Many people receive the grace of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but can not progress in their journey of faith, because they live clinging to sadness. It is similar to what happens with the parasites that cling to trees, they strangle the trees and prevent them from bearing fruit: they end up killing them. Similarly, this happens to people who can not bear fruit, because they are consumed by “this plague.” We need to break with all sadness to get fruit.
Surrender to sadness is to let yourself die slowly. Joy is like oxygen of our life: the lost and those and intoxicated with sadness, are driven to death. If we realize that God is in control of our lives, we will not have to fear, because everything will be reason for giving thanks. God’s will for us is joy.
Sorrow is of no use; it only opens the door of our heart to the enemy; and when that happens, it takes over. We must resist and let the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with joy, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. To live always cheerfully, we need to pray without ceasing, “Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation, because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you “(1 Thess 5.16 to 18).
Who does not desire happiness?
Whenever difficulties arise in your life, thank God, because that is His will. But do it in true way, meekly, in an attitude of total abandonment of himself.
Even when you feel a failure in dating, work, friendships, remember that God is in everything. He is the absolute master of all things. Our life is in His hands and He is with us in all the decisions.
The Holy Spirit is like a weaver who, little by little, will twist strings of yarn, turning them into a wonderful fabric. God weaves the threads of our lives, and we can only understand the design when it is already completed.
I ask you, you already have your life all set? I know your answer will be “thank God, no.” While the Holy Spirit is not finished weaving all the threads, neither you nor anyone will be able to understand the masterpiece that Weaver.
When the Lord braids the last thread and give the end tie, then we contemplate the wonder of His work. While this time is not enough, we will only be able to see the fabric inside out. We will have to live by faith and not by sight. This is the time of abandonment and trust.
God wants to blow upon us His love to heal the painful wounds that were deeply rooted. He wants to eradicate all sadness and disappointment. And it is the Holy Spirit who makes all things, from our heart connected to sadness, bitterness, disappointment and pain and puts in their place the serenity and joy. The new man is one who brings joy, fruit of the Holy Spirit, rooted itself.
As a harp, whose sound is a beautiful harmony, needs to be finely tuned, we also need to be tuned. And who does this for us is the Lord who restores us to chanting the sound of joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience and meekness.
God creates us in His heart and makes us new creatures, full of peace, love and joy. It is he who harmonizes everything within us.
Monsignor Jonas Abib
Excerpted from his Book Combatentes Na Alegria (Combatents in Joy)