Divorced Catholic Moms – This Week’s Quote

Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.
– C.S. Lewis

It’s easy to conclude that if we’re anxious about things in our lives, then our faith isn’t strong enough, and if our faith isn’t strong enough, then that’s somehow a sin.   The very wise C.S. Lewis is telling us that we can turn this around and offer our anxieties (and weakness of faith) up to God.  Jesus suffered for us and offered that suffering to God.  We can share in that offering and sacrifice by simply offering our anxieties up to God.

On a bit of another line of thought…

I love the Ann of Avonlea series.  In the first episode, Ann asks Marilla if she ever despairs.  Marilla replies, “No…to despair is to turn your back on God.”

I think this is exactly the kind of thinking that C.S. Lewis is warning us against.  And still,  while it sounds very harsh on the surface, I find strength and comfort in it (not guilt).  I believe that God exists and, therefore,  hope exists.  When  hope exists, there’s no reason to despair.

As human beings, there will be times when we have doubts over whether or not God exists.  We don’t need to feel guilty about having such doubts.  Offer up those doubts to God and ask for his help in dispelling them.  Of course, if you’re doubting that God exists, it’s going to feel ridiculous to offer up anything to Him…but do it anyway.  If you’re doubting He exists, that means that you’re also doubting that He doesn’t exist.

Thanks for bearing with my ramblings…please don’t hesitate to share YOUR thoughts, too.

Manya

This quote was received from Daily Catholic Quotes.  Thanks to Matthew Warner!