What If This Gets Worse?

Venezuela is living through one of the worst moments in its history. Corruption is running wild, there is no one to stop it, and its disastrous consequences for many of the country’s institutions and sectors are beyond measure. No area has been spared the disaster, and the truth is that for honest Venezuelans of integrity (and there are plenty of them, thank God), life has become a struggle to survive.

A few days ago I started crying over a great injustice being committed in the country, and my husband said to me: “Stop crying and be strong, because what’s coming is worse.” That snapped me out of it and made me dry my tears. And it made me think: “My God, what could be worse than what we have already lived through these past few years?”

So I started asking people I know what they thought about it, and these were the answers I got: “They are going to destroy absolutely everything here, and then the rebuilding will come.” “We are really going to hit rock bottom. We don’t know what that is yet, but afterward we’ll climb out of the hole.” They were discouraging opinions, but in the end they left room for hope.

What else will we have to live through? How will we live through it? For how long? What will happen to us, to our children, to our grandchildren…? These are questions no one can answer.

I have also asked myself several times: why us? And for that question I have put together an answer. I did so based on what I have read in the Bible, in the Book of Job, which I highly recommend you read.

I imagine that something happened here like what is told in the Book of Job, where, some years ago, the devil went out for a stroll around the world to see how things were going. He saw a marvelous country with all the material and human riches and beauty anyone could imagine; with some corrupt people and a great many good ones; with a Catholic Church that is exemplary in the world, where bishops, priests, missionaries and lay people have spent their lives for many years sowing the seed of Christ’s Love in every corner of the country.

I think the devil must have gotten very angry when he saw such great faith in so many people, that great treasure of popular piety Pope Francis speaks of so often, which is not very common in the rest of the world, and which is what is going to save us.

I imagine the devil said to God: “Let me test those Venezuelan children of yours, who say they love You and Your Mother so much, and see whether they remain faithful to You through misfortune and pain.” And I suppose God, as He did with Job, told him yes, he could test us.

And here we are, living through one of the hardest trials in our history. And the great thing about all this is that we see more and more people with true faith drawing close to the wonderful Father we have in Heaven, who we know will never, ever abandon us.

In every corner of the country, where people are going hungry, where there is no water, no electricity, no health care and so on, people protest, yes, but they also keep filling our churches, keep praying without rest, keep falling to their knees to ask God to help us. They are children, young people, adults, the elderly, people of every age and every background.

Venezuelans who ask God every morning for the strength to keep fighting to survive in this battered homeland, and for each of them to give their best in whatever they have to do, so that this country may very soon attain Justice, Freedom and Peace.

Job suffered terribly, and he was God’s favorite. And let’s not even speak of what the most beloved of His beloved suffered: His Son, Jesus Christ. I am convinced that we Venezuelans are God’s favorites, because His name is on our lips at every moment and we always keep Him close in our hearts. And I am sure His Most Holy Mother is there, whispering in His ear: “My Son, how much longer will this trial last for my Venezuelan children? Look, there are no children in the world who love me and pray to me as much as they do.”

We know harder times will come, but then better times will come. We only ask God to shorten this trial and give us great fortitude to keep going, always cheerful and with deep inner peace.

We know that in the end everything will be set right, and that Good will triumph over Evil. And then, as a priest friend told me: “The hour of rebuilding will come, and we will be the best country in the world.”

Not to mention the reward of Heaven that awaits the honest Venezuelans of integrity who fight to stay faithful to the end.

Bless us, Lord, and help us continue on this path we have been given to walk, for a reason only You know, and which we are sure is for our good! Virgin of Coromoto, intercede for us before your Son and protect us with your mantle in this Homeland we love so much!