encouraging words.

I've been struggling so much with a ton of different things. School-related stress, like midterms coming up. Boy-related stress (need I say more)?. Faith-related stress, like feeling guilty and unworthy to enter God's house for Mass. Friend-related stress, like trying (and failing) to maintain long-distance friendships. UGHHHH STRESS.

So I've been praying a lot and I've been asking a lot of people who are close to me to pray for me and give me any advice they may have (I haven't been specific with too many of them--to most I've just said I'm really stressed with all kinds of stuff).

Here's what I've found through prayer and what others have told me! And some of these things just came through other forms (like Facebook) from God. Sometimes we just need to know we're loved, not alone, and that it will all be alright in due time.

-God, my Father, take away all my pain and sufferings. (this came to me and kept repeating in my head when praying while walking through a labyrinth at CSA on Wednesday)
-"Hang in there and praise God in ALL things. Even the dark times. And call out His name. He is ever close to you!" (Mama Bedford)
-"Because of sin we're never as good as we know we should be. Because of grace we're never as jacked up as we could be." (Lecrae [Christian rapper])
-"You are my best friend. I haven't known you for even a year, yet I trust you more than the friends I've had for years. I can tell you anything. You don't judge me. You are one of the best friends I've ever had. Never leave me. Thank you so much. I wanted to remind you that I love you." (Lainey texted me this last year)
-"If you are not yet married but in a relationship, does your relationship Glorify God? Your relationship should be preparing you to enter into a marriage of purpose designed by God." (Facebook: "I want a Godly marriage" page)
-"When God leads you to the edge of the cliff in your life, trust Him fully, let go...either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly." (randomly saw it on Facebook)
-"the desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
-"no matter how far I drift away from Your shore, by Your Grace I'll always be Yours" ("Unchanging" by Joe Zelek)
-"know that God is with you, even in the temptations, every step and every moment. Seek Him, call on His name, for when someone calls on the name of Jesus, satan will run away. Say His name out loud...even if it's just a whisper" (Mama Bedford)
-"you think you want to die, but in reality you just want to be saved" (randomly found this on Facebook)
-Deus Caritas Est ("God is Love"--Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical letter)
-"day by day, day by day, oh, dear Lord, three things I pray...to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day" ("Day by Day" from Godspell)
-"I love you the way you are, and I love to make you the way I am." -God (randomly found this)
-"when I know that I know what You have down the road, when I’m sure that
I’ve figured You out, help me see that I’m small, that I can’t know it all ‘cause You’re so unpredictable, ‘cause You’re so unpredictable" ("Unpredictable" by Francesca Battistelli)
-"for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (from Handel's "Messiah" which College Singers sang, but Becca reminded me of this)
-"everything will work out. Just let go of all of your stress and anxiety and give it to Him" (Becca)
-"the Lord will always lead you to happiness." (John T.)
-"The sheer fact that you DESIRE to be close to Him and DESIRE to love Him more is a sign that you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you and that you are a child of His. You are marked from your Baptism for Him" (Mama Bedford)
-"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
-"God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins." (Romans 3:22-24, found through "The Bible" page on Facebook)
-"I know the road has been rocky lately, but things will get better soon. I'll be there for you. I'll hold your hand and offer you a shoulder, and you'll get through this difficult time with shining colors. Never quit hoping, dreaming, and trying. Dreams do come true if you spread your wings and fly" (Renee)
-"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23, quoted by Leah on Facebook)
-"You do not know know what I am doing, but later you will understand and be thankful." (God)
-"If Jesus Christ Himself suffered on the cross, then who am I to think or feel that I am above the suffering?" (a priest to Mama Bedford)
-"God will provide." (John T.)
-"you just need to strive after doing God's will and things will fall into place." (Billy)
-"If we were always happy in this life then what would we have to look forward to in our heavenly life? There is a difference between 'happiness' and 'joy.' Happiness can be thought of as 'horizontal'...things of this world. But 'joy' is 'vertical'...those things having to do with the spiritual life, my relationship with Christ." (Mama Bedford)
-"every blessing comes down from the Father, not in payment for good done, but as a gift." (the book Redeeming Love, quoted by Stephanie on Facebook)
-"Mistakes are the essence of humanity. Grace is the essence of Christianity." (Adam Jeske, quoted by Lauren on Facebook)
-"Though our ability to love fails, Gods love never fails. His love for us is not hindered by our inability." (Lecrae)
-"God allows sufferings to happen so that you will truly rely upon HIm in all things. He wants you to not get bogged down by what you are going through but look at it as a opportunity to ask Him to help you and strengthen you and love you. He can make good from all things, even things you wish were different." (Mama Bedford)
-‎"Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us." (Hebrews 12:1, found through Nicole)
-"I am above all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changing world. When you behold my face, you rise above circumstances and rest with me in heavenly realms. This is the way of peace, living in the light of my presence. I guarantee that you will always have problems in this life, but they must not become your focus. When you feel yourself sinking in the sea of circumstances, say "help me, Jesus" and I will draw you back to me. If you have to say it thousands of times daily, don't be discouraged. I know your weakness and I meet you in that very place." (a reflection Mama Bedford shared with me)