Either Way Everything Will Be Fine
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Philippians 1:6 Paul writes: I am confident that God, who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. What is that good work? That we share fully in God’s divine indestructible life to the point in which we are transformed to be like Him. 1 John 3:2 We are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed…for we shall be like him.
No matter what happens – God in His Providence is guiding all things for one goal, one purpose – that you share most fully in His divine life and become like Him.
Catherine of Siena: Everything comes from love. All is ordained for the salvation of man. God does nothing without this goal in mind. And I add: God allows all that happens to us with this goal in mind – to make us like God.
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God has one main purpose or goal for your life – That we share in His life and become like Him. This is called Divinization. St. Peter in his second letter writes: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.
The CCC 460 quotes St Ireneaus, Athanasius, Augustine and Aquinas who sum up God’s goal for us saying: For the Son of God became man, so that we might become like God.
We hope for many good things: success in our ventures; health and success for our kids and grandkids; that society be a place or truth, goodness, justice and safety.
Even though these are good – they are secondary in the eyes of God and they are not necessary for God to bring us to the ultimate purpose for which He made us – to become like Him. Are there good goals in your life that have become a distraction or obstacle to reaching the ultimate goal?
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Therefore, we should become indifferent or let us say, neutral to all that is out of our control.
This Holy Indifference, according to St Ignatius of Loyola is the foundation of happiness: It is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in everything that is granted to the liberty of our free will and is not prohibited (meaning all sin), in such ways that we do not prefer health to sickness, wealth to poverty, honor to dishonor, a long life to a short life, and likewise in everything else, but desire and choose that which leads us to holiness and the glory of God.
Do what you can to ensure good health, success, safety and security, goodness, truth and justice in the world.
But accept all that happens, all that is outside of your control with Holy Indifference and neutrality because God knows best how to make us like Him and if He allows something in our life or the world, then He is using it to make us like Him.
We don’t have to like the things that happen; but we can trust God and thank Him ahead of time that He works all things to serve the goal of making us like Him.
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When our brain senses danger it sends a message of fight or flight. If this message of danger continues it results in anxiety. There are many potential reasons you may sense danger right now. However, the reality is – you are safe – because either way, no matter what happens, everything will be good for those who love God.
For those who belong to Christ, for those who love him, the world is not a place of danger and anxiety. We are safe because the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4) and we are strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength (Eph 6:10). Either way everything will be good because God works all things for good for those who love him.
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We are safe, everything will be fine because God’s purpose for our life is to make us like Him and nothing can happen that can prevent God from bringing about His purpose in us.
Nothing can happen that God does not will or allow.
If he allows something, it will serve the purpose of making us like Him.
So there is no ultimate danger. The world is safe with God as our Father because nothing can prevent Him from bringing about the good work in us He has already begun.
So let us make an act of faith and trust, a choice to live in the reality that no matter what – all shall be well.
CCC 227 It means trusting God in every circumstance, even in adversity. A prayer of St. Teresa of Jesus wonderfully expresses this trust:
Let nothing trouble you / Let nothing frighten you
Everything passes / God never changes
Patience / Obtains all
Whoever has God / Wants for nothing
God alone is enough.