Comments on: A Little of My Story http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/2010/03/05/a-little-of-my-story/ Conforming Ourselves To The Will of God Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:05:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: barb http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/2010/03/05/a-little-of-my-story/comment-page-1/#comment-112 barb Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:00:38 +0000 http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/?p=1207#comment-112 Evan, a belated welcome to the Church. Depression is a truly awful imbalance in the body and brain. What is so bad about it is, as with fibromyalgia and other diseases, that the person suffering does not look sick. I am glad you are better and glad that I'm better, too. Evan, a belated welcome to the Church. Depression is a truly awful imbalance in the body and brain. What is so bad about it is, as with fibromyalgia and other diseases, that the person suffering does not look sick. I am glad you are better and glad that I’m better, too.

]]> By: Evan http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/2010/03/05/a-little-of-my-story/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Evan Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:11:03 +0000 http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/?p=1207#comment-111 I too have had to struggle with my own forms of suffering--suffering I certainly never asked for and have often been perplexed and frustrated by. All my adult life I've been beset by chronic anxiety and depression, and I even seriously contemplated suicide a couple of times. For several years I was an "angry agnostic," thinking that there must not be a God, or at least not one that would care about us. But the Holy Spirit gradually tenderized my hard heart and brought me into the Church. This Easter marks my third year as a Catholic. So yes, suffering can teach us a lot of lessons, usually painful ones. But those lessons can help us grow, if we will let them. Be blessed! I too have had to struggle with my own forms of suffering–suffering I certainly never asked for and have often been perplexed and frustrated by. All my adult life I’ve been beset by chronic anxiety and depression, and I even seriously contemplated suicide a couple of times. For several years I was an “angry agnostic,” thinking that there must not be a God, or at least not one that would care about us. But the Holy Spirit gradually tenderized my hard heart and brought me into the Church. This Easter marks my third year as a Catholic.

So yes, suffering can teach us a lot of lessons, usually painful ones. But those lessons can help us grow, if we will let them.

Be blessed!

]]> By: barb http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/2010/03/05/a-little-of-my-story/comment-page-1/#comment-98 barb Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:30:37 +0000 http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/?p=1207#comment-98 Trust has been difficult for me to learn, too, Ros. I always had energy to do things, but tired quickly. Before I became ill, I mistakenly thought I was doing things all under my own power. It took God sweeping the rug out from under me in a very big way to learn that He is the one with the power and I have to let Him be the one to lead. I think it is no accident that Jesus gave us the Divine Mercy Chaplet ending in "Jesus, I trust in You" in the mid-twentieth century - a time when man has become so impressed with his imagined power he no longer sees that all power comes from God. My prayers are with you. Trust has been difficult for me to learn, too, Ros. I always had energy to do things, but tired quickly. Before I became ill, I mistakenly thought I was doing things all under my own power. It took God sweeping the rug out from under me in a very big way to learn that He is the one with the power and I have to let Him be the one to lead. I think it is no accident that Jesus gave us the Divine Mercy Chaplet ending in “Jesus, I trust in You” in the mid-twentieth century – a time when man has become so impressed with his imagined power he no longer sees that all power comes from God. My prayers are with you.

]]> By: shadowlands http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/2010/03/05/a-little-of-my-story/comment-page-1/#comment-97 shadowlands Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:09:51 +0000 http://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/?p=1207#comment-97 Thank you for sharing this deep part of your experience. I was beginning to learn about joy in suffering, last year. Also, how to stop dreading the uncertain future, and anticipate it instead, in the way Our Lady did, all throughout Her Son's life. Then I let go of that trust. Now, I must try and regain it, with God's help. Thank you for sharing this deep part of your experience.
I was beginning to learn about joy in suffering, last year. Also, how to stop dreading the uncertain future, and anticipate it instead, in the way Our Lady did, all throughout Her Son’s life.
Then I let go of that trust.
Now, I must try and regain it, with God’s help.

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