Litany of Trust

+JMJ+ 2020 has been quite a challenging year, hasn't it? There's really no word that comes to mind to accurately describe it. Our world has seen one difficulty after another and a lot of us are feeling worn out and maybe even discouraged. I have certainly felt discouraged, fearful, anxious, and all of the above many times.

While this year has certainly been difficult, last year was also a rough one for me personally. My family is still grieving from two unexpected deaths, and I'm still grieving the near-loss of my own life. A year ago on June 25th, my pacemaker fired saving my life when I suffered an episode of ventricular tachycardia. I talked about this frightening and life-changing incident in this blog post from last year https://www.faithhakesley.com/post/holding-hope-in-my-heart I am beyond thankful for God's continued presence and grace in my life especially since then. Over this past year, I have learned to trust in Him and surrender to Him more than ever before, but it hasn't been easy. Then again, life can't really be described as "easy," can it? And we were never promised that this life would be easy.

Last year's personal tragedies and this year's uncertainties and fears left me with a choice: rely on God or rely on myself. It's a choice we all have to make at one time or another. I'm doing my best to choose God with each passing challenge and with each day. After all, what am I compared to God, the Creator of the universe? I hesitate to even consider this! I know I can't do it all! I know I can never hold everything together or hold myself up (let alone those around me) without God.

If there's anything I've learned it's that God is ultimately in control. Really, we don't know what's going to happen from one moment to the next. Life is fragile and can be completely unpredictable. This is why we need to take each moment as it comes and learn to see this earthly life for what it is: a gift. The reality is, this life is temporary. This world is temporary. Everything is leading up to that perfect place called Heaven that is being prepared for us, and we are called to live each day for God so that we may one day go to that special place of everlasting joy and peace. I don't think many of us like to think about this, but none of us knows when God may call us home. We best be prepared at all times!

As gloomy as that may sound, I think it's important to be reminded of our mortality and our human frailty from time to time. We really can't try to live in this world (especially with all the evil we are up against on a daily basis) without God. One of the things that makes the saints so amazing and worth imitating is that they lived in the world among its pain and suffering and yet they chose to turn to God even when the going got rough. They lived their imperfect lives in complete trust and surrender to their Creator. Their lives remind us that God never abandons His children and He is holding each and every one of us in the palm of His hand.

May we always run to Our Lord with the complete trust and confidence of a little child! May we always know that He is a safe place for each and every one of us. His love is boundless and all-consuming! We can bring everything to Him - every part of our past, every fear, every anxiety, every part of our suffering. God's love will never fail! We can trust Him no matter what - no matter who or what frightens or hurts us, no matter what challenges come our way. Our fellow human beings sometime fail us and sometimes we ourselves fail, but God never fails. He waits for us with arms outstretched, ready to embrace us, ready to wipe away our tears, ready to help us, ready to give us the graces we need. Know that you are loved. Our Lord burns with love for YOU because you are His precious child. I hope you will always remember that even when all hope seems lost. God's love is what will ultimately bring you through even the most difficult of circumstances. He created every single precious human being out of love - to love and to be loved.

Today I'd like to share with you a beautiful litany called the “Litany of Trust.” I was deeply moved by it and hope that it speaks to you in some way and brings you some peace, comfort, and hope. As you read the words, allow yourself to be enveloped by God's unfathomable and unending love, and know that you can trust in Him!

Litany of Trust

By Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, Sister of Life

From the belief that

I have to earn Your love

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that I am unlovable

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the false security

that I have what it takes

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that trusting You

will leave me more destitute

Deliver me, Jesus.

From all suspicion of

Your words and promises

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the rebellion against

childlike dependency on You

Deliver me, Jesus.

From refusals and reluctances

in accepting Your will

Deliver me, Jesus.

From anxiety about the future

Deliver me, Jesus.

From resentment or excessive

preoccupation with the past

Deliver me, Jesus.

From restless self-seeking

in the present moment

Deliver me, Jesus.

From disbelief in Your love

and presence

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being asked

to give more than I have

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the belief that my life

has no meaning or worth

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of what love demands

Deliver me, Jesus.

From discouragement

Deliver me, Jesus.

That You are continually holding me

sustaining me, loving me

Jesus, I trust in you.

That Your love goes deeper than my

sins and failings, and transforms me

Jesus, I trust in you.

That not knowing what tomorrow

brings is an invitation to lean on You

Jesus, I trust in you.

That you are with me in my suffering

Jesus, I trust in you.

That my suffering, united to Your own,

will bear fruit in this life and the next

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You will not leave me orphan,

that You are present in Your Church

Jesus, I trust in you.

That Your plan is better

than anything else

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You always hear me and in

Your goodness always respond to me

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You give me the grace to accept

forgiveness and to forgive others

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You give me all the strength

I need for what is asked

Jesus, I trust in you.

That my life is a gift

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You will teach me to trust You

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You are my Lord and my God

Jesus, I trust in you.

That I am Your beloved one

Jesus, I trust in you.

Amen.