Holy Spirit, help me to stand firm in faith so that I can remain standing…

 
Isaiah 7:1-9
                                    
Walking up a stream bed on the side of a mountain in the Arctic years ago with my four year old and ten year old daughters, I suddenly noticed stones beginning to race past us.  “Stand up!” I yelled to my 10 year old, as I grabbed my youngest and held her up high. When the land slide had finished running its course, I was shin deep in small rocks and stones and my 10 year was buried up over her knees. With prayers and concerted effort we were able to dig ourselves out and gingerly move to a patch of heather off to the side and finish our climb up to a safe plateau. Stand firm in faith indeed! It is the only way to not only survive, but to thrive, as the landslides of life come and go. When relationships shift, torrents of challenges big and small come my way, or my world seems to be changing too rapidly, will I lie down in despair, or stand firm in faith to continue on my journey, following in the footsteps of Jesus and all the saints before me?  Holy Spirit, help me stand firm in faith so that I can remain standing.
 
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul  (Psalm 86:4)
 
Take God for your [father] and friend and walk with him continually, and you will not sin and will learn to love, and the things you must do will work out prosperously for you.
St. John of the Cross
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei