Turning to God through prayer is extremely beneficial. Lift up your eyes to Heaven and do not be discouraged. Here is how.
Newsroom (05/10/2022 18:00, Gaudium Press) Human beings sometimes experience tremendous anguish, a feeling of extreme abandonment that can cause much damage in their lives.
In such situations, turning to God through prayer is extremely beneficial. But how do we do this when we feel abandoned?
Lift up your eyes to Heaven
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus proposed as prayer a kind of “impulse of the heart”, or rather a look up to Heaven; a cry of gratitude and joy.
The Bible tells us of many situations of anguish, for example, the Book of Tobias tells of Sarah’s anguish: all her husbands died because of Ashmodeus and, in addition, she was also insulted by her father’s maid. So Sarah says this prayer: “You are blessed, O Lord God of mercy, and Your Name is blessed, holy and worthy of honour for ever and ever. Blessed are all Your works for ever and ever. Now, Lord, it is to You that I lift up my face and my eyes. Command that I may be set free from the face of the earth so that I may hear no more of these insults.”
Do not be discouraged and remember the graces received in the past
Anguish and pain can last for a long time, and can also place you in a state of paralysis and permanent discouragement.
The best way to overcome anguish is to refuse to remain in it. In situations of distress, it is necessary to be accompanied physically by a medical specialist, and spiritually by a priest.
Whatever the difficulties, we must look to the future. With the help of the Holy Spirit, let us remember the past graces we have received, reminding us that God wants our happiness. In Psalm 22, we find: “Though I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil; for you are with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they are my support.’
Call upon the Archangels and the Virgin Mary
The Angels want to help and console us, because they have immense compassion for us. In moments of great difficulty, let us invoke the Angel of the Garden of Olives, the same Angel who consoled Jesus in His anguish.
Also, the Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael act powerfully against evil spirits. St. Michael’s rosary is very powerful.
The recitation of the Holy Rosary, along with the invocation of Our Lady through it is a strong prayer for protection and deliverance from evil and all forms of distress.
Rediscover the Beatitudes
Anguish can lead to terrible sadness and make us forget the ultimate end: God’s victory over evil. It can then be comforting to rediscover the Beatitudes and see the situation of anguish as a means of spiritual joy: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt 5:4).
Offer anguish to God and let us commit ourselves to fight against evil
Our prayer can also be an offering to God for the salvation of souls; only by offering can suffering be given meaning.
Suffering can be offered for the liberation of souls from Purgatory and also for the conversion of sinners. This helps us to escape the feeling of loneliness and to share suffering with our brothers and sisters who need our help.
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
