“Behind The EightBall”

Have you ever awakened in the morning and felt the “weight of the world” on your shoulders? Maybe there’s no new problem … no new health or job crisis, no one died…yet, everything feels heavy…. I can feel like I’m “behind the Eight Ball”. I met with some good friends last evening and more than one mentioned that they’ve had this experience…probably all of us have. 

As for me, this feeling can hit me on a fairly regular basis. When I awaken to this “feeling”, sometimes I can’t shake it…. it doesn’t go away while I’m brushing my teeth or getting dressed… it follows me down the stairs.

A key moment for me is when I recognize that this feeling is not rational… is not based on any new set of facts or some new dilemma…. it hits me that this is an attack from the evil one, from the devil. Scripture is clear that the devil is our enemy, as he was Christ’s.  “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1Peter 5:8-9)  When I recognize that this is a spiritual attack, then I’m on my way to getting rid of it. So, what should we do?

I first ask the Lord to help me. I then take the authority given to me by the Lord, to reject Satan and his tricks…to cast him away in the name of Jesus. Next I need to humble myself and ask for prayer…” I’m feeling a bit down, behind the 8 ball…will you say a prayer with me” (maybe it’s your spouse or a friend). I then look to do the next right thing.. maybe getting to mass or taking some prayer or doing my duty, whatever it might be at that time. What I generally find is that in a few minutes or so, the feeling has lifted…. I don’t feel so “heavy” and am ready to move on with life. 

To be honest, I’d prefer to not have to deal with this. I don’t enjoy it, yet it seems to often be part of life. Like dealing with any other challenges of life from sickness to difficult relationships, to financial worries, you just need to do your part… it’s part of life. 

As we say in the “morning offering”, “Lord Jesus, thru the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and suffering of this day…” These are part of every day and I need to offer all of it to the Lord. May God help us to do our duty each day and love God and our neighbor, knowing that it often includes some spiritual warfare… “resisting the devil, firm in your faith”.  This is part of life on this side of heaven. So, let’s keep fighting the good fight of faith and “all will be well with our soul”.