Recently, I returned to a little book I’ve had on my shelf for several years. Arise From Darkness:What To Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, written by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, is like an old friend that you turn to when things aren’t going well. Fr. Benedict doesn’t sugar-coat tough situations, and gives clear and practical advice on how to overcome serious problems that we all face from time to time.
Today, I’d like to focus on just one point he makes in the book. I’ve used it myself and Fr. Groeschel is right. When used carefully and consistently, this remedy always works.
If we want to overcome our problems and difficulties, one of the surest ways to do that is to help someone else. Take the focus off you and turn your attention to another person, especially someone who might have it worse than you.
You could volunteer somewhere. Make a few casseroles or bake some cookies and take them to a shelter. Better yet, volunteer in some capacity at that shelter. Visit the homebound or sick at the hospital. If you’re not able to physically do something, you could contact your church and ask them for prayer intentions. No matter how busy we are, we can always take a minute to pray for someone else.
At my church, there are stacks and stacks of index cards outside our chapel with people’s prayer requests written down. Oftentimes, our prayers are focused on ourselves and our problems, but I think a balance between praying for our own situations and those of others might be bear fruit.
When things seem to be going from bad to worse in my own life, I’ve often used the remedy Fr. Benedict suggests, and it has always worked for me. I hope you’ll give it a try.
One reply on “A Remedy That Always Works”
This is a sure way to cure the blues!! Also at bedtime make a short gratitude list of at least three things. Sometimes we are not responsible for events that happen to us…but we are responsible for our response.