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What do you do when you have a problem? For many of us, including myself, we try to come up with “Plan A”, “Plan B” and “Plan C” to figure out a way to correct it. If one plan fails, then we have a back up plan that “might work”. Sometimes those plans work and rectify the problem. Many times, they are not effective.
If we are to learn anything from someone about handling problems, then it should be St. Paul. After all, the majority of us have never been in prison, I would suspect none of us have ever been shipwrecked, stoned, or chased out of town by an angry mob intent on killing us. Paul experienced all these “problems” and leaves us with a “Plan A” to deal with them.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” (Philippians 4:6)
Prayer is not a magic wand. When we say a prayer, God will not suddenly show up in our living room and hand us money for our monthly rent payment. He will not appear on your front porch with a load of groceries. (On the other hand, he might just do it through a loving neighbor)
Do not struggle to find a solution to the problems you face without praying about it first. Paul was not the only one to turn to God first when a problem arose. Many of the early Christians went to prayer when times became hard. In fact, Jesus turned to His heavenly Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42)
God the Father did not come down to the Garden and tell Jesus that He did not have to endure the crucifixion because He prayed. His prayer did not prevent His suffering, but it certainly gave Him the strength to endure it. It refocused His perspective from a humanly view to a heavenly view.
We will not be able to always prevent suffering, but our view can change when we turn to prayer as a first option rather than the last. But, in order to change our circumstances, we must change our view. Problems and suffering can overwhelm us. They can cause us to fall into a pit of despair, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. When we begin to feel these feelings, we cannot always see the path that God desires for us to take. The path that will change our circumstances from being a focus of suffering to a focus of using it for the salvation of others.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
