What is Your Heart Looking at?
Often what makes us fall into despair is focusing on the wrong things. For example, if we’ve sinned, we focus on the sin, rather than the Most Merciful. If we’re broken, we focus on the break instead of Al Jabbar, the One who mends. If we are in pain, we focus on the pain itself, instead of on the One who removes all pain. If we are wounded, we focus on the wound instead of on the One who heals all wounds. If we’re scared, we focus on the fear, instead of the Protector. And if we’re facing a problem, we see the problem, but not the One who can solve it. We see the lion,...
Read MoreWhy do we break?
I learned something in a very concrete way yesterday. We had bought a set of 2 beds and it seems they were made of very weak material; so they broke. There was a serious problem in their foundation, but it took a break to find it. And as a result of the break, the man who fixed them, put a solid wood foundation that is now almost unbreakable. This also happens in our lives. We are full of inner deficiencies and weak foundations. But how are they exposed? They are exposed through a break. Through certain breaks, we become aware of particular deficiencies in our inner foundation. We become...
Read MoreA Reflection on Pain
It’s easy to minimize a person’s hurt without understanding the nature of pain. People often like to categorize how much a person should or shouldn’t hurt about things. For example, when someone is upset about something, they say, “At least you’re not paralyzed, or starving in Africa.” While it’s imperative to be grateful for what we have, I think people often mistaken the nature of pain, when they ‘categorize’ in this way. A relationship break up can hurt more than struggling with cancer (true story). The criteria for how much something...
Read MoreTo all those who suffer from sadness or depression…
To all those suffering from sadness or depression, know that it isn’t your fault. It isn’t because you’re weak. It isn’t because you’re just not grateful enough. It isn’t because you’re just not religious enough. It isn’t because you don’t have enough faith. It isn’t because God is angry with you. To all the well-meaning people who tell you this, just smile. And know deep in your heart that the tests of God come in different forms to different people. And know that, by the help of God, every test can become a tool to get closer to...
Read More
