Deacon Tom Writes,
“Be With Me Lord When I Am In Trouble”
These words from Psalm 91 are subtitled “Security Under God’s Protection.” They are solid advice to get us started on the right foot this holy season of Lent.
“Be with us, Lord” through the days and nights that lie ahead.
“Be with us, Lord” to face the struggles that life has in store for us.
“Be with us, Lord” and protect us from all our fears and anxieties.
Think about our own experiences when problems arise. We turn to God in our desperation. That’s not unusual. When time are good, we might look up and give God a high five between errands. But when times get tough, we get serious and try to bargains with God.
Bargaining with God
We’ve all done it, sometimes intentionally, other times subconsciously.
“God, if you’ll just…” We bargain with God. Sometimes about small things, and others… a desperate cry for divine help to avoid the consequences of our bad choices to help our loved ones in their time of need.
God, if you’ll just keep my son safe while his is in the Army, I’ll pray the rosary every day.
God, if you’ll help my dad recover, I’ll volunteer at the soup kitchen.
God, if you’ll take away this post-super bowl “celebration flu”, I’ll never even look at
nachos and beer again.
God, if you’ll just….
The funny part about this is that God doesn’t need our bargaining chip. God is there for us regardless. We just have to ask.
It’s a wise person that asks for help when the going gets tough. The Bible shows us that God answers. In today’s first reading, we have Moses remembering how God saved the people of Israel as the marched through the desert. Jesus sets the tone for this in the example of his life. Throughout his ministry, Jesus relies upon his Father to support and sustain him any time there’s a problem—during his ordeal in the desert as he confronts Satan, during day-to-day life, and even in his last moments of suffering.
Lent is our perfect reset
I encourage all of us to take full advantage of Lent—to really accept it as the gift God intends it to be. Too often, the Lenten greeting is, “What are you giving up?” The things we “give up for lent” are usually things we didn’t need in the first place. Alcohol? Cigarettes? TV? Junk food? These are even things we sometimes use as bargaining chips in our deals with God.
Instead, consider this: Consider using this Lent to deepen our relationship with God, putting our trust in him, that he will “be with us” always. Talk to him. Look around and notice the beauty in his creation—the little things we pass by. In the same way that you call, text, email, or talk to the people we’re closest… give that level of attention to a Lenten relationship reboot with abba, with daddy, the name Jesus called his Father.
Lent is a very holy time to enrich our spiritual lives. We deepen our relationship with God by spending time developing and strengthening that relationship, as Jesus did. That gives us the confidence to know that God is always present, always willing to help us—during the hard and sorrowful times and the joyful moments, too.
Lent reminds us God is really present, that he really cares for us and loves us more than we love ourselves. It is so often hard for us to believe. Yet, it is true!
May we experience God’s presence as we begin our Lenten journey and be filled with his joy and peace as we pray, “Be with me, Lord” … now and forever.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Visit my blog www.deacontomwrites.com for previous reflections.
If you haven’t already, try listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz, Bible in a Year Podcast, available on most podcast stations. It is an excellent way to reboot your spirituality while learning scripture.
Also, Fr Martin Laird has some great books on Contemplation. “Into the Silent Land” is a nice way to ease into the practice of contemplative prayer.
