Happy Easter. Jesus Christ is risen! “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:1). 

 

Since the Fall, all of humanity has dwelt in darkness and slavery to sin. Our only hope was in God’s promise to send a savior (Gen 3:15). “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son… so that we might receive adoption…” and you “are no longer a slave but a child ….” (Gal 4:4-7). 

 

At Easter, our hope in God is complete. There is no doubt — Christ is victorious and has conquered sin and death. The doors to eternal life have been opened. 

 

The only problem that remains in my life is me, a troublesome work in progress. My relationship with Jesus is much like my marriage. I have a perfect partner and I still manage to mess things up. I desire to be better, but alone I cannot muster the strength to overcome my weaknesses (Rm 7:19). This inner struggle can become its own source of frustration and defeat. 

 

Compounding the problem, my failures have left a wake of wreckage in the world, giving rise to a feeling of helplessness. I cannot undo the harm my sins have caused to others.

 

In 1931, Jesus appeared to a young Polish nun named Sister Maria Faustina. Jesus instructed St. Faustina to have the Divine Mercy image painted and shared with the world. He promised that anyone who “venerates this image will not perish.” 

 

In the image, Jesus is compassionately stepping towards us, with one hand raised in blessing, and the other revealing His sacred heart, as rays of love and mercy flow from it. The image is signed, “Jesus, I trust in you.” 

 

Like Peter, as he began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me” (Mt 14:30) it is a prayer of both praise and surrender. It is a proclamation of Jesus as our triumphant Lord, and a cry to the one who is able to save us. 

 

As a child, I understood this to mean Jesus would protect and provide for me. It was a prayer to combat fears, anxieties, and uncertain times. To this end, it is very effective. It teaches us to trust God’s providence in all circumstances (Mt 6:25-32). 

 

Now as an adult and prolific sinner, I understand this prayer on another level: as a great source of hope. Jesus, I trust in your great love and mercy for me, your ability to transform me, and your ability to heal those whom my sin has hurt. I trust that Your goodness is so much greater than my sin, it will triumph in all things.

 

At a retreat, I was blessed to hear Father Sean Grismer witness to the power of God’s transformative grace. He challenged us to recognize: “I can’t, Jesus can; let Him.” It’s a simple but profound message that greatly enhanced my understanding and devotion to the prayer, “Jesus, I trust in you.” 

 

When I am stuck in my anger, impatience, or self-doubt, I repeatedly pray, “Jesus, I trust in you,” while recognizing I cannot, but if I let Him, He can and will. To my amazement and without fail, Jesus conquers my burden. Where once I could not forgive, change, or love as I should, I am now able. For some things, the response is immediate; for others, it takes bringing it to prayer multiple times.

 

As in my marriage, I am not alone and repeated failure occurs because I act as though I am. I need to rely on Jesus (and my wife) to make me strong where I am weak, to be totally dependent on His grace. “Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever.” (Ps 73:26). 

 

In our risen Lord, healing, happiness, and holiness are possible, if we let Him. Jesus, I trust in You.

For more on the Divine Mercy image go to https://www.thedivinemercy.org/