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Erin Franco

Is joy worth the effort of trust?

Humble Handmaid· Interior Life

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2011 15 Nov

My friend Lucy recently sent me a passage about trust from One Thousand Gifts, a beautiful book by Ann Voskamp.

I don’t know why it’s so true for me that succombing to some level of anxiety and stress is so much easier than keeping my peace and trusting in my all-powerful, almighty, all-knowing Creator. 
From One Thousand Gifts: 

Belief is a verb, something that you do.

Then the truth is that authentic, saving belief must be also? The very real, everyday action of trusting. 

Then a true saving faith is a faith that gives thanks, a faith that sees God, a faith that deeply trusts? … That’s my daily work, the work God asks of me? To trust. The work I shirk. To trust in the Son, to trust in the wisdom of this moment, to trust in now. And trust is that: work. The work of trusting love. Intentional and focused. Sometimes, too often, I don’t want to muster the energy. Stress and anxiety seem easier. Easier to let a mind run wild with worry than to discipline, to reign her in, slip the blinders on her and train her to walk steady in certain assurance, not spooked by the spectors looming ahead. Are stress and worry evidences of a soul too lazy, too undisciplined, to keep gaze fixed on God? To stay in love? I don’t like to ask these questions, sweep out these corners where eyes glare from shadows. But this I must ask and I do, out loud…isn’t joy worth the effort of trust? 

Because I kid no one: stress brings no joy.

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3 Comments · Last Updated: June 2, 2015

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  1. stclement says

    November 25, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    "Easier to let a mind run wild with worry than to discipline, to reign her in, slip the blinders on her and train her to walk steady in certain assurance, not spooked by the spectors looming ahead." So true! Will try to find myself a copy of that book. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  2. E. B. says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:43 am

    Very good book! I think I was telling you about this one when we visited. I would pick up a copy if you get the chance! Every mom should read it.

    Reply
  3. Maggie says

    November 15, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    I just started reading this book. It's pretty deep! It definitely is speaking to my heart, though!

    Reply

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Hi there!

I'm a south Louisiana girl, Catholic wife, writer, speaker, and mother of six. Since I started my blog way back in 2009, life has been a roller coaster of babies, plot twists and a plane crash or two. I've been chronicling things here as I've been learning to love and suffer and laugh and trust in the goodness of God in the ordinary and the extraordinary--with a little espresso and a lot of Divine Mercy. Read More…

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