Hearing God and being too busy not to pray

By Sister M. Emily Vincent Rebalsky, IHM

Have you ever had one of those days at work that’s more stressful than usual … when you feel like you don’t have time to breathe?

I was having one such day when I was a secretary in a human resources department. There was a viewing I wanted to go to that evening, and I needed to get a Mass card. Although we had an hour for lunch, it was not the type of day to take a break at all. However, I knew I needed to run out to get the Mass card. I called the parish office and asked if they would have one ready for me. I jumped in the car – already having $10 out of my wallet – and drove to my church. I ran up the steps to the office, did a quick exchange with the receptionist, and ran down the steps. The church itself was on my right.

“Stop in and make a visit,” I heard a voice in my heart.

“I don’t have time,” I thought.

“Make a quick visit,” I heard again and sighed. I didn’t have time to do this errand, much less stop and make a visit.

Then, a calm, gentle voice came to me once more. “You’re already away from the office; who is going to know if you stop in for a few minutes?”

So, I went in.

The lights were out in the church and the sun was pouring in through the beautiful, stained-glass windows. I felt the stress instantly leave my body. When I sat down and looked at the Tabernacle, I heard the words, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28) When I walked out of the church, I felt very much at peace and simply thought, “Well, that was nice. I feel so much better!” It wasn’t until I got back to my office that I became amazed at what had just happened. As soon as I walked in the door, one of my co-workers handed me a message slip. Upon reading it, I discovered whatever problem I was dealing with that day had been solved while I was in church!

As a religious sister, I have the opportunity to make chapel visits several times a day. I can assure you that my problems aren’t solved every time I walk in. However, Jesus was telling me something very important that day: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” He said it to His disciples, He said it to me, and He’s saying it to you, too. He didn’t just say it … He meant it. There is such a thing as being too busy not to pray!

How is God calling you and how do you know His voice? That inner dialogue that was going on in my head and heart when I was coming down those steps wasn’t the first time something like that happened – and it wasn’t the last either. The next time you hear a voice in your heart, and you try to put it off, stop and think, “Is this Jesus inviting me to something?”

If it’s something good, and if it’s something that will draw you to closer to God, give it a try! Work can wait another few minutes. The sooner you respond to God’s invitations, the more likely you are to recognize His voice in the future. During this month of the feast of Corpus Christi, maybe you can incorporate into your schedule a regular visit to a Church or Adoration Chapel where you can lay down your cares upon Him. He will already be there.

Sister M. Emily Vincent Rebalsky, IHM, is the program director at Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center, Stone Harbor. For more information about retreats at Villa Maria by the Sea, visit VMbytheSea.com. For information about discerning a vocation with the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Malvern, Pa., visit ihmimmaculata.org.