Encountering Trials and Adversities

The first readings from yesterday and today were from James and so beautifully speak to the importance of trials in our life.  I included the readings below.  I am always struck by the portions of Scripture that keep asking us to pray with full faith that our prayers will be answered.  This approach is very much how a child would pray and we are told to come to Jesus like a child.  So let us not give up in our prayer and also take more resolve that everything we ask for will be given and more. 

Peace Rose Planted for Our Lady

 by the Children's Rosary on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima 2012

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away". 

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass: its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him"(James 1:2-12)

I also love this little part from the Diary of St. Faustina which also speaks of adversities and how we should approach them:

“You should not worry too much about adversities. The world is not as powerful as it seems to be; its strength is strictly limited.. Know, my daughter, that if your soul is filled with the fire of My pure love, then all difficulties dissipate like fog before the sun's rays and dare not touch the soul. All adversaries are afraid to start a quarrel with such a soul, because they sense that it is stronger than the whole world...”(Diary of St. Faustina 1643)