In these days of fear and uncertainty, Julian of Norwich provides a simple image of God’s care, for even the smallest thing carries a powerful message:

“Hold in the palm of your hand the hazelnut, a small thing, round like a ball.
It is all that is made; it is made by love.
See in this little thing three truths:
God made it, God loves it, God keeps it.
In these truths stay and grow.”

Julian complained to God about all the suffering and evil she saw in the world. God replied to her with words like these — a mantra for this moment:

“You will have pain and affliction, trouble, strain and doubt.
But you shall not be overcome, and all shall be well.
Yes, all shall be well, and all shall be well,
I shall find my ground in God,
and shall see for myself
that all manner of things shall be well.”

Ps It’s comforting to know that Julian kept arguing with God, wanting to know how things could be made well. Instead, God kept inviting her to trust in that promised future of wellness. (http://juliancentre.org/julian-postings/…)

Image: rocketjohn/CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)