Praising the Lord in the Hard Times: When You Hit Your Knees

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Have you ever had such a hard time that you hit your knees? Something so physically or mentally exhausting that you fall to your knees just to take a breath? Within the past year or so, I've had a lot of those moments. They almost force you to be vulnerable, they knock the air out of you and leave you asking why. Something beautiful about those moments though, is noticing where you are in them, on your knees. The beautiful part about hitting your knees is realizing that whatever is going on that brought you there, you can bring to God. 

Catholics and Christians alike pray on their knees. It's a sign of humility, kneeling before the King of Kings in prayer. We can use these vulnerable moments to pray. We're already on our knees, why not pray? As I said in an article about prayer not too long ago, prayer is lifting your heart to God. God wants your heart, whether it be a heart that is angry, a heart that is sad, a heart that is hurt or confused or sorrowful or suffering. He wants your heart even on the bad days. 

I've had moments on my knees yelling at God, accusing Him, and asking Him "Why?".  I've spent moments on my knees wondering where He is and trying to find out what He's doing through all of this pain. I've had moments simply giving Him my tears and finding consolation in Him. But I think in these moments, the best thing we can do, whether we are hurt, or angry, confused or sad, looking for consolation, or even just looking for Him, is to thank Him. 

"Why would I thank God for these moments?" you may ask. I wondered that for a while too. Why would I thank God for whatever pain I had been going through? Why would I thank Him for seeming to be distant? Why would I thank Him for not taking away the pain? Why would I praise Him for a situation which seems so desolate? Take a deep breath friends, the very air that fills your lungs right now is a promise that there is hope things will get better. Put your hand on your heart, with every beat of it, Jesus is saying "I love you my child." The very fact that you are on your knees, means that you are being sustained by the loving Lord. He is allowing this hard time for your benefit. He is allowing you to share in a small portion of His cross. Maybe He is rooting out a vice in your heart that hurts to get rid of; maybe He is allowing you to suffer to prepare you for something, maybe He is permitting it for the benefit of someone else, or even your own soul. Maybe He is trying to bring you closer to Himself. 

Mother Teresa has this powerful quote I really want to share with you. She says "Pain and suffering have come into your life, but remember pain, sorrow, and suffering are but the kiss of Jesus. A sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you." That's such a beautiful and powerful thing to imagine in your suffering. You have come so close to Jesus, that He can kiss you. 

As you walk with the Lord dear friends, I invite you to pray and praise when you find yourself on your knees. 

See you in the Eucharist, 

May 

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