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Here we might usefully take a break on our journey to explore some of the dangers we will experience. There are clear and present dangers to be found by all who embark on the journey towards God and everlasting life. Not everyone will experience all these difficulties but I do have to warn you that if you are sailing along without any problems then you need to stop and take stock of your life because the chances are you have strayed very far from the truth. It is not my intention to bring you down or lead you into a pit of despair but rather to encourage you, so that you can be forewarned and therefore duly armed for the battles ahead.

There are many trials. You might find yourself bored, losing interest in all things spiritual, distracted by all the temptations that the material and earthly life offers. If you find yourself in such a state, you must simply make the effort to reclaim your former discipline and keep moving forward. It is like a test and if you keep going you will once more emerge into light and you will be so much stronger for having faced your personal trial and overcome the obstacles you found on your journey. It sounds easy but it is hard going and may not be a quickly resolved.

Never Give Up!

Prayer life can appear to wither and die and you are left without words or comfort. God may appear to have wandered off leaving you abandoned and alone. Don't give up, you don't need words! If, as you should have created a little prayer place in your home, perhaps a little home altar with a cross,  make time to go there or stay in your armchair and simply say quietly to the Lord, Here I Am, and Be Still in His Presence. He knows you better than you know yourself and knows what you need and what is best for you. Trust Him!

Your personal life may throw awful things your way from family problems to ill health. You may find yourself walking in darkness. Do not be afraid, the Lord is YOUR shepherd. He will guide and help you at all times, although it may only be long afterwards that you are able to look back and see clearly how he carried you through those difficult days.

Perhaps you are carrying a huge burden that makes you feel constantly a failure and unfit to be a follower of the Lord. I carried one for nearly fifty years. It was a constant in my life, no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't able to feel free of this burden of guilt. It wasn't until after weeks of agonising and facing up to my shameful fear that I was finally able to make a full face to face confession to my parish priest, as I prepared to be received into the Catholic Church. That was several years ago now and since that day of truly saying sorry to God and promising with His help to walk a different path and never repeat my actions, have I had the burden lifted. It vanished in an instant. I was healed. I was forgiven. My life was set free from the burden. My confession had been deeply sincere and I felt a warm rush of forgiving love and a deep sense of peace overwhelmed me.

There is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God, except perhaps our own choice to turn our back on Him. But there is nothing that cannot be fully forgiven if you turn to Him, He will throw warm safe, welcoming, arms around you.

No trial, darkness, sin or doubt need stand in your way, ever.

Be aware however there are many forces around you, seen and unseen, that will try to make you stumble, fall or even convince you that you aren't fit to enter the Kingdom Of God. Don't let them win, hold fast to the rock on which our faith is built and you will be safe and secure.