When you come to serve the Lord

When you come to serve the Lord…prepare yourself for trials.

“Prepare yourself for trials?” That is a phrase you might expect a drill sergeant to say to new recruits. Or a man might say it to his son who is raising teenagers. But serving God? What does that mean?

Sirach rightly understood that people who try to serve the Lord are certain to face spiritual trials like discouragement and anxiety – and all manner of challenges that will temp them to give up their goals. That i swhy he is encouraging his readers to gear up for these trials, just as a solder or a father would prepare for the hands-on challenges of their vocation.

so what is Sirach’s specific advice? To guard against discouragement, he urges us to be “sincere of heart”. In other words, when faced with adversity, we should be honest with God. Do not think he does not care. Instead, tell him your troubles in a spirit of faith and hope. Cast your cares on him, confident that he will care for you.

As for anxiety, Sirach tells us, “Hold on! Wait a little longer!” You might be tempted to give up on God’s love in a small – or big – area of your life. But this is exactly the moment to cling to him all the more! Tell God, “I trust you – I know you will not give up on me.” Say it over and over if you need to, until your heart is at rest. This may be hard, but think of it as an act of faith. And if there is anything that moves God’s heart, it is Faith.

Finally, there is self-pity. Absorbed in our troubles, we can feel like we are the only person in our predicament. But Sirach encourages us to reflect on heroes of the past like Abraham or Ester, people who trusted in God’s Faithfulness and were saved. Or look back on your own story, chances are you will find similar instances of God working in you, stories that nudge you to be grateful, even in the face of trials.

Remember, all servants of God will face spiritual trials. But with tools like sincerity, trust, and gratitude, you will be better prepared to face them when they come.

-word among us