Sheer panic. A sudden pit in my stomach gave way to a rising wave of heat and shortness of breath.
As I typed out the agenda for our ministry’s 2017 recap/2018 planning meeting, I had to take several deep breaths and then laugh at myself because, by God’s grace, the majority of the 2017 to-do list was already completed. Whew! Thanks be to God! But the thought of all that is to come in 2018 suddenly became overwhelming.
I paused. Then I said to myself, “Grace comes in the moment. If God gave us the grace to do this before, He will give us the grace to do this again … Thy will be done! God will provide all that we need. Jesus, I choose to trust in You.”
It is so easy to get caught up in the past or be overwhelmed by projecting our fears into the future. This is why God tells us to remain always in the here and now.
This lesson came home to me once again as I went for a recent bike ride. I was headed up a very steep hill and noticed that if I looked down, concentrating on making only the very next movement, and then the next one, and the next one — I could easily get up the incline.
I ran into trouble when I took my eyes off the road in front of me and looked at the extensive vertical climb ahead. Suddenly, my strength evaporated and I felt unable to do what I knew I needed to do to reach my goal. Quickly I began to say: “One step at a time! Just make the next move! Remain present. Don’t look too far ahead!” Soon, I was at the top with no problem.
What are you facing? Does it seem insurmountable? Too steep a hill to climb? Overwhelming?
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I suggest you take each day, one at a time, and ask for the grace to handle just that day. God will give you grace and strength, just as He provided the manna in the wilderness; with each new day came new sustenance from heaven (Exodus 16). Amazingly, it states this: “Then the Lord said to Moses: ‘I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.'”
God will provide what is needed for each new day. We need only trust Him to do it — and remain faithful to what He asks of us in the present moment. God will never give us more than we can handle … with His and the Blessed Mother’s help.
Pray: “Give us this day our daily bread…” offering all to Him, asking Him to show you what is most important, what can be delegated and what can possibly be eliminated.
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He will provide enough resources for all He asks of us, as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.” And with us as Catholics, He gives us Himself each day in the Eucharist.
Why not take advantage of receiving our bread from heaven?
God is more for you than you are. Look up to heaven, right now, and smile at God and picture Him smiling back, saying, “I’m here! We can do all things together! Place your hope in Me.”
Remember: One step at a time. Grace comes daily, in the moment it is needed. Choose to trust and hope in God.
“But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Matthew 6:33-34).
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You give me all I need to handle what You are asking of me, today. May I not run too far ahead or lag too far behind. Please give me a measured pace and the energy and strength I need to do Your bidding. I ask for discernment in knowing what is from You and what is not. I want to be fruitful! Show me what needs to be added or trimmed in order to be so. Help me to take each day one at a time … trusting always and fully in You.
I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Melissa Overmyer is founder of Something Greater Ministries in Washington, D.C., and has been teaching the Bible for over 30 years. This article is based on information presented at an ALPHA course.
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