Not long ago, a woman approached me while I was exiting a church and asked me to pray with her. When I asked her what she would like me to lift up in prayer, she started to cry. Just days before, the only daughter of a dear friend, a deacon serving in her parish, had taken her life. She was in shock. Her heart was broken. She was still grappling with the reality of what had happened. That woman’s heart was simply crushed at the news, knowing how much her friend was suffering the loss of his daughter.
She came with her heavy heart to pray. She came with a burden that was too much for her to carry, to ask Jesus for His rest and His peace. Sometimes the burdens we carry are so heavy we fear they will overwhelm us. They can be physical burdens of health, financial struggles, devastating ruptures in relationships or losses from which we fear we will never recover. We can grieve under the weight of spiritual obstacles and moral dilemmas.
Jesus calls us to Himself. He calls us away from anxiety and the way it keeps us fixated on things we can’t control.
Jesus calls us to Himself as the only certainty in life that we can absolutely trust. Worries shake our confidence in what we know to be true of God.
Jesus calls our minds to Himself and away from the fearful imaginings of worst-case scenarios that paralyze and defeat.
Jesus calls us to Himself to rest, far from the stress of the to do lists and endless tasks to remember and complete.
When we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, Jesus calls us to Himself because He wants to give us a clear mind and a peaceful heart with the assurance that He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
So when conflicts rock a relationship, remember Jesus is calling you to Himself so He can carry you in His arms.
When hearts are broken and you have no real way to make things right, remember Jesus is calling you to Himself, and He will calm your heart.
When you are lost in the darkness of what-ifs and defeat, remember Jesus is waiting with open arms for you to lay your head on His heart.
Going to Jesus can be our first response instead of what we do when nothing else seems to be working. One of the most powerful prayers you can say is simply, “Jesus, I am coming to you. Help me!”
Hace poco, una mujer se me acercó cuando iba saliendo de una iglesia y me pidió que rezara con ella. Cuando le pregunté para qué intención le gustaría que rezara, empezó a llorar. Apenas unos días antes, la única hija de un querido amigo, un diácono que servía en su parroquia, se había quitado la vida. Estaba en estado de shock. Su corazón estaba destrozado. Todavía estaba lidiando con la realidad de lo que había sucedido. El corazón de esa mujer estaba simplemente destrozado por la noticia, sabiendo cuánto sufría su amigo por la pérdida de su hija.
Vino con su corazón apesadumbrado a orar. Vino con una carga que era demasiado para ella, para pedirle a Jesús por su descanso y su paz. A veces las cargas que llevamos son tan pesadas que tememos que nos abrumen. Pueden ser cargas físicas de salud, problemas financieros, rupturas devastadoras en las relaciones o pérdidas de las que tememos no recuperarnos nunca. Podemos afligirnos bajo el peso de obstáculos espirituales y dilemas morales.
Jesús nos llama a sí mismo. Nos llama a alejarnos de la ansiedad y de la forma en que nos mantiene obsesionados con cosas que no podemos controlar.
Jesús nos llama a sí mismo como la única certeza en la vida en la que podemos confiar absolutamente. Las preocupaciones sacuden nuestra confianza en lo que sabemos que es la verdad acerca de Dios.
Jesús llama nuestras mentes a sí mismo y nos aleja de las imaginaciones temerosas de los peores escenarios que paralizan y derrotan.
Jesús nos llama a sí mismo para descansar, lejos del estrés de las listas de cosas por hacer y las tareas interminables que recordar y completar.
Cuando sentimos el peso del mundo sobre nuestros hombros, Jesús nos llama a sí mismo porque quiere darnos una mente clara y un corazón en paz con la seguridad de que Él ha vencido al mundo (Juan 1,33).
Así que cuando los conflictos sacudan una relación, recuerda que Jesús te está llamando a sí mismo para que pueda llevarte en sus brazos.
Cuando los corazones están rotos y no tienes una forma real de arreglar las cosas, recuerda que Jesús te está llamando a sí mismo y calmará tu corazón.
Cuando te sientas perdido en la oscuridad de los interrogantes y la derrota, recuerda que Jesús te espera con los brazos abiertos para que recuestas tu cabeza sobre su corazón.
Acudir a Jesús puede ser nuestra primera respuesta en lugar de lo que hacemos cuando nada más parece funcionar. Una de las oraciones más poderosas que puedes decir es simplemente: “Jesús, voy a ti. ¡Ayúdame!”
Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is an author and offers online evangelization as well as spiritual formation for people on their journey of spiritual transformation and inner healing. Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com My Books: https://touchingthesunrise.com/books/
Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/ HeartWork Spiritual Formation Group: https://touchingthesunrise.com/heartwork/
Feature Image Credit: Leiloeira São Domingos, Public domain, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sacred_Heart_of_Jesus_Christ#/media/File:Sagrado_Cora%C3%A7%C3%A3o_de_Jesus_-_escola_portuguesa,_s%C3%A9culo_XIX.png
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Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of four little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is 
Lily is a Michigan native and cradle Catholic who has spent most of her life exploring her own reasons to embrace her faith fully. She attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she discovered the beauty of her personal relationship with Christ and the Church. After college, she worked in Montessori Education for three years and recently transitioned to nannying. She was recently married and spends most of her time reading, and enjoying her dog and family!
Kimberly Andrich writes from the perspective of having a hidden, chronic illness and experiencing a deep, continuous conversion through being yoked to Jesus in the day-to-day trials and joys of life. She is a wife, mother of 5, and daughter of the King. Kimberly also writes for 
Colleen Orchanian is a podcaster, blogger, and spiritual director who desires to help others have a more profound encounter with God. She is the author of three books: Nearer My God to Thee, Times of Grace, and Lingering with God. Her podcast is Food for Thought (Spiritually Speaking). You can learn more at 
Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his wife Lily and their dog Kolbe.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on 
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Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
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