To move towards growth in life, we require faith in three things — in oneself, in the goodness in society and in God. However, looking at the recent earthquake in Nepal where so many innocent lives were lost, one wonders if God exists. If He does, why would He do such things? It is on these occasions that faith becomes fragile and one tends to lose it. However, it is also on these occasions that faith is most needed too.
Faith is something that we all have inside us. When you face different situations in life, the peace and stability you have depends upon the amount of faith you have. It sustains life and leads one through difficult times. Contrary to popular thinking, faith does not contradict logic. It brings out hidden courage and potential in more ways than one. Realising this is sufficient to move ahead in life.
If you lack faith and if events frighten you, then you fly away, lost and anchorless. Faith helps you find solid ground. When passing through difficult times, we need to renew our faith. During such a time, invoke the valour in you and tackle the challenge with confidence. Through history, we have seen that the world has gone through harder times and come out stronger. You forget that there is strength in you – prayer and the power of your sankalpa (positive intention). Practices such as pranayama, yoga, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya help keep the mind balanced.
Faith leads to prayer, and prayer is a vital tool to improve your life. When you feel the obstacle is too much to handle, deep prayer can work miracles. Prayer is the cry of a soul. It happens when you feel utterly helpless or when you feel totally grateful. Both kinds of prayer are authentic and get answered. True prayer is about honouring and offering everything to the Divine. This brings devotion and it leads to surrender. Surrender means offering that which you cannot handle to God — “There is no way that I can get rid of this stress. I need help.” You will see changes happen immediately.
The act of praying itself has the power to bring transformation. Realise that you are not alone in these difficult times. There is always an unseen hand working for you. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Prayer makes you strong and powerful. Hold on to your faith and pray for the ones who have crossed over. Your prayers will bring peace to them.
Make the decision today — “Whatever happens, I will remain grounded. I will remain peaceful, and I have faith that God’s protection is here with me. Whatever happens, God will always hold my hand.”
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
