Trust in God: Just Do It!

Well, I have got some great news today! I've got the final answer for everyone here who has too many worries on their mind, too much illness and anxiety, not enough money, and can't seem to follow all of the Commandments perfectly at the same time. Yes-we can condense all of this into the one major thing we have to do in the life of faith, and that is: trust in God.

Isn't it annoying when someone tries to give you a 3-word solution to all your worries? It reminds me of Nike ("nigh-key") telling us to put on our $150 gym shoes and "Just Do It" when we either have a ton of homework, or four kids to raise, or a homily to write that day. That's all we need, more pressure to meet someone else's expectations.

Reassurance for Daily Reality

But when Jesus says today, "Do not let your hearts be troubled," it isn't pressure. And he's not being simplistic-he's being realistic. Just for a moment, count up the number of minutes in a day you spend worrying, anxious, crying, or troubled. Kids, how much of your time spent texting or talking on the phone is to tell a friend how "freaked out" you are at something you're worrying about, or a problem you don't know how to solve?

Trust in God really does need to be the foundation of our lives. We can't even get through a day without trusting other humans. If we didn't trust the elevator inspectors, we would never get into that little box and go even 2 stories off the ground-we'd be terrified! And before you drove today, you didn't take off your hubcaps to check the bolts and nuts on the wheels, did you?

We're used to trusting cars and elevators, because we see them working most of the time. So why does it not come naturally to trust God? Why do we worry and stress out, toss and turn? It seems to be part of evil in the world that we don't automatically entrust all of our anxiety to God.

This is why Jesus has to repeatedly tell, urge, and instruct his own disciples to be at peace. "Have faith in God, and faith in me." Faith does not always mean only believing in doctrine and religious teachings. We will always have doubts and questions about beliefs, just as the apostles do today. Faith is also a wordless trust at a deep level in our hearts. Jesus even gives us the option of believing him, "or else, believe in me because of the works I do."

Eyes In the Back of God's Head

Remember how your mother used to say, "I've got eyes in the back of my head"? One reason we can trust God is because, as Psalm 33 says, "the eyes of the Lord" are always upon us. You moms and dads, you know how your eyes never leave your child, when you're at the park or the beach. You can be talking or pushing another child in a swing, but you're scanning the landscape to keep all the children in view at all times, right?

This is the vigilant love we can trust: Jesus teaches the apostles and us that God is watching over us every moment with this same tender concern of a Father in love with his children. Even when death breaks our hearts, even when we lose our health, our home, our memories, or our own child...we are God's beloved ones. Most of us do struggle to trust God, just as the apostles did. But in those struggles, we are still God's children who will all one day go to the place Jesus, our brother, has prepared for us.

In the Mass we pray, "... protect us from all anxiety." Anxiety comes from the darkness of evil, and so it has a terrible effect upon our spirits and bodies. These days, terrorism and financial fears add to a chronic anxiety that tranquilizers can't treat. Some web bloggers comment on how angry, screaming, and bitter people have become over petty things like being cut off in traffic. Families start to fray at the edges, and small fears trigger big fights. This is why Jesus constantly tells us, "Do not let your hearts be troubled."

Responding to Anxiety

So where do we go with our many worries? Catholics should not simply tolerate chronic anger and fear in our daily lives. But how can we BE Christ to our world? Just when we feel the least at peace ourselves might be the best time to use our will to act in faith-by being a peacemaker. I dare you to smile and wave at the person who cuts you off next time! Instead of lashing back when a clerk is rude, one man disciplines himself to say quietly, "Wow, what a crowd-I bet it's been a long day for you." Usually he gets a small smile back. But if they're still crabby, he'll add, "You have a tough job and I want to thank you for being so patient." He says their change is remarkable. We'll have to try that and see what happens.

The whole world is our community. WE can teach our community members to trust something much greater than themselves. We start with trusting God ourselves. When fear shows up, our heart pounds and our palms sweat, we can replace our anxiety with an act of trust in God's love. This might be a prayer, a kind remark, or a brave action to smooth over a tormented situation. All will be well because God's eyes are watching it all with love.