The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Before starting college, I sought out all the advice I could, hoping to be prepared. But no matter how many people I talked to, I still wasnʼt ready for the amount of studying, pressure, or the challenge of holding onto my faith. Time and again, I found myself saying to the Lord, “This wasnʼt in the manual.ˮ
When I graduated and stepped into the world of adulthood, I quickly realized I lacked so much basic life knowledge. I often wonder why universities donʼt offer classes on things like taxes, insurance, or how to fix a leaky faucet. Once again, I turned to God and said, “This wasnʼt in the manual.ˮ
Years later, when I met my dream guy and entered into the vocation of marriage, I did everything right—pre-Cana classes, retreats, books on holy marriage. Yet a year and a half in, Iʼm still figuring things out. I love my husband, but if I had a dollar for every time I told God, “This wasnʼt in the manual,ˮ weʼd at least have the financial part of our marriage covered.
As I reflect on Isaiah being thrown into a cistern, I imagine him thinking, “Lord, when You called me to be a prophet, You didnʼt say it would include this!ˮ Wherever you are on your walk with the Lord, suffering and challenge are inevitable. Though we often hear, “God wonʼt give you more than you can handle,ˮ I tend to disagree. In todayʼs Gospel, Jesus reminds us He didnʼt come to bring ease or predictability, but to wake us up to the truth that the perfect life we crave isnʼt found here, but with the Father in Heaven.
In the moments I feel weak and unprepared, Iʼm learning not to lament the change in plans, but to pray like the psalmist: “Lord, come to my aid.ˮ Scripture, the saints, and the great cloud of witnesses remind us that though this life can bring broken plans and divided hearts, the joy set before us is far greater than any cross we carry.
Allie Moroney is a Catholic writer, speaker, and host of The Life of a Priest podcast and various other content featured on the Tabella app. Living in Spain with her husband, Allie shares her journey of faith and the beauty of Catholicism through storytelling that awakens souls to the reality and availability of grace. Through her blog, she highlights ordinary and extraordinary stories profoundly marked by grace, inspiring others to embrace God’s love in their daily lives. Follow her on Instagram and explore her website to join her mission of living intentionally and joyfully in the love of Christ.
