Once, a young man was walking in the desert with Jesus. He couldn’t see Jesus, but he knew Jesus was there because he could see two sets of footprints in the sand: his own and Jesus’. One day, after walking for a long time in the heat, the young man felt like giving up. He stopped and noticed that Jesus’ footprints were gone. Angrily, the young man said, “Why did you leave me, Jesus, when I needed you the most?” But Jesus hadn’t left him. During this tough moment, Jesus was actually carrying him.
It would be beneficial to repeat the sentence: The Lord Jesus Christ is with us! This reminds us that God is and remains with us until the end of time.
Being consistently mindful of God’s presence can be challenging and takes practice throughout our spiritual journey. Here is an exercise that might help you notice God’s presence more clearly. Ask yourself daily:
Where did I meet Jesus today?
Where did I miss his presence?
By asking these questions, you’ll start to notice God’s presence more often. You can also write these moments in your spiritual journal. When you feel like giving up, you can read these notes to remember when you felt close to God.
May these days of Advent help us grow closer to God and see Him working in our lives!
Hayden Diacono
SDC Candidate
