3 Minute Devotional: Smiling At Disagreeable Things With St. Therese of Lisieux

Welcome back to our very special episode of "Hope In Him Today". As your host, I, Gary Miller, take you through a three-minute devotional journey inspired by Saint Therese's book ‘Story of a Soul’.

In this intriguing episode, we dive into the wisdom presented by Saint Therese and how she recommends tackling life’s adversities with grace. She writes, “When something painful or disagreeable happens to me, instead of a melancholy look, I answer by a smile…” This wisdom gem, shared along with many others in her book, will guide you to transform your mental and emotional outlook when facing difficult circumstances.

Everyone has difficult days. Hours when nothing seems to go right, the world seems against you and frustrations run high. On such days, the wisdom of Saint Therese can be of great solace to you all, as it was for me during a challenging day. Listen in as I tell you how choosing to smile over frowning made my day a tad bit better.

Smiling won’t make the problems disappear, but it will start changing your disposition. It helps us refocus our perspective, keeping our eyes and minds on better things, or in other words, “the things above”. When we choose to hope in him, even complicated situations might bring out a smile and a taste of peace amidst chaos.

Whatever you might be facing today; demanding kids, unsettling work scenarios, miscommunication with a spouse - perhaps trying this simple wisdom from “Story of a Soul”, answering with a smile, could make your day and situation slightly easier to handle. Trust in God's plan and believe that He will shape everything for your good, even in these puzzling times.

Reflect on this concept from Saint Therese's book that we discussed in today's episode. Check the links in the show notes for more information about the book. Remember, every situation can bring about a change if looked at with the right perspective. Keep your hopes high, and see you in the next episode!