Dear Julie,

I have been keeping the faith to some degree more and less over the years, but G-D has been on my mind and in my thoughts pretty much daily. My question is when will relief come??? true he is taking care of me and my family and i thank him everyday for that. But its still a serious day to day struggle. I wont give up the faith, but I could really use a good event rather than all these not so good ones. please tell me something that will help me want to hold on a bit longer! please. -- Brian

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Dearest Brian,

The question from your heart is one that holds a whole universe of meaning in it. For the whole of human experience cries out when things that seem so greatly in need of change do not change, and when prayers to the One who one feels should answer prayers with obvious help, appear not to be answered.

Your heart, which has remained very faithful to God despite your doubts and despite the external difficulties, must continue to find faith within itself even if the external situation continues for a while. This situation of financial and emotional difficulty is not one that is visited upon you as a punishment. And even though it is extremely challenging, it comes to you as an offering in which certain other qualities of heart and conscience can grow. What might these be?

For one thing, dearest Brian, the fact that you are able to hold your family together based on the bonds between you is a tribute to the power of love in the presence of adversity. This is extremely important as a testament to the power of the heart and of love.

Secondly, you are still able to find goodness in life despite the insecurity and anxiety that you are also feeling on a daily basis. This fundamentally spiritual challenge comes to certain souls who are pursuing an inner path, with or without the conscious self being aware of it.

Third, the joining of your love for God and God's love for you needs to be found within the depths of yourself. The place of love's presence is deeply embedded in your heart, for you are a soul created by God, and this place of joining exists as part of that creation. It is what it means to practice 'alignment' (see link below) and it is what it means to know God's love. In the midst of difficulty, the place of truth about your endless safety and that of your family can remain. This is an inner knowing that makes the outer circumstances more endurable and causes life to feel more trustworthy.

In the presence of ongoing difficulties, then, these are the things to hold onto. The outer challenges can still be prayed about in terms of your own needs and those of your family, yet the inner place of security can remain at all times whether the external picture changes immediately or not.

Blessings, dearest Brian. Your heart's calling out to God is heard and known as is the situation that you and your family are in. May you feel sustained by the truth of this connection which is everpresent. In addition, may you come to understand that your voice and your heart's crying out speak for the pain of your brethren as well who are also feeling a need for support and upliftment at this time. May peace be yours, dearest one. Amen.

The Practice of Alignment

The Practice of Peace