
What if the busyness we mistake for faithfulness is actually keeping us from being loved? St. Thérèse’s image of a little bird falling asleep in trust raises an uncomfortable question about what it costs a Father to watch His children stay too restless to notice they are already held.

Robert Van Valkenburgh traces the arc from childhood hyper-vigilance to a 4 a.m. moment of insomnia — where the altar of self-made atonement becomes, by grace, the place of surrender. Drawing on St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s bold declaration that she fears only one thing — keeping her own will — this Lectio Divina asks…

Discover St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s wisdom on surrender and gratitude. Jesus doesn’t demand heroic acts but invites us into simple trust and thankful hearts, echoing Mary’s faithful yes and Scripture’s call to rest in grace.

In this Lectio Divina inspired by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we are reminded that imperfection is not a flaw to be feared but a grace that draws us closer to God. Recognizing our weakness allows us to depend on His boundless mercy rather than our own strength. In humility, we discover joy—the joy of…