice making a lot of noise. Actually, that’s what temptation is – a lot of noise made by the evil one. In actual fact, there isn’t really much he can do, but in our imagination, we blow it out of proportion because of the temptations and manipulations of the evil one.

However, it is out intellect and our will that is sacred and untouchable. These are what we can use to help make good decisions. However, we have a very human desire to be in control all the time, but actually, “sometimes it is better to wait in silence for God to save” (Lamentations 3:25) because it is not for us “to know (the) times or dates that the Father has decided by His own authority” (Acts 1:7).
Therefore, we should “commit (ourselves) to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act” (Psalm 37:5) because, as St. Paul writes, “Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrong doing, but finds joy in the Truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). God is love, and He loves us all as His own. In the first letter of St. John it is written, “everyone whose life is upright is a child of God” (1 John 2:29), so we must love all people as our own brothers and sisters, and as ourselves. Even “if the world hates you, you must realise that it hated me (Jesus) before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice of you has drawn you out of the world, that is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). We are also told that “if they (the world) persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours too” (John 15:20).

So, we need to realise that living the Christian life is not easy. In fact, we are asked to live a life where our values are contrary to society’s values, where our moral standards must be higher than simply following the law set by the government. However, remember that suffering can lead to compassion if you allow it to. For example, if you went through a particular struggle, say domestic violence or mental illness, then one day in the future, you can use that to serve God by helping someone who is struggling with those things. You could be compassionate and help the person walk that part of their journey and persevere because you had been through it yourself. So, never underestimate the sufferings you have been asked to bear. Instead, unite them to the Cross of Jesus and use them for the good of others, for the glory of God.

So, in all things, remember to pray to the Lord and ask for His guidance. Trust in Him to take care of all your needs and intentions, in your joy and in your suffering. Praise Him always, and bless His holy name. “Therefore hold back nothing of yourselves, for yourselves, so that He who gives Himself totally to you,
may receive you totally” (St. Francis of Assisi - Letter to the Entire Order 29).

Why I wear a veil in the Presence of God...

This is a seemingly Catholic post, but I wanted to post it because I wish to explain to you all why I do what I do. If you wish to read it, by all means do, but if you don't, I would also understand, in which case, please just pass this post by.

I've been asked by a number of people over the years why I wear a veil when I go to Church or am in the convent, whether it be for Mass, The Divine Office (i.e. Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night Prayer, Prayer of the Church) or just for private, personal time with God. Some people seem to think that it's all about people trying to be "holier than thou" or trying to associate themselves with a particular group of people, i.e. those who would rather opt for the Latin Mass, because for some reason, they don't think the English Masses are "holy enough". For me, it's a totally different story.

I'm a convert to the faith, though I was brought up Catholic by others around me. I was in a Catholic hospital while sick as a child, and looked after by Catholic maids a lot of the time. From the age of three I wanted to be "at one with God" and "Catholic". I don't think I knew what that meant at that young age. As I grew older, I desired more and more the Eucharist (the real presence of Jesus in Holy Communion). I came to know that where the Eucharist was possessed a particularly unique and special presence of God. There was peace in my heart and a very strong desire to grow closer to God. 

From the age of 13 or 14, I recall a conversation I had with my Religious Studies teacher. By that time, I was in a Catholic girls' school. I spoke to her about wearing a veil, because I had that desire in my heart and never really knew where it came from. Then she told me it was a tradition in the Church quite some time ago and wasn't popular now. But that didn't stop me. For me, I was hungry and thirsty for God, so much so that nothing would satisfy me, and I was contemplating Religious Life (as in becoming a nun (enclosed, stay in the monastery) or Religious Sister (open, go out of the convent with active ministries)). There was so much to suggest that I really and truly had the desire to give myself fully to God, and consecrate my life to Him.

The first time I wore a veil in Church I was 16. I wasn't even officially Catholic then. I only received the sacraments of the Church at 18. But I always veiled. I had the innermost peace that I cannot explain to you. The desire to veil was so strong in me, like a tugging at my heart. There was a radiance that somehow attracted people to talk to me, and I learned many things from those whom I spoke to. Somehow, veiling in the presence of God made me grow closer to God. I felt more fully alive, more fully human, and more fully myself since I started veiling, because it expressed my whole being in the deepest sense – my femininity, my desire to keep certain things hidden from everyone else, as to set them aside for God, and my desire to grow in modesty and humility.

Later, I discovered that there is also another meaning in veiling. The three corners of the veil are said to protect women under the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). St Paul has written that it is “for the sake of the angels”. But it’s not only Catholic women who veil. Last Lent I went on a walk of faith with people from different Churches in the local area. It was a silent walk, apart from the hymns sung at each Church we passed by. I met some women from the local Bruderhof Christian Community living nearby. It turned out that they actually help out at the Catholic Primary School attached to my home parish. After that, I went to their community house to spend time with them as I had made some friends there. I would cook with them, sing with them, pray with them and just enjoy their company. They had told me that they veil full time (as in they always wear a veil wherever they go, no matter what they are doing) to protect them from evil. I found it very interesting.

So, those are some of the reasons why I wear a veil. It’s not to say I am better than anyone else, but rather it is an expression of my deep love for God and the desire to love and serve Him by sharing His love with others. When I say, “sharing His love with others” I don’t mean shoving Bible verses at you and shouting down the street how much Jesus loves you (which, by the way, He most definitely does, and very much) but rather just by being there for those in need, loving those around me as much as I humanly can (I’m not perfect, so please forgive me when I make mistakes) and just trying to be a good person. So there you go, that’s why I love to veil – for the greater glory of God.  

New Year...New Beginnings...

As the New Year comes, so do New Beginnings...

Each day passes with a flash. It seems the days just pass so swiftly that you don't really notice them anymore. One minute you just started University, the next, you're now a senior to the new intake. Many lessons have been learned, and many opportunities to grow have presented themselves. But that's not the main focus. What concerns me is what can be done in the future to continue growing and building for the future?