Feeling far from God, it is easy to fall into despair. I feel depressed and feel set far back on my spiritual journey to holiness. However, when I lie thus to myself, I am doing great damage. Sin sets us apart from God, but despair is lack of trust in God and even rejection of his mercy. O God, give me patience with the work of your grace in me. Help me to abandon myself to the mercy of Jesus and to offer all my trials up to you. My Father, there is nothing, nothing the work of your grace and Spirit can’t achieve in a willing soul. My Father, make me a saint in your service. O my mother, Mary, do with me as you will.
Prayer Journal, December 29, 2017
Image: Birthday card to his father, 2020 (pen and ink)
Read previous offerings:
Ready to receive you (an Advent prayer)
“An intense desire.” A longing to depart from this fallen world.
“Why are you afraid?” Isaac’s final journal entry
“Moved to tears: the meaning behind Isaac’s gravestone”
“The reward of distracted prayer” (November 27th)
“The end of all beauties” (November 21s
“Memento mori” (November 18th)
“Root out my sin” (November 15th)
“Let me suffer” (November 12th)
Why the title? About the Offerings of Isaac