Grace That Sets Us Free
DAY EIGHT
Place It In God's Hands
There is a difference between giving something to God and simply asking him to fix it. We can spend a lot of time telling God what we hope will happen, while still holding tightly to the outcome. But eventually, trust asks something more of us. It asks us to say, “I don’t know how this will end, but I know I don’t have to carry the ending myself.”
From the Cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” His words were not resignation. They were an act of trust. Mary accompanied him through that surrender, and she can accompany us too.
Today, bring your knot to Jesus one more time, and then place the outcome where it belongs. Place it in God’s hands.
FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT.
LUKE 23:46
Jesus shows us what complete trust looks like. Even in the darkest moment, he entrusts himself to the Father. We can learn to make that same movement of trust with our own lives.
YOUR INVITATION
Think about the outcome you have been hoping for. Name it honestly. Then imagine placing it into God’s hands.
You don’t have to stop hoping. You don’t have to stop praying.
You are simply choosing not to make your peace depend on getting the outcome you want.
Pray slowly: Jesus, I give you the outcome.
Repeat it whenever you find yourself taking it back.
PRAYING WITH MARY
Mary, help me to keep entrusting this knot and its outcome to Jesus. You know the hopes I carry, but I do not know what lies ahead. Teach me to hope without trying to control, to pray without demanding, and to place my future in the hands of your Son.
Mary, Untier of Knots, pray for us.
—
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
WISDOM FROM THE CHURCH
Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away; God never changes.
St Teresa of Ávila