'Jesus I Trust in You': Emily Wilson Explains the Source of Strength When Facing Difficulties

Emily Wilson Hussem was at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana and led a beautiful session for women about courage, suffering, and obedience.

The Catholic wife, mother, author, and speaker started her talk by saying that sometimes women can be “allergic to vulnerability," that is, are afraid or avoid opening their hearts to God and others.

Wilson then invited women to remember the Virgin Mary's "fiat," who, despite being very young and not knowing how things would be, said "yes" with courage and humility.

“The Lord is so faithful even when we don't understand," she said. "He will equip us and help us along the journey."

Even though sometimes situations don't seem good or easy, Wilson compares them to oysters, which on the outside are rigid to deal with the threats of the sea, but carry within them a beautiful pearl. Likewise in our lives, God always “hides” something good behind the bad moments.

“To say, 'Lord, when you say you make all things work together for the good of those who love you, we find ourselves in circumstances where we think nothing good will come of this, nothing good could possibly come of this, this is too awful too horrible," she adds. "Maybe it's in your own life, maybe it's in the life of your mother or father or child or friend, but the Lord finds us there in the midst of suffering."

Wilson then recommends prayer as a way to find strength in these situations.

“We can be like this oyster to say, ‘Yes, there is suffering, but something beautiful can come out of this.’ Even if it's not some amazing result of the problem that is occurring, the most amazing result is deeper intimacy with the Lord.”

Trusting the Lord's plans in difficult times can be challenging, but it is part of faith.

“Sometimes we struggle because there are times when we feel like the Lord didn't come through or the Lord didn't answer a prayer."

But it is precisely by trusting that God knows what is best for us that we can be obedient to His Will.

“If you truly trust that God is who He says He is, that His word is true, that His promises are true. Every time His answer to my prayers is not what I wanted,” she continues, “instead of saying: You let me down, I say, Jesus, I trust in you, I don't get it at all but I trust in you.”