The Many Blessings Of This Imperfect Life

Finding grace in our broken world

This life is not perfect. We face trials that break our hearts, challenges that sometimes make us wonder how we’re going to make it through. From the very moment that we were born, we have had no lack of suffering or pain. We get sick, we suffer from stress, we get hurt by the very people whom we love.

In the midst of all this, we may sometimes wonder why God created the world this way.

Why does He allow so much suffering to exist? Why let His children taste such a life that is so full of discomfort and sadness?

Yes, we are allowed to ask such questions in the same way that even Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Because it is never easy to be abandoned just when you need comfort and consolation the most.

At the end of the day, however, our faith teaches us that God never meant death for any of His creatures. He created the world to be full of life. It was sin that ruined everything.

And yet even sin cannot destroy God’s marvelous plans for us. While He has allowed the evil consequences of sin to exist in this world, He has promised a perfect and eternal life after this.

Even in this life, God accomplishes something good that can never be overcome by evil.

This imperfect world, after all, is the perfect opportunity for His wonders to manifest. In the midst of this darkness, His light may shine and guide our every step. In the midst of sorrow, His peace can be our anchor in our most troubling times.

How else could we exercise charity if not by helping one another in our poverty? How else do we show mercy if not by lending our hearts and hands to our brothers and sisters in need?

This may be a world where sickness exists. But this is also that world where we can comfort those in pain. This may be that life where our hearts can be broken. But this is also that life where we can offer our shoulders to lean on and our ears to listen to those who bleed.

Indeed, there is an abundance of blessings even in our fallen world. It is true then that where sin abounded, grace abounded so much more!

“The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more…” - Romans 5:20 (NABRE)

Let us take heart and draw courage from our faith in God. We are not yet home, but we are pilgrims on a blessed journey that can reap for us eternal treasures and joys.

This is an imperfect world. But this world is also our perfect opportunity to love.

“Why must we suffer? Because here below pure love cannot exist without suffering.” - St. Bernadette Soubirous