When Jesus Sleeps: Finding Spiritual Peace Amid the Storms of Life

by Luis M. Martínez

What to do when God doesn’t answer! When Jesus Sleeps shows you how to trust God even when He seems unresponsive and remote — even when, as in the famous incident in the Gospels, He seems to sleep while you are buffeted by the storms of life. Author Luis Martinez quotes that beautiful line from the Song of Songs — “I sleep, but my heart is awake” — and confirms that with Jesus this is indeed the His love for you never sleeps, no matter what. Martinez shows how you can make better sense of your life once you realize that God has actually been closest to you when He seemed farthest away; and once you learn why He often speaks to you only in silence. Best of all, Martinez teaches you the secret of true happiness, which you can achieve even amid the troubles that are inescapable elements of every human life. With sober realism and simple faith, this book will show you how to discover — and then to take refuge in — the comfort our Lord offers you, even when He seems to sleep. Learn to get through the times when God seems distant, as you discover why silence is essential for all real growth in the spiritual life; why Jesus must seem to sleep in order to refine your love and purify your soul; Jesus’ thirty “hidden years”: the important lessons they hold for your life today; why worry? Two common reasons why people do worry — and remedies for each; a simple, effective, and gentle procedure for becoming holy in your daily life; why it’s one of the most difficult — and most important — virtues that you must acquire while Jesus sleeps; the three paths to spiritual are you taking them? Do you know what they are?; two times that Jesus grieved — and what He meant to teach you in each; three surprising things that promote your spiritual welfare — if you know how to use them; how the presence of Jesus in your life can transform your experience of suffering; the medicine of the spiritual why it must often be bitter; and much more that will help you endure the storms of your life with confidence that even as Jesus sleeps, He cares for you!

Genres: Catholic

131 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Luis María Martínez y Rodríguez was the Catholic archbishop of Mexico and a member of the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua ("Mexican Language Academy").

He was born in Molinos de Caballeros, Epitacio Huerta, Michoacán. A philosopher of the scholastic tradition, his focus on the ultimate nature of things led him to theology. He was also a writer of spiritual poetry.

While his traditional values provoked his criticisms of some aspects of Mexico's modernization, he always retained a special relationship with the people. He presided over the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, declaring, "I am Zumárraga" in order to draw Mexicans who has "wandered" back to the church. He joined the Academy in 1953, and many of his sermons were translated into French, Italian, and German.

He died on February 9, 1956 in Mexico City.

Reviews

[Elias Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part gives very good tips on how to take up and accept difficulties, dryness and "abandonment" of God. The second part its pretty repetitive about faith, hope and love as keys to peace, though the first section about faith is pretty helpful.