Live One Day at a Time: Prayer to Turn Worry into Trust.

LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME: Prayer to Turn Worry into Trust
 
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” 
(Matthew 6:34)
 
      Many Americans walk through each day with a tremendous amount of responsibility: from family, to work associates, decisions that affect hundreds of lives to those that affect millions, from health concerns to aging parents and children with disabilities.  We tend to worry.  Responsibility is a great gift, and many bear it with pride, just like a solid work ethic, but in our young people today, the emphasis is not so much on responsibility or reliability, as it is on how they feel and where jobs that they are focused on take them.  Filling a coffee cup for another is worth more than babysitting according to the wages in some areas.  Being a sales associate is less than working at a fast food place according to the pay of the wages.  Everybody, no matter their job, no matter their age, no matter their place in life tends to worry about something, or someone. 
 
      Teachers worry about their students, and parents worry about their children, and grandchildren.  Doctors serve their patients, but some worry as well.  Cancer patients worry about test results and college students worry about every class and person they will meet this year.  BUT, God offers us more. He said,
“Do not worry”. So, what takes it’s place?  We are at the beginning of a new school year, and heading into fall fast!  Jesus says, “Do not worry.” 
 
      Trust.  “Jesus, I trust in You.” Is the major prayer of St. Faustina from Poland.  Jesus, in the image that she painted, is walking out of the darkness…who’s darkness is that?   It is mine.  It is ours as humanity…When we invite Jesus into the darkness of ourhearts, into the depths of what we worry about, He can lead us out.  His blood can heal, the rays from his heart can cleanse, and He is with us!  Jesus desires peace for His people, and light for all people.
 
     Place your hand over your heart, and ask Jesus to come into whatever is worrying you, right now.  Close your eyes, and ask Him to heal your heart, and let Him know the depths of your love for Him.  Lay before Him the things you worry about today.  Watch Him transform them, and those things melt before His love and mercy.  What seeks to take up your time and mind won’t be as strong as He leads you to a place of trusting in Him. 
 
      Through this, I have found the strength to live, just one day at a time.  Going to daily Mass isn’t always an option, but I have found great daily strength in the Eucharist when it was possible- everyone can!  Reading the readings of the day, and living within the heart and mind of the Church is a beautiful thing.   We pray in the Our Fathers, “give us this day, our daily bread,” and that is where we focus our attention.  Thank You, Lord, for the daily bread and strength You have provided.  "Thank You."  And believe me, with all that comes in each day, and all there is going on in the world, mercy is necessary, from our own hearts to heal a very broken world.  One act of trust at a time.  One smile at a time.  One person at a time.  But we must choose to live one day at a time, for that is what our Lord promised us strength and bread for.  Plan for the future, but live in the present and enjoy those who are at our feet, trusting that God has tomorrow, and He is already there. God is with us.  That is His promise, but we just need to live today.