I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when my life had changed so much. It was a series of seemingly simple, ordinary situations that piled up over the years across different areas of my life.
As a child, I don’t recall having any “big thing” I wanted to achieve when I grew up, so I didn’t have a clear, personal benchmark for success or failure. What I *did* have was a deeply hidden sense of unease. And from that hidden place, a question would arise:
“Something isn’t right—what is it that’s troubling me?”
That internal dialogue would surface during those rare moments of inner quiet.
What about you? How is your life today? Do you make space to listen to what lies in the depths of your heart?
To avoid those unsettling feelings, I used to try to look for the bright side of the situation. That helped for a while, until I could no longer find a place to feel grounded.
Later on, I began receiving spiritual direction, followed by therapy. These practices helped me immensely.
And you, have you identified what helps *you*?
Scripture, specifically the Letter to the Romans, tells us that everything works together for good for those who love God.
I have processed this passage in different ways at different stages of my life.
How do *you* receive it today?
For me, in moments of unease, I don’t always “believe” it quite as strongly. However, when I have consistent accompaniment, my doubts don’t necessarily vanish, but they don’t feel as heavy; they become more bearable. It is from those moments that I’ve been able to start shifting my perspective when I face deep-seated concerns.
My feelings and concerns, like yours, aren’t bad; they are information from the depths of our being. They might even be God inviting us to pay attention to something we haven’t properly acknowledged.
How do you handle your concerns? Do you ignore them, or do you welcome them?
If the Spirit leads you, share your concerns with Jesus the Carpenter; perhaps, in sharing them and knowing you are being heard, you will discover that *everything* works together for your good.
Marisol
P.S.: We can reflect on the message of the Letter to the Romans found in the readings for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.
P.S. 2: For those wishing to delve deeper into how *everything* works together for your good, I invite you to sign up for the Christian Spirituality program offered by the Center for Religion and Spirituality at Loyola Marymount University, This program is offered in Spanish, starts in the fall of 2026. https://crs.lmu.edu/espanol/programas/espiritualidad/
