Posted on 01/25/2020 9:11:05 AM PST by Salvation
Most of us struggle with the fact that God allows bad things to happen to us. Why does He not intervene more often to protect us from attacks of various kinds and from events that cause sadness, setbacks, or suffering?
While mysterious, the clearest answer is that God allows suffering in order that some greater blessing may occur. To some degree I have found this to be so; some of my greatest blessings required that a door slam shut for me or that I endure some suffering. If my college sweetheart had not ended things, I would most likely not have the very great blessing of being a priest today. Had I gotten some of my preferred assignments in my early years as a priest, I would not have been enriched by the assignments I did have. Those difficult assignments have drawn me out and helped me to grow far more than the cozy, familiar placements I desired would have. Had I not entered into the crucible of depression and anxiety in my thirties, I would not have learned to trust God as much as I do, and I would not have learned important lessons about myself and about life.
So despite that fact that we understandably fear suffering and dislike it, for reasons of His own (reasons He knows best), God does allow some degree of it in our lives.
Yet I wonder if we really consider often enough the countless times God did step in to prevent disaster in our lives. We tend to focus on the negative things in life and overlook the enormous number of blessings we often take for granted: every beat of our heart, the proper functioning of every cell in our body, and all of the perfect balances that exist in nature and the cosmos in order to sustain us.
Just think of the simple act of walking, all of the possible missteps we might take but most often do not. Think of all the foolish risks we have taken in our lives—especially when we were young—that did not end in disaster. Think of all the poor choices we have made and yet escaped the worst possible outcomes.
Yes, we wonder why we and others suffer and why God allows it, but do we ever wonder why we don’t suffer? Do we ever think about why and how we have escaped enduring the consequences of some awfully foolish things we have done? In typical human fashion, we minimize our many, many blessings, and magnify and resent our sufferings.
I have a favorite expression, one that I have made my own over the years, that I use in response to people who ask me how I am doing: “I’m pretty well blessed, for a sinner.” I’ve heard others put the same sentiment this way: “I’m more blessed than I deserve.” Yes, we are all pretty well blessed indeed!
I thought of all those things as I watched the commercial below (aired during the 2014 Super Bowl). While it speaks of the watchfulness of a father, it makes me think of my guardian angel, who has surely preserved me from many disasters.
As you watch the commercial, don’t forget to thank God for the many times He has rescued you through the intervention of your guardian angel. Thank Him too for His hidden blessings—blessings that, though you know nothing of them, are bestowed by Him all the same. Finally, think of the wonderful mercy He has often shown in protecting you from the worst of your foolishness.
Can you thank God for any miracles that happened in your life?
Monsignor Pope Ping!
BTW, Monsignor Pope has been sick, so please pray for him. (pneumonia)
For me, I was rescued from drowning two times. When I took swimming lessons I panicked and also had to be pulled out of the pool.
Such a nice illustration. He is preserving me everyday driving the streets of Los Angeles.
I am 63, have had two confirmed heart attacks and NO heart damage. One stent and quadruple bypass surgery December 2017, and I work out in the weight room like I was 30. Went skiing in Utah last March. I am blessed. It amazes me that I can still do this stuff.
My Dad could not even come close to what I do and he had his first bypass at 58 and did not have a heart attack.
was driving maybe 45 on a narrow country road outside Pittsburgh, super curvy with steep drop off down a deep ravine, no guardrail. Snowing but the roads seemed fine, hit big patch of black ice, lost control of the car and started spinning. I knew I was going over the ravine. All I remember is praying as the car is spinning round and round...I open my eyes and I am facing the direction I was going and the tires never went off the road.
I knew angels were there.
I thank God that He sent His son Jesus to pay the price for my sin, and the miracle is that before I came to know and accept that miraculous gift, the married Christian woman I was having an affair with shared the gospel with me. After her marriage ended, we married and were together for 38 years until the Lord took her home last year.
That I am alive in Christ today is the miracle.
How much time do you have? LOL.
I”ve survived so many hair-raising close encounters with evil, the ONLY explanation is that Angels have surrounded me my whole life— including a brush with a guy I believe may have been Ted Bundy.
DONE.
The newest pneumonia is, of course, from China. They reap what they sow.
Oh yes!
Too many to count. Our good Lord has been SO good to me. The bulk of my prayers are THANK YOU, GOOD LORD!!
We are all blessed with the life that God gave us.
We can suffer (some) as Christ did for us and learn from our life and suffering.
Our prayers for Msgr Pope:
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee do I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
I can recall many but the one most recently was I was going to work around 6:30 in the morning and someone backed out right in front of me on the highway. While I was cussing the person out, six deer ran in front of their car. If they hadn’t pulled out, I would have plowed into the deer.
Everyone wants the burning bush and we forget about the ones that occur everyday.
God does send us blessings!
What an experience to witness. I bet you started prayers of thanksgiving instead of cussing.
Thursday of last week, while at choir rehearsal, I thought I was going to pass out. God sent angels to help me via the other choir members and the choir director.
Hope you thanked you Guardian Angel!
Last night going to Mass I nearly fell backwards. I just grabbed for the casing on the door, didn’t fall, and uttered “Thank you, God!” Guess I was just tired. Was OK going up to Communion, though.
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