On Putting Our Trust in God When Evil Words are Spoken against us...

Taken from the Imitation of Christ;Book 3;Ch.46:


Christ: My child, stand firm and trust in Me. What are words but only wind? They fly through the air but hurt not a stone on the ground.

If you are innocent, then you will gladly suffer such words for the love of God. If, on the other hand, you are guilty, determine willingly to make amends. It is a small matter for you to put up with a few words uttered in haste when you are yet unable to bear hard blows.

It is because you are still worldly and are eager to please others that you take such little things to heart. When you resent being corrected for your faults and seek shelter in excuses, it is because you are afraid of being despised. Search your soul carefully and you will discover that the world is still strong in you, as well as that impossible desire to please others.

For when you dread to be abased and humiliated for faults, it is clear that you are not truly humble, nor dead to the world, nor is the world crucified to you. Just listen to My word and you will not mind if ten thousand people speak against you.

Even if all the evils which the worst human malice can invent, were said against you, what harm can they possibly do to you if you pay no attention to them? They cannot take so much as one hair from your head.

But if you do not keep your eyes fixed on God, nor keep Him in your heart, then you will be easily upset by the slightest rebuke. Those who trust in Me and rely not on their own judgement will fear no human. For I am the Judge and the Discerner of all secrets.

I know how everything is done and I know both the one who inflicts the injury and the one whom it affects. Nothing happens without My permission and the power so to act, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed(Luke 2:35).

I will judge both the guilty and the innocent but I will test them both beforehand.

Human judgement is often erroneous. My judgement is true; it shall stand and will never be overthrown. To many it remains hidden; and only to a few is it made manifest;yet it never errs nor can it err, though to the universe it may appear wrong.
So when you need to make a decision, always come to Me and do not rely on your own judgement.

Righteous persons are never dismayed by anything I permit to happen to them. Although they be wrongly accused it will not worry them much;niether will they be overjoyed if they be reasonably acquitted. They know that I am the searcher of all hearts.(Rev 2:23), Who judge not according to outward appearances nor by the way things look to humans, but by what I esteem praiseworthy.


I Will Not Remember

When Heaven Stands before me
And I am home at last,
I will not remember
The worries of the past;
I will not be aware of all
The trials of this life,
The many times I shed some tears,
The trouble and the strife,
For I will have before me
All the glories spread above.
The meaning of it all will be
Quite softened by His love.

Bonnie L. Nelson


May God bless, reward, and have mercy on us all!

The Advantage of not having everything our own way...

Taken from The Imitation of Christ:

It is good that everything is not to our own liking; for adversity makes people look into their hearts in order to realize that they are exiles and must not put their hope in any worldly thing.

It is good for us to run into opposition and have others think badly of us, even when our intentions are good. For these things help to humble us and rid us of pride. Then we seek God more earnestly, Who alone knows our inner most self, when outwardly we are ignored and discredited by others.

Therefore people should rely so entirely on God that they have no need for human consolations when adversity comes. When people of good disposition are afflicted or tempted or distracted by evil thoughts, then they understand the need they have of God and that without Him they can do nothing.

Then too they grieve, while they sigh and pray because of the miseries they endure. They grow weary of this life and long for death in order to be with Christ their Lord. It will also be clear to them that there is neither perfect peace or security in this world.

From St. Therese:

"On each fresh occasion of combat when the devil desires to challenge me, I conduct myself valiantly, knowing that to fight a duel is an unworthy act. I turn my back on the adversary without ever looking him in the face. Then I am ready to run to Jesus and tell Him I am ready to shed every drop of blood in testimony of my belief that there is a heaven."