Trust in the Lord during challenging times

The ultimate purpose of stewardship is to get to Heaven! In order to do that we must first put our complete trust in God in all aspects of our life even during the most stressful times.
Living through a pandemic has certainly caused a different kind of stress and anxiety for each of us. For some the stress is financial due to the loss of employment and to others it may be the stress of helping out children through remote learning when our gift is not teaching. We are all concerned for our own health and the health of our loved ones, some with more anxiety than others.
Reflecting on the pandemic, stewardship and what to write in this article, the words of St. John’s gospel spoke to me loud and clear when Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me.” – John 14:1
As a matter of fact, many Bible scholars claim that the words “Be not afraid” appear 365 times in the Bible. Coincidence? I don’t think so. The book of Joshua reminds us to put all fears aside because the Lord is with us always and in all circumstances. “I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Fear is the enemy of stewardship. Aside from COVID-19, fear plagues us every day. Some may fear that if we share our time, we won’t have enough to do what we want to do. Others fear that if we give our money away, we won’t have enough to buy what we want for our loved ones and ourselves. While some fear that if we offer our talents, they won’t be good enough to meet our expectations. Still others fear that if we love without strings, we won’t receive enough love in return. The list goes on.
When we put our trust in God, our fears are diminished and we are open to being generous with all the gifts He so generously gave us; not just one or two things we are comfortable sharing.
“Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
­­ — Shannon Roh is the Executive Director of the Office of Development and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Mobile.