Last weekend and early this week, Northwest Indiana suffered under the weight of an unforgiving heat wave. Temperatures were in the high 90s with the heat index topping 100.

Needless to say, the heat was oppressive, causing discomfort, fatigue and distress.

In today’s geo-political reality, we can also experience oppression, leading to a sense of being weighed down in body, mind or spirit. Hearing about or experiencing crime, seeing the continuing wars, witnessing the unjust treatment of the vulnerable and needy, seeing increased poverty, and learning of the abuse of human rights in so many parts of the world can be too much to comprehend.

With hot weather, we turn to the cooling effect of water, air conditioning, or the movement of air with fans to help soften the draining effects of heat.

In life, we turn to God. We find relief in prayer while surrendering the unknown to the guiding hands of our loving Lord.

No matter the cause of one’s oppression, natural or manmade, God is awaiting an invitation to help us. When we surrender that which is hard to bear, there is comfort realizing our battles are not ours alone. Jesus is present, and where He leads, we follow.

Like the gentle breeze that comforts one on a hot day, the Holy Spirt is also there helping us.

After we surrender that which oppresses us to God, we need to take a breath and find comfort in that beautiful Psalm, “Be still and know that I am God.”  We will be helped. We can count on it. Thank you, dear God, for being with us. 

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek