Hope For Julia

At Catholic Charities, we help men, women, and children who come from a variety of different backgrounds and struggles, all in need of help and hope – all living in fear. Julia was no different when she came to Catholic Charities.

Julia's earliest memories involved witnessing her mother's daily drug use. During her childhood, Julia was removed from her mother’s custody on multiple occasions, only to hear endless promises that her mother would get clean – but it never lasted long. The cycle repeated itself until, at age 17, Julia decided she was tired of dealing with her mother's drug use and the havoc that it was wreaking on her life. 

Julia moved in with her aunt, who recently had become a new mother. With no guarantees of how long she would be able to stay, Julia was grateful for the escape even if it would be short-lived.

Shortly after turning 18, Julia found herself pregnant by a man who no longer wanted anything to do with her or their unborn child. As she reached the final term of her pregnancy, Julia’s aunt became pregnant with her second child and told Julia there was no longer room for her. Homeless, afraid, and nearing the end of her pregnancy, Julia came to St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities for help.

Despite the many struggles she had faced, Julia was able to maintain excellent grades and graduate as an honor student from her high school. But because her mother had never paid book fees, Julia faced the embarrassment and disappointment of not being allowed to graduate with her class. Despite getting a job, she had no clothing, bedding, or supplies to take care of her new baby. Julia felt hopeless and afraid. 

But Catholic Charities would soon provide help and create hope for Julia that changed the future for her and her newborn child. Thanks to a recent grant from the Zonta Foundation, Julia received financial assistance to pay her book fees in time; and through generous donations within the community, Julia was also given the necessary supplies she needed to care for her baby.
In May, Julia graduated with honors and now has what she needs to care for herself and her baby. She has also begun personal counseling to deal with the issues of her past. Julia is excited about what the future has to hold for herself and her baby thanks to the hope that was created by Catholic Charities.

Living Without Fear

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

So often we look at what is happening in the here and now instead of focusing on the eternal home God is preparing for us in heaven.

What is it that stands in the way of us having an eternal perspective? Something we may not often consider to be a factor tops the list…fear.

We are often afraid we won’t have enough to take care of our families and ourselves if we live “all out” for God. We wonder if God will lead us down harsh roads and ask us to carry overwhelming crosses as He did our Savior. We fear the consequences of a completely Godward life. And so we build houses for now…and hope for the eternal mansion down the road.

Catholic Charities serves its families with an eternal perspective. Many of the families that come through our doors are living in fear. Although it is a different fear than most of us experience day-to-day, they do the same as we do – building “homes” for right now. They struggle to see beyond this moment because of fear.

However, in Christ we can find the strength to move past the fear and live with hope. We can even endure sacrifice, toil, pain, and loss with a calm confidence that our current circumstances are not our future – that our home is not this planet.

We serve a God that gives us an eternal hope without fear of the future because He will not abandon us – and neither will Catholic Charities.

Nothing to Fear

It’s only natural to feel overwhelmed, afraid, and vulnerable. In those times, we question our strength and our ability to make it through. When trials come, our reaction is often one of fear and doubt that God can help us.

King David was no stranger to conflict or fear. His understanding of God’s strength and sovereignty did not come by pure thought, but rather, it came by experience. We see this multiple times throughout the Psalms, but specifically in Psalm 27:1-5.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— 

      of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

When David proclaims in verse 1 that the Lord is his light and salvation, the stronghold of his life, he can make such claims only because of personal experience – times when he was forced to either lean on God or wither away in despair.

The truth of God’s strength is learned during times of vulnerability, and yes, even trials. When fear overtakes us, it is an opportunity to choose in whom we will place our trust. Will we learn to rely on ourselves or God? When we rely on God in our weakness and fear, he fills us with hope, strength, and peace.

David learned that when enemies and challenges come – our confidence comes from God alone.  Are you in agreement with David today?

When you’re afraid, take refuge in God, for He will keep you safe, strong, and whole – no matter what battles come. We have nothing to fear if God is our strength.