Learning to Trust in God

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a deadline. I became hooked on journalism during college as the Watergate scandal unfolded. Enamored with the “power of the press,” I chose to join a profession that offered a new, exciting story every day. But I retired recently and the “press” of the daily deadlines has ceased.

I knew this time would come and I tried to prepare for it last December by attending a Day of Reflection at the Pilgrim Center of Hope. Afterwards, PCH Co-Founder and Co-Director Mary Jane Fox offered me the opportunity to write an entry for the Pilgrim Log on the appropriate topic of trust.

It’s an appropriate topic because for the last three months, while I sit at home as my husband works full-time this summer, I’ve been trying to discern what God wants me to do next. As I go through this process, I’ve been delving into religious reading — and I think I may be catching on to God’s plan.

Here are two resources I have been reading. They have helped me and I hope by sharing them they may also guide you.

The Bible

Looking over the daily Mass readings, I found myself engrossed in the Old Testament story of God testing Abraham. In Genesis 22:1b-19, God tells Abraham to take his only son, Isaac — the one who was born to him in his old age — up the mountain and sacrifice him as a holocaust.

When Abraham and Isaac get to the appointed place, Abraham builds an altar, arranges the wood, ties up his son and holds the knife above Isaac, ready for the sacrifice.

Thankfully, God then sent his messenger who “called out to (Abraham) from heaven, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he answered. ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy,’ said the messenger. ‘Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.’ As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.’”

Now that’s trust! I don’t think I could have done what Abraham was ready to do. He is a stellar example to us, and God blessed him richly with descendants as numerous as the stars.

Holy Moments

Matthew Kelly’s book “Holy Moments: A Handbook for the Rest of Your Life,” suggests that we transform the world by cooperating with God through Holy Moments.

“A Holy Moment is a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You make yourself available to Him. You set aside personal preference and self-interest, and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do,” he said.

An example of this is the parable of the Good Samaritan. In Luke 10:29-37, a man is beaten and left on the side of the road to die. A priest and Levite both pass the man without helping him, but then a despised Samaritan stops and gives aid. All three men could have helped, but only one cooperated with God in what became a Holy Moment.

As we’ve learned from Abraham’s story, trusting God is not always easy. One wonderful change is to cooperate with God by creating Holy Moments.

Will you make time in your busy schedule for a Holy Moment? Will you take a daily Gospel reading and make it your own? Will you let go of your worldly deadlines and Let God Be God?

Rosanne Fohn is a longtime writer and editor who recently left San Antonio to retire in the small town of D’Hanis. Besides vegetable gardening and pet wrangling, Rosanne enjoys writing occasionally for the Hondo Anvil Herald, where she met her husband Joe 45 years ago. The Holy Cross parishioners are the parents of four amazing grown-up kids.