There are times when it may feel like God is against you, by taking away people or things that you love and hold dear. The loss of a family member, a crumbling marriage, or even the loss of a job; these things may make us feel burned by God and make us cry out, “Why?”
Here, I will cover ways to help you heal your relationship with God and share my advice to help you remember that even when you feel like God casts you out, He is always with you. God is always with us and is part of the healing process. Before I share my insights, I want to make it clear that I understand that this is a very difficult topic and I do not take it lightly. I also know it can be easier said than done and I do not deny the pain you may be feeling during this time in your life. I personally went through the painful divorce process initiated by my then-wife and felt abandoned and helpless. I will share things I have been advised about and that have worked for me.
Be Patient
Looking back on my own journey, one thing about spiritual wounds is to remember to be patient; grieving, healing, and building a relationship all take time. Just like wounds on your body or a sickness take a while to heal, so will your spiritual wounds. Hopefully, with the help of some of my other tips, you will learn how to bear your pain and tend to your wounds. Also, remember it is ok to grieve; you do not have to ignore the pains you are feeling. If you have moments of sadness, sit with them and spend a moment with God.
Keep An Open Heart And Mind
The next piece of advice for healing is to keep an open heart and mind toward God. Realize that everything that exists around you was created by Him for you as a gift. Things you may see or experience hold meaning and can be teaching moments for us. There is a reason you are seeing that beautiful beam of light from the sun breaking through the trees, there is a reason you may notice faces or shapes in the clouds in the sky, these things are not arbitrary because you matter. Experience life with prudence and be open to what God may want to show you within His creation.
Another way to keep an open mind and heart to God is through moments of silence. We are always talking to God. Give Him a chance to respond. God is most present and speaks to us in silence. While going through the ordinary, or being outside, or even in our own homes, let us make time for moments of silence with God. Ask Him the questions you want to ask, such as, “Why am I going through this?” and “What do you want from me?” etc. Pray the Jesus prayer, or shut off all thoughts, and be present in the silence.
Remember God Is A Relationship Of Love
Third, remember that God is a relationship of Love. Even God Himself is not a single Person but three Persons in relationship with One Another. You, too, should not be going through this journey alone. There is a communion of saints within the Church who have all experienced hardship, martyrdom, addictions, and loss. Look to your patron saint for guidance or research and find a saint who went through something similar to you. Pray to them and ask them for guidance, look into their stories, and learn about them. You do not have to limit yourself to a few saints; they are all in heaven, helping us carry our burdens down here on Earth.
We are also called to be there for each other either through prayer or acts of charity. We are called to be here for each other even when it hurts and we must not isolate ourselves spiritually or physically but are constantly acting and participating with the love of God. Offer your trials and sorrows to God for others in a similar or worse situation than you. This way you can experience healing while helping someone else heal too. Living and acting together with the communion of saints and the Church.
Don’t Forget The Sufferings Of Christ
Do not forget that Christ suffered greatly for our salvation to defeat death and give us all an opportunity to participate in His plan of giving us eternal life. The Stations of the Cross or the Rosary of the Seven Sorrowful mysteries do not have to be limited only to Lent; they are there for us during difficult times. Remember, Christ got up after each fall because He saw you! Yes, you specifically. Join Him on the journey to Golgotha. Do not forget that there is a resurrection at the end. Imagine the love of our Blessed Mother and the intense love she feels for us willing to see her Son, her Beloved, crucified. She bore God in her womb and submitted her will entirely to His. Imagine how she must have felt seeing her Son, Love itself, be crucified for us. And how much she loved all of us to be able to offer Him up to the cross. Through the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, we can pray and meditate on Christ’s Passion through her perspective.
Start The Day With Gratitude
Last but not least, though we face many difficulties, start your day with gratitude. Remember that life is a gift from God. There is always a reason to show gratitude for our lives, whether for friendships, the weather, opportunities, faith, or God. Gratitude invites spiritual and mental healing, which adjusts our mindset to allow us to keep an open heart, travel with the saints, and carry our cross with Christ.
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