In You,
I find a river of gold
I can swim in –
healing lava,
molten miracles,
a glorious unfolding
of safe passageways
through the wild –
transformation
and peace.


Lately, it has felt like the sky is falling. But thankfully, the sky has not fallen.

My kids are my sunshine, my recompense, my delight, my joy. I’m a mom, what can I say? I love my kids, and I want them to be happy and healthy.

Recently, two of them have had health scares, which have caused me to face a possibility of very difficult outcomes for them. Therefore, I have been praying with extra intensity.

I am so grateful for the reservoir of faith that dwells within me through years of walking with the Lord. I have no idea how people live without faith and am called to share mine with others.

So how do you pray when it feels like the sky is falling?

Any way you are moved, really. A simple Help me Lord! will be enough to connect you with His loving, healing presence – truly.

But there is an image that has developed through contemplative prayer over the years, which stays with me and continues to evolve and provide me with a deep sense of interior peace, which I would like to share with you. It starts with the image of Divine Mercy, which was given to St. Faustina in a mystical vision by Jesus. Here is the original version of it:

There is so much that can be said about this image, and St. Faustina’s Diary, which contains her writings about Divine Mercy, which were inspired by her mystical connection with Jesus. It’s something I’ve been meditating on for over 15 years and one of my most treasured prayers, right up there with the Rosary.

When I feel like the world is falling apart, I picture the image of Jesus with blood and water pouring out signifying the crucifixion that He went through for us, along with rays of light. But I look past the rays. See how Jesus heart is opening, and there is a Light revealed inside. I picture that as an opening, where we are welcome – kind of like a safe passageway through whatever storm we are going through, an invitation to rest in the radiant cavern of His unconditional love.

No matter what we’ve going through, it’s not worse than what He went through for us. Because of that journey He undertook from death into miraculous resurrection, I see Him as a safe passageway through any physical, mental, emotional or spiritual hell we’re going through into that same light of resurrection, which we catch a glimpse of in this image. Over time through prayer, it has been revealed to me as a healing oasis – a river of healing, which we can enter into or place others into, who are in need of healing prayer. What we see in this image is just the beginning, an entryway into a whole miraculous world of dwelling within His merciful, most sacred heart – as we are all called to do.

It’s a beautiful focal point of prayer and always brings peace to my soul with more and more depth and flavor of what it means to truly dwell within the Lord! I hope it does the same for you.

Here are some scriptures that can help:

John 15: 5-11

I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 John 2:27

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

How do YOU pray when life gets tough? Comment below, and I would love to hear your thoughts and prayers.

Lord give us the grace to seek You in our time of need. Open our hearts to receive the infinite wellspring of mercy, which you poured out for us on the cross. Strengthen our faith. Help us to believe more fully in Your ability to heal us with your love. In Jesus name, we pray.

written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org