Jesus, I Trust in You

by Mary Ann Halloran

I remember when I was in the sixth grade at a Catholic School in Phoenix. Sister Geraldine was reading with us from the book of Exodus, when God (through Moses) rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and they were going through the desert. I especially remember how upset I got when the Israelites complained about the food or water after God had rescued them, and even split the Red Sea so they could pass through on dry land. I thought, "Why are these people so mean to God after all He did for them?"

I recall another incident when I was in high school that stuck with me. Something occurred that I really needed to talk to my mother about, but the problem was my mother was not home and I didn't know where she was (no cell phones back then). So I hopped on my bike and remember saying to God, "If you lead me to my mom, then I will trust you always for the rest of my life."  Well after I rode around for about 20 minutes, I saw her car and found her. I remember being so thankful, and I told God I would always trust Him.

I have always felt that God took me up on that deal to "trust Him the rest of my life." It reminds me of Nathanael in the Bible when Jesus asks him, "Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than that." I feel like he said something similar to me: "Are you going to trust me just because I helped you find your mom? You will see much greater things than that."

That has happened. There have been times when I've been nervous or scared like the apostles in the boat during the storm. My trust has been shaken. But I truly have seen God rescue me over and over again.

Psalm 103:2 says, "Forget not all his benefits."  We, being a fickle people, forget way too quickly all God does for us. Or sometimes we even miss it completely. His blessings happen daily.

One way to help us remember God's blessings is to use the rosary beads to thank God for something on each bead.

I also find it helpful to write down what God does for me, so I can look back and thank Him and remember and proclaim, "Jesus did this for me, and I can trust Him through this present trial."

Psalm 105:5 reads, "Recall the wondrous deeds that he has done."  To "recall" and "forget not" are so important.

Go over what God has done for you and remember God is good. Let's not be like the fickle Israelites who complained against God as soon as they didn't like something, forgetting all that God had done for them.

Our Lord once said to St Gertrude:

The firm confidence a person has in Me, believing that I truly can help him at all times and desire to do so, steals My heart and does such violence to Me, that I cannot but favor such a soul because of the great pleasure I experience in seeing it so dependent upon Me and in order to satisfy the great love I have for it."

Reading these words of Jesus excites me. I want to steal his heart this way. Do you?

As our relationship with Jesus deepens, and as our gratitude deepens, our trust also deepens. Of course, we will not get everything we ever ask for—I can understand that as a parent. But I know He will always do the best thing for me, and I can trust Him. As it says on the bottom of the Divine Mercy picture: "Jesus I trust in You."

I hope I can continue saying to Jesus, "I will trust you the rest of my life," even in the best and the worst of times.

God bless you,

Mary Ann / Mother Hen