For What It's Worth by Erin

How do I make God the center of my life? That is the question, isn’t it, but isn’t the answer Jesus himself?

Frankly, it is. Jesus reminds us (John 15:5) that “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,” adding, “because without me you can do nothing”.

Sobering last thought, isn’t it? When I remind myself of this, my perspective on life expands. This way, I acknowledge God in all things good and worthy in my life. I am reminding myself that He is the source of
everything that I rely on whether I know it or not, and he is with me in everything, good or bad, easy or difficult.

I don’t have easy answers on any of this. My life unfolds and it definitely isn’t perfect. Plans fail, dreams come to nothing, illness and death are companions in the daily part of my life, often when I least expect them.

In all, regular and faithful prayer builds a muscle that calls me to never lose faith and to trust that God is with me in even the toughest of times. I have the prayer of the Mass and the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, filling and feeding my emptiness, even if I feel nothing of this in my sadness.

I have the words of scripture which are the very words of God Himself, speaking words of promise that I am not alone:

• “In all these trials, we triumph through the power of Him who has shown His love for us.”  (Rom 8:37)

• “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20)