Catholic Candle note: Below is an article by one of the Catholic Candle Team, which is the fourth in a series of reflections related to humility. Here are the first three in this series:
➢ https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/god-is-the-sculptor-of-souls.html
➢ https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/our-nothingness.html
Sweet submission to God’s Will leads to
Uniformity with It and complete trust in God
Objective Truth Series – reflections article #4
Who doesn’t feel the need to be safe? When there is a calamity of nature or some kind of disaster, we seek protection and to survive, and so it is with our souls. God made us this way. We do ever forget our need of Him and His wonderful Providence, yet God’s draws the soul and teaches it, little by little. He shows the entire need we have of Him, until finally, the soul is convinced, and has no doubt of its need. A little child knows for sure that he needs his Dad and Mom. The child delights even to see Mom or Dad return home and runs to embrace his parent. Oh, to please his parents is such sweetness! He understands his proper place as the subordinate to his parents. He knows his ignorance, sees what his parents have done and still do for him, and thus sees his debt and what he owes to his parents. Thus, he has such gratitude, and this all builds such loving willingness to please.
Furthermore, a child feels so safe to be in the arms of his parent, he doesn’t care if it’s hot and humid, he just wants to remain there. With such knowledge and confidence in his parents, a child also learns to have a like knowledge of God and a trustful surrender to God. Our Lord alludes to this when He says: “Unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” St. Matthew, 18:3. With this trustful surrender comes such an all-embracing peace of soul that one does not doubt that God is in charge and planning what He wills to do for His friends. St. Paul reminds us of our need to submit to God and to see ourselves as little children, when he teaches: “For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named.” Ephesians, 3:14-15.
God’s Providence continually cares for and assists His friend – the soul of His adopted child. How wonderful to ponder on this objective truth that we are really adopted children of God! Now let us sincerely pray to live our true role in God’s eternal plan and lovingly trust Our Heavenly Father! Then our hearts would perhaps spill over in the following words:
To see my needs is to count without number,
I am in Thy hands, O Lord, like a child in slumber,
How can I help, grateful to be?
When I see how thou carest for me?
My biggest need of all, is that I see,
My longing to say, that I love thee,
And I give Thee, a thankful embrace,
And I thankfully fall, before Thy Face.
I thankfully rest, once safely in Thy arms,
And I’m so overwhelmed, with Thy charms,
And with Thy wonderful care,
How could I ever wish or dare.
To run away from Thee,
Now knowing Thou wouldst ne’r abandon me?
Thou hast given me, complete desire to ev’r see,
That I am lost, if I run away from Thee.
But now my heart is filled,
To ever do, what Thou hast willed,
Thy Will is my heart’s desire,
My only safety, my only fire.
Oh, for Thy Will, I ever burn,
Oh, for Thy Will, my heart will e’er yearn,
Without Thy help, where can I be?
I need Thee, there is nothing in me.
Oh, sweet submission and surrender,
I unite my will with God, so tender,
I am cared for by Him, Whom I trust,
Into His Hands, my heart I thrust.
Where rest, peace, and safety I find,
To serve, and love Him with a child-like mind,
On this true view of things so sweet,
There my happiness— my joy complete!