“Are we going to trust the Lord or not?” My husband asked. I had to decide: take a full-time job with a guaranteed paycheck or take the giant leap into being fully self-employed.
“I don’t know,” I responded. “I really don’t know if I can.”
I was scared, afraid we wouldn’t be able to make ends meet, worried my talents were too limited, nervous to make a huge mistake. I secretly prayed for a decisive sign from Jesus, right away. I longed for an absolute, no-questions-asked guarantee that I was doing the "right thing." In my heart, I wanted to believe that Jesus provides, and therefore trust wholeheartedly, but that trust was clouded by doubt and fear.
My husband then said, “We either believe Jesus will take care of us and provide, or we don’t. I’m inclined to believe He will.”
I called the principal, turned down the job, and we took the leap. We promised to trust the Lord, believe in His good works, place our hope in Him, strive to be obedient to His will, and marvel at His power.
This is what Jesus invites us all to do—to place our confidence not merely in what we immediately see when we expect to see it, but to have a deep, abiding faith in His power and providence.
In today's Gospel, the royal official who begs Jesus to heal his son has deep faith that Jesus can provide. He boldly asks for a miracle, hopes in the Lord’s providence, and trusts that Jesus both can and will do what He says He will do. When Jesus promises him that his son will live, the man believes Him. (See John 4:49-50.)
Are we as confident as this unnamed royal official? Do we trust in the Lord’s promises and power? Or are we filled with only doubt, worry, questions, and fear? Let us trust today that through prayer and the gifts of the Sacraments, the graces are present, sisters.
Jesus meets us in our worry. He assures us when we doubt. He answers the longing of our heart. He comforts us when we’re scared.
Jesus provides for us and even heals us. Today accept the challenge, and believe in it and Him.
Try praying the Litany of Trust and see how your heart can open to trusting in Him.
Katie Prejean McGrady is an international Catholic speaker and author of three books with Ave Maria Press. After working as a theology teacher and parish youth minister for six years, Katie now travels full time across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., speaking about faith, culture, family, evangelization, discipleship, and the best way to order a flat white (extra shot, medium temp). She and her husband Tommy have a podcast (The Electric Waffle), a dog (Barney), and a one year old (Rose) and live in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Find out more about her here.
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