Self Reliance...

I had to post a small excerpt from the devotional Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD. He is commenting on the Gospel where Jesus calmed the storm (Mt 8:23-27). Father Gabriel takes up the subject of self reliance and confidence in God:

"The Apostles were saved only when they called upon Jesus. As long as they labored and struggled alone, they had no success. Many times we fail to surmount interior difficulties because we work alone. God wants us to experience our own insufficiency; therefore, he lets us struggle until we have recourse to him with full confidence. Certainly God wants our efforts, but he does no want us to place all out hope in them. This accounts for the small progress so many make on the road to sanctity - too much reliance on their own resources, too little on God's help. We must be firmly convinced that 'our sufficiency is from God' (2 Cor 3:5). We must have less confidence in ourselves and more in God. Jesus can do all things, and confidence works miracles. 'We receive from God as much as we hope for' (St. John of the Cross)."

Think about Joshua. Here he is getting ready to go into the Promised Land after Moses death with this rag-tag band of ex-slaves. Who could they conquer? They get to Jericho with no hope of a military conquest. They must rely on the Lord and do what he says even if it seems silly - like march around the place (I mean, what could that possibly do?) In their confidence and obedience to the Lord, he make them victors.

I hope and pray for the confidence of Joshua. I hope to completely integrate into my heart and my mind the words the Lord spoke to Joshua (and speaks to you and I this day):

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9