Yesterday we talked about not being surprised when trials come. Today, I want to talk about being ready for them.
There’s a difference.
Back in college, I played baseball. During the winter, we’d work out in the old basketball gym—a converted airport hangar. Dusty, stuffy, hard to breathe.
Sometimes, at the end of practice, we’d have to run suicides.
It was the worst.
And it was the worst for two reasons. First, it didn’t happen every time, so you were caught off guard. That connects to yesterday’s reflection—don’t be surprised when hard things happen.
But the second reason? Even when I knew it might be coming, I still felt unprepared.
There’s a difference between “I’m not surprised this is happening” and “I’m ready for this.”
One is about expectations. The other is about preparation.
I think there’s a lesson here for our spiritual life. It’s one thing to not be surprised when trials come. It’s another thing to be ready for them.
The question isn’t just “Will I face trials?” The question is: “How can I be ready? How will I respond when they come?”
Let us pray.
Lord, give us the discipline to build spiritual strength before we need it—to pray when things are good, to seek You when we’re not desperate, to train when the race is still ahead. Make us ready for whatever comes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.
