[1]“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” (John 14:27).
Within those words of comfort is the key: not as the world gives. And so with the assurance of our faith, we live in the moment, walk ever closer with Jesus, and in this way, find peace during such a time as this.
Given current events, there are times that I wonder, Where can I find a safe haven? Yet, the reality is that I am right where God wants me to be. I am naturally introspective and a problem solver and have a degree in social work and minor in psychology. Wrapping all that into the Catholic faith directs me in ways to shore up my spirits when things feel too heavy.
Here are 10 suggestions that have brought be great peace and consolation during difficult times.
1. Tune out the world for a time. Even if you are a news junkie, (I am) take a break in some way. Also find good Catholic news sources in order to integrate the news with faith.
2. Get in touch with nature to soothe the spirit. Take a hike or a walk in the park. Find a quiet place surrounded by green or the waves at a beach to let the sounds of nature pulse through you.
3. If social distancing limits you, put aside time to pray for those in need. You cannot save the whole world—not even Jesus did—but you can make a difference in the lives of those around you.
4. Nothing works faster to lift your mood than a good laugh. It strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Watch movies or videos of comedians with good clean humor.
5. Turn to our Blessed Mother. Her life was filled with stress from the time an angel told her she was to conceive the Savior, through the persecution of her Son and his death on the cross. Jesus’ first miracle—changing water into wine—performed at his mother’s request, was to relieve someone’s stress. Pray the rosary and ask her to intercede for you.
6. Seek out inspiration. There is an endless supply (including CatholicLane.com). Here are some of my new favorites:
- Seeking Peace: A Spiritual Journey from Worry to Trust [2]. Allison Gringas reveals seven ways to trust God more through reflecting on Scripture and how trusting God more can mean worrying less. Also, go here [3] to register for a related webcast.
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Everyday Catholicism [4] There are four books in the series, everyone filled with dramatically uplifting stories. It’s truly one of those books you don’t want to put down.
- T’s Teatime [5] A daily dose of inspiration to lift your spirits.
7. After calming the spirit, embracing our divine purpose can energize us and make sense of the craziness. In Immortal Combat [6], Fr. Dwight Longenecker addresses our very purpose as Christians. He explains that we need “a fresh understanding of what Christ’s sacrifice actually meant in the first place and what it means for modern people today.” Fr. Longenecker cuts through the cultural brainwashing that clouds our vision.
8. Surrender to God. Give him every part of this. Handing our worries over to Jesus brings peace of mind and releases us from feeling that it’s on us to fix everything. Pray the Novena of Surrender to the Will of God [7] composed by Father Dolindo Ruotolo. (1882–1970) candidate for sainthood how has been granted the title “Servant of God”.
9. Learn about the Divine Mercy devotion given from Jesus to St. Faustina in visions. Pray the chaplet of mercy for sinners knowing that you are making a difference in the world.
10. Make time for adoration and soak in the rays of the Son. We are not alone. By presenting ourselves before the Lord in adoration, he fortifies our spirit so that our efforts are fruitful.