Let us not become too disturbed about the difficulties and pains that life sends our way. All of these things will pass. In the meantime God allows all for our own good. You see, life is truly a school of how to love and we will be tested in the end. If we pass that test we will go to heaven, if we fail we will go to hell. If we do not pass the test perfectly we will pass through purgatory where we will be purified of selfish love, for only the perfect enter heaven.
The difficulties and pains of this life are meant to purify us and teach us virtue, especially that of love. And these sufferings come in all ways. It may be a difficult family situation, physical suffering, an addiction, frustration at not being able to overcome something. All of these things and so many more are all allowed by God because He loves us so much. He wants to see us purified and clean and full of love for Him. Difficulties are meant to help us reach such a state of love of God.
I do feel close to so many of you reading this letter. I know you and am aware of so many of your difficult situations and sufferings. I do pray for each of you daily, especially in any personal Mass intention. So I encourage you, each and every one of you whom I can picture in my mind to accept from the loving hands of God your personal lot in life. God has personally designed what is best for you. You merely need to accept it. This takes an act of trust in the one you love, Jesus.
You will learn how to love by accepting what God sends you daily. Is not this what it truly means to do His will? It does not mean so much finding His will and achieving it with my own hands, but surrendering my will completely and accepting His. And His will certainly includes the difficulties which daily lay before me. Accept them from His hands, His loving hands. Ultimately He wants me purified in heaven at His side. Today's struggle, today's daily crosses are all part of His wisdom in preparing of my soul to love Him perfectly later.
(This article appears courtesy of Miles Jesu magazine. To learn more about the Catholic lay institute Miles Jesu, call 1-800-654-7945 or visit their website at www.MilesJesu.com.)
