Florida Catholic | Debra Tomaselli :: Can’t Stop Believing

Can’t stop believing …

Published: 04.11.08

The Lord is concerned about you. He sees your afflictions. He has a plan and, in his own timetable, he is responding.”

“The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their affliction, they bowed down in worship” (Ex 4:31).

Weeks after my dad passed away, pangs of loneliness seized me late one afternoon. My husband was out of town on business and the kids were with my sister-in-law. As the long shadows of afternoon darkened the house, my spirit grew dim. Hoping to ease the solitude, I decided to go to the 5 o’clock Mass.

As I stepped into the shower, tears of grief commingled with the water droplets. Sobs racked my body as I dried off and dressed. Finally, I cradled my head in my hands and prayed, “God, please help me. I’m so lonely.”

Moments later, the phone rang. My sister-in-law needed to return the kids earlier than expected and was on her way to my house.

Next, there was a knock at my door. My friend, Maureen, and her four children had decided to stop by.

Within minutes, my home was filled with the sound of chatter, laughter, shouts and giggles. The kids were telling stories, singing songs and playing games. Maureen and I exchanged ideas for a birthday party. My sister-in-law invited us to Sunday dinner.

The unexpected action displaced my sorrow. In fact, I ended up chasing everyone out so we could leave in time for Mass.

And the camaraderie didn’t end there. When I arrived at the church, two students from my Brownie troop rushed up and hugged me. I couldn’t quit smiling by the time the kids and I took our seats in the congregation.

Although it’s not always quite that straightforward, the answer to prayer that afternoon was simple and direct, and it reminds me that God cares for us and that we can trust him to hear our cry.

When the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites, the Lord saw their sadness and appointed Moses to lead them to liberty. When Moses and Aaron told the people about God’s plan to liberate them, the Israelites believed. They didn’t wait for the end result. As soon as they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their affliction, they bowed down in worship (Ex 4:31). And we know the end of that story. It took years, but the Israelites finally made it to the Promised Land.

The Lord is concerned about you. He sees your afflictions. He has a plan and, in his own timetable, he is responding. Like the ancient Israelites, we are called to faith without knowing the end result. We can believe now. And, in that conviction, the natural response is simply to bow down in worship.

I can’t wait to see you in the Promised Land.

Debra Tomaselli is a freelance writer in Altamonte Springs.

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