On the most basic level, simplicity means being honest and sincere with ourselves about our faith and what really matters most to us. Simplicity requires at least two things: being willing to be vulnerable by embracing openness to God and to life, and believing it is God's path to abundant life for us.
While that may sound simple, it isn't easy. Letting go of worry, fear, control, and handing the reigns over to God are some of the most difficult things a human being can do. No matter how hard we may try to "let go and let God," most of us find ourselves trying to figure things out on our own. In doing so, we become our own gods, mistakenly thinking we have total control of the outcome of our lives.
In Spanish, there is a phrase that was adopted from arabic: Ojalá. It means, "God willing." It isn't just a phrase, but rather an attitude toward life. Everything is subject to God's will. I often catch myself saying things such as, "I'll be home in a few minutes," and then quickly add, "God willing." I am conscious of the fact that my safe arrival home is never guaranteed. At any moment, God can decide that my time on this earth is up. It is His will, not ours, that will prevail.
Jesus reminds us of this in the Lord's Prayer with the simple phrase, "Your will be done." All things can be simplified down to God's will. If we pray to have God's will revealed to us, we are on the right path. If we earnestly try to follow God's will, we are on the right path. And if we can muster up enough faith to trust in God's will, even when we don't know what His will is, we are on the right path.
Easy? No. Simple? Yes.
Let us pray.
Father, we come before You today to thank You for Your perfect will. We may not always know what Your will is, but we know it is perfectly tailored to our lives. Please help us to give up our illusions of control over our lives and surrender to You. Please reveal Your will to us as we pray for guidance, and help us to Trust in You completely. In Your Holy name we pray. Amen.
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