| Reflections on Healing and Spiritual Transformation I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to solve. I asked for courage, and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for love, and God gave me troubled people to help. My prayers were answered. — Hazrat Inayat Khan In this moment of profound gratitude, I reflect on the trials I faced over the past six months. These challenges, which began with unforeseen health issues, led me down a path of discovery and self-awareness. It was a journey marked by fierce struggle—both physical and spiritual—as one major organ after another was examined and evaluated. What I uncovered during this period was startling, more daunting than the final diagnosis itself. The most disconcerting part was realizing that others had noticed my symptoms before I did. My mind felt enveloped in fog, dizziness plagued my head, and I had difficulty breathing. Coherent thoughts eluded me, and I accepted these conditions, believing—and hoping—that they would pass. However, the onset of depression struck me with such unexpected force that it brought me to my knees. Spiritually numb and disconnected, I felt as if I had forgotten how to pray—or even what to pray for. My mind became a battleground where despair, fear, unbelief, and discouragement reigned. I was ensnared in a spiritual struggle, hooked on political news, social media, and Facebook—all of which only served to deepen my depression. Despite being caught in this vicious cycle, I had the presence of mind to cry out to God, my Healer, confident that He would hear me, help me, and heal me. One day, while scrolling through Facebook reels, I encountered the quote above. It resonated deeply within me, affirming that my prayers had indeed been answered. From the outset of this journey, I had claimed healing for myself even before consulting any doctors. My faith in God as my Healer remained unshaken. Last month, a friend told me to “Get well,” and I realized many others had said the same. This time, God opened my spiritual ears. I heard the divine message clearly: “Then walk in the healing.” At that moment, I knew my prayers had been answered. To God be the glory. When we have experienced darkness, we deeply appreciate the light. Every one of us has faced moments of fear or felt immobilized by overwhelming circumstances. It is in those moments that we cry out to God, “I cannot do this alone.” And it is in those moments that we find solace and strength, knowing that God is ever-present, ready to guide us through the darkness and into the light. In our moments of profound adversity, we often find ourselves searching for wisdom—something that transcends mere knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is the light that illuminates our path when darkness surrounds us, guiding us in making decisions that align with divine purpose. It is through wisdom that we gain insight into our lives, seeing through the haze of confusion and into the clarity of God’s will. As we navigate the complexities of our existence, wisdom becomes our anchor, providing stability and assurance even when storms rage around us. This divine gift allows us to perceive our circumstances through the lens of faith, recognizing the subtle workings of a higher power in our daily lives. When challenges arise and our strength wavers, wisdom reminds us to lean not on our own understanding, but to trust in the unfailing guidance of God. It cultivates within us a spirit of humility and obedience, empowering us to face obstacles with courage and resolve. Today, more than ever, we must believe in God’s plan for each of us. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). In today’s milieu of social and environmental upheaval, it becomes increasingly difficult to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We find this scripture in both the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18) and the New Testament (Matthew 22:39). God’s word and promises do not change (Matthew 24:35). When we look through worldly eyes, we get caught up in our carnal level of what we think, what we want, and what we feel—our mind, will, and emotions. But God wants us to live deeper than that. God wants us to learn to live in the Spirit—to be strong, diligent, and obedient. To get to where God wants us to be, He must first do a purification within us. Does that mean that I am not called to serve? I do not think so. What it means to me is that God had to do a work of purification in my heart, so that everything I was doing was done in obedience to His call and with a pure heart to help others. God sees our motives and the sincerity of our hearts. I learned that however many people I can help is exactly how many people I can hurt. The promise of God’s grace—where He actively intervenes to change the heart of those who are willing to receive His Spirit and obey His word—is found in Ezekiel 36:26, with promises of a profound spiritual transformation. As for me, I pray that God creates in me a willing and teachable spirit. We need that spiritual transformation. When all we see is the chaos and injustice around us, let us do as Rev. Mona has suggested: let us open our spiritual eyes and wisely choose to see those creating the chaos as children of God, knowing that God loves them as much as He loves each of us. Let us pray, then, for all those in need of spiritual transformation—in strength, wisdom, courage, and love. “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” — Mark 11:24 Yours in Christ, |
 |
| Irene Gutierrez Fowler Board Development Director Irene@ResurrectionMCC.org |