God's Will

[barbfromtucson]

Hi everyone,

I’m not sure if this belongs here or in vocations or somewhere else…

I have always felt “in the dark” as to what God’s will for me is.

I grew up in an abusive home–it was verbal/emotional coming from my mom–she always made me feel like I’m a terrible, untrustworthy person and so on. I was also the kid that everyone picked on at school, and had no friends at all growing up.

I do realize that it was a miracle/God’s grace/etc. that I made it through all that, and yet, never attempted suicide, never turned to drugs/alcohol, and did go/graduate from college and have been employed by the same company now for 11 years.

I’ve been through months/years of counseling and so on, and have gotten past a lot of it. But I feel like I’m “stuck”.

In college, the song “Place In the World” by Michael W. Smith always “plagued” me (and still does), and what I’m supposed to do with my life is something that is constantly on the ‘front burner’.

I feel like I’m ‘running away’ but I don’t know what I’m running away from. And I don’t know if I should talk more to the therapist or if I should go see a spiritual director.

I’m 35 and still single…but I don’t know if I’m still single because I still have more emotional-psychological scars that need to be healed or if God’s calling me for something else.

If anyone has some helpful advice, please let me know!

–Barbara

 

[InLight247]

Dear Barbara:

I am sorry you have to go through what you described. But you are right that God’s grace has sustained you all along the way.

You are doing good by working at the same company for 11 years. And with therapy, you said you have overcome a lot of past hurt. All that is good. Thank God!

If you can expand your circle and make some friends, you may have a better idea about staying single or getting married and having your own family. Without exploring and trying, you won’t be clear.

At the same time, apply the “Little Way” of St. Therese the Little Flower, and you will find meaning from every little thing you do in daily life. We are called not for a single, but for many purposes. God wants us to fulfill different purposes at different stage of our lives.

To start expanding your horizon, you can find some church groups to join, do some volunteer work, and reach out. And always pray for God’s guidance, of course.

I hope this helps a little. God bless!

 

[John_Lavelle]

Look for Him and he will find you. I am working on the same sort of issues and the above suggestion is a good one. I have trusted enough to maintain and re-establish some old friendships and to cultivate some new ones and it helps me feel better. Loneliness hurts at times but the pain is a message of love if it gets me to look to God and be open to the people he has put in my life and to look for ways bring Him to them.

It may sound like and easy answer or overly simple but it’s not. In prayer and life I have found a lot of struggle and letting go. I hope this helps you. It helped me to look for a way to help you.

 

[pray4peace]

I am sorry for all you have suffered. Remember Jesus suffered too. I do believe God has been walking with you all along, and He still is calling you to Himself. Pray for God to reveal what His will is for you. You can be assured He is listening, and will answer you.

I will pray for you to have closer relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Blessings

 

[brother_sun]

I know where your at I’m 34 and still single. But I thank God I am single because I have more time to visit the Blessed Sacrament. There is a church thirty minutes away from me that has Adoration all day long. I go to Mass and then I go visit the Blessed Sacrament before I go into work. Go visit Jesus: “How can anyone be lonely, with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament” (Venerable Matt Talbot)? I think when you go visit Jesus you will find your answer. I hope there is a church around you that has Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Your brother in Christ

“If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire.” --Saint Catherine of Siena