Be Free
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Well sisters, it’s been a minute since you’ve heard from JOANIE. I was laid up in bed with a cold for two weeks, and then I (unintentionally) took my sweet time transitioning back into the real world. But we’re kicking back off in April! Sisters, I can’t lie, it’s been a tumultuous few weeks. Being at home 24/7 has thrown off my normal rhythms of life pretty dramatically - I’m sure you can relate.
Most of all, I’ve found myself struggling to make this a good lent. So much of what I wanted to do this year revolved around action - rocking my morning routine, going to mass, serving others, evangelizing at work. And so many of those well-meaning plans have gone awry - or have been tossed out the window. Once again, the world has foiled my good intentions. And while that’s difficult,
I don’t find my hope in my own goodness, but in His.
Sisters, it’s so hard not to put your hope in your plans and in yourself - into what you know you can accomplish or what you’re capable of achieving. I expect the world of myself and find that I’m disappointed when I can’t live up to my own expectations. But that’s not what I’m meant to do. I’m not meant to put my hope in myself, but in Him.
I don’t know about you, but I feel so much pressure: pressure to use my time at home well by deep cleaning and purging my closet and reorganizing and learning new things and getting plugged into the “right” kind of media and getting outside. Sisters, just as the Gospel says today, “the truth will set you free.” So, be free.
Be free! The truth is that you don’t need to do it all or be it all, you just need to remain His word, stay close to Him, and do whatever Jesus is telling you. He could be inviting you to overhaul your backyard, but He might be asking you to just sit down and veg out. Whatever you’re being invited into - accept the invitation. Let go of your own ideas for what you “ought” to be doing, and let Him drive. Sisters, we have 12 days to Easter, and I know that Jesus wants our hearts to be free for every single one of them.
Father,
Thank You for the freedom we find in Your presence. Thank You for the love and life that You pour into us when we come to You and rest in Your presence.
Father, I pray that You would turn our graves into gardens, our living rooms into sanctuaries, and our hearts into heavens. I pray for freedom - rich, joyful, full freedom for each and every person reading this post.
God, we love You. Teach us how to let go of all the pressure we put on ourselves so that we can rejoice with You. Amen.