Is it Possible?

[Catholic_EC]

This past year business has been slower than in previous years, Cash flow has been tight and bills still come. I feel frustrated and inadequate in my position as provider in the family. Now I have health of mind and body to be thankful for with my wife and daughter we all get along and my daughter is a girl that does well in school and socially and is involved in many good activities and has a circle of freinds that are a good influence on her.

In the past two years I have begun to attend mass during the week, not every day but at least three times a week somtimes four (myparish offers daily mass four days a week). I been more concious to avoid near ocassions of sin but do still fall into them. I have tried to create a daily prayer routine and I try to read scripture frequently. I have noticed that this year’s decline in the business can cause me to get discouraged, and lead me into the sin of envy.

I have been blessed to have some work enough tokeep me afloat but not enough to pay everything I owe and to save. I also have scheduled a large project that will keep me busy through the end of the year but it keeps on having scheduling difficulties.

Now is it possible that perhaps the devil is working at getting me discouraged? Or am I neing tested by God? either way some days it is hard to ride the ups and downs. I am still going but I feel I need some direction in how to handle the discouragement as it creeps in from time to time. I know all good thing come form God and he is my family’s and my provider, I just need a boost. Sorry abouth the long post

 

[Mark77]

God Bless you!

You are not alone! Jesus loves you!!

Try to get some good Catholic friends from your parish who are business owners so you can talk about common struggles & share your faith?

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

 

[pilgrim83]

Hello,

I’d like to recommend a short and easy read that could totally change your outlook and give you encouragement. “Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence,” has two parts, written by Fr. Jean Baptsite Saint-Jure and Bl. Claude de la Columbiere. It is an excellent and very inexpensive book. You can probably find it at a local Catholic bookstore. I found it online for $4 by doing a search.

I’ve read it and recommended it to others, who really loved the book.

God bless you.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Of course discouragement is from Satan. He knows when our resistance is down, this is when he tempts or attacks us. There’s lots of things you can do about something like this. You could unite your discouragement to Jesus’ sufferings so God can use your suffering for the salvation of souls. Or ask your guardian angel and St. Michael to protect you from this temptation. Or throw yourself on Jesus’ mercy and ask Him to give you peace and lift your feeling of discouragement. Or you could say a simple deliverance prayer such as: In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ I command you, spirit of discouragement, to leave me and go to the foot of the cross and from there to where He sends you. Just ask Our Lord what you should do, He will probably give you some direction or send someone into your path who you can help you decide what to do.

 

[Catholic_EC]

I want to thank you for your responses. After I had done my original post I went to a queit place in my mind and recalled all of the interventions that God has made as an answer to my prayers. This hepled give me a boost. I also recalled some of the the things I have read in " Imitation of Christ" and in the " Rules for discerning Spirits" this was helpful

Last night before bed I read some of the books of Sirach, Wisdom and Proverbs. I really love those books. Next time I begin to feel discouraged i will turn to God, the Blessed Virgin, St. Micheal and my Guardian Angel for assistance. Thank you for your advice and please pray for me.