Have Faith
A Catholic reflection on trusting God through hardship, recognizing the people who shape our lives, and holding faith without pretending every painful event was meant to happen.
We have all lived through difficult situations and asked, “Why, God?” I do not always know why hardship comes. The Christian faith does not teach that every painful event is sent by God as a test or that suffering is something we deserve. The Church teaches that God is not the author of evil, yet He can bring good from its consequences (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 311–314).
Faith helps us keep going, make righteous choices, and accept help when we need it. We are not promised an easy life or a clear explanation for everything. We are promised that God is with us and that our lives remain precious to Him.
Standing through a difficult season
I once read a devotional reflection by Prophetess Lorraine Watkins Hulse about a woman who asks God how long she must endure her trials. The reflection speaks of trusting God and continuing to serve. Its image of perseverance stayed with me.
When Christians speak of “dying to self,” we mean turning away from selfishness and sin so that Christ’s love can shape our lives (Matthew 16:24; Galatians 2:20). It does not mean that a person should lose her dignity, ignore her needs, remain in danger, or believe that God wants her to suffer abuse. Christian service is freely offered in love, with respect for the dignity God gives each person.
Saint James writes that trials can produce endurance (James 1:2–4). That does not mean every trial is good or that we should tell someone their suffering was necessary. Sometimes we cannot see a reason for what happened. We can still pray, seek help, and trust that God can bring healing and good even from painful circumstances.
The Camaro I thought was a mistake
When I was eighteen, I bought a 1969 Camaro. It looked good at first: fresh paint, a clean engine, and a nice interior. I spent nearly all the money I had on it.
On my first real drive, the car became difficult to control at higher speeds. I took it to a tire and auto shop. They repaired it before checking with me about the cost, and the bill came to nearly $500, a huge amount for me then. I could not afford to get the car back right away, so I walked past it in the lot every day until I had saved enough.
The car still had problems. A used transmission did not fix the issue, exhaust fumes entered the passenger compartment, and other repairs followed. The frame eventually cracked. I felt foolish and taken advantage of. I cannot know everything about what the seller or shop intended, but I knew I had made a costly purchase without enough information or protection.
About two years later, I was in college when a woman named Fatima’s car broke down. I offered to help. The battery was not the problem, but I remembered that my old Camaro sometimes needed a tap on the starter. I found a hammer in the back of my Chevette, tapped the starter, and her car started.
When I returned from getting jumper cables, Fatima was waiting outside. We shared a kiss, and that Friday the thirteenth became one of the luckiest days of my life. It was the day our story began.
Looking back, I can see how the experience with the Camaro taught me something that helped me that day. I am grateful for the way events unfolded. I cannot prove that God caused the car problems so I would meet Fatima, or that every bad purchase hides a future blessing. But I can thank God for the good that grew in my life and for the people who have loved me.
Fatima’s mother later told her, “God bless him, God bless him!” Today we have two wonderful children and a marriage that has carried us through good times and hard ones. Fatima has been a loving partner, a wonderful wife, and a fantastic mother. She is one of the greatest gifts in my life.
Faith, work, and the people who helped
Years ago, I pictured a small automotive accessories store. My wife believed in the idea and supported me as I took the risk. Her brothers helped spread the word, and customers and employees helped the business grow. The store became much larger than I first imagined.
I am grateful for what we built, but I do not want to make success sound like proof that God rewards some people with prosperity. A business grows through many things: hard work, good judgment, relationships, opportunity, and circumstances we do not control. The gifts we receive are not a payment for being more worthy than someone else.
The Catechism teaches that even the possibility of merit depends first on God’s grace at work in us (CCC 2008). I can work hard and use my abilities responsibly while remembering that my family, employees, customers, and community all played a part. One of my first employees was my brother-in-law. He helped the business, and the work gave him a career he enjoyed and supported his family. I am thankful that our lives helped one another.
We are all called to holiness, whatever our work or circumstances (CCC 2013). Success is not the same as holiness, and hardship is not proof of failure. What matters is how we respond to the people and responsibilities entrusted to us.
Remember the sacrifice of Jesus
At Easter, we remember the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Christ freely offered Himself in love for our salvation, and God raised Him from the dead (John 10:17–18; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4). His sacrifice is not simply a lesson that we should accept every hardship without question. It is the saving act by which God shows the depth of His love.
In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). His trust did not make the suffering unreal. It shows His free obedience to the Father’s saving plan. Through the Cross and Resurrection, Christians find hope that suffering and death do not have the final word (CCC 613–618).
We can carry our own crosses by following Christ in love, but that does not mean refusing help or allowing others to harm us. Sometimes the faithful step is to ask for support, protect someone in danger, or work to change an unjust situation.
The people whose choices changed our lives
One day, a memory of my wife’s uncle came to mind. I started thinking about how one decision can affect many people. Years ago, he chose to leave what he knew and come to America, even though he did not speak the language. I thought about the courage that must have taken.
His decision affected his family, and in ways none of them could have predicted, it eventually affected my life too. If he had not come here, I might never have met Fatima. I might not have the children, home, and business I have today.
I do not mean that all of us are one person or that we can know God’s entire plan. We remain distinct people, responsible for our choices, yet our lives are connected. The Church calls this solidarity: we are responsible for one another and called to seek the good of all (CCC 1939). I am grateful for the choices that helped bring our families together.
A prayer for faith
Heavenly Father, stay close to me in the moments I cannot understand. Give me faith to keep going, wisdom to make good choices, and humility to ask for help.
Thank You for the people who have encouraged and supported me. Help me use my gifts responsibly, give credit where it is due, and remember that every person’s life has dignity and purpose.
When I look back, help me be grateful for the good without pretending that every pain was necessary. Keep my hope in Jesus Christ, who died and rose to bring us life. Amen.
Conclusion
Faith does not require us to call every hardship good or claim that we understand God’s plan. It helps us face uncertainty, make the next right choice, and remain open to grace.
When I look back, I can see that difficult experiences sometimes taught me lessons that later helped me. I can also see the people whose love and decisions shaped my life. I give thanks for them, not because every event was easy, but because God has been with me through it all.
Have faith. Keep choosing what is good, accept help when you need it, and trust that Christ’s love is stronger than any trial.