In 1 Corinthians 2:9 we read that “what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” That is, once we surrender our life to God, our life changes in ways we might not even imagine or dream.
For example, look at the life of St. Joan of Arc. Recently, I stumbled upon this book by Mark Twain Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, which, in his own opinion, is the best book he has written. It has a very captivating and compelling narration. St. Joan of Arc was a peasant girl in rural France to whom God sent his messengers Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Margaret to guide her in the mission of delivering France from the British. She started hearing them at the age of 13 and calls them “her voices.” She also sees Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and other angels at times and is led to lead France into victory in a battle with England. That was a great call. A young girl who hasn’t even touched a horse is now riding a horse and is the chief commander of the nation and
leads French troops into victory against their most powerful enemy, England, during the Hundred Year’s War.
In normal circumstances, a girl in her situation would get married to somebody, raise the next generation, and lead an everyday family life. But when she realized God’s plan and decided to respond to it, God transformed her into a new person with strength and
courage suitable for that mission. Her most famous words, “I was born for this”, explain it all. She was still very meek and submissive to God and all above her but also very prudent and wise. She is abandoned into the hands of God, and God does great things through her. She goes from place to place, gathering French forces for the battle, and it’s all done with grace and command. However, she also foresees the kind of death she will face after leading her nation to major victories in the battle. Thus, after her decisive role in the French victory and coronation of Charles VII, she was accused of being “presumptuous, credulous, rash, superstitious, seditious, cruel, apostate, schismatic and a false prophetess” and was burned at the stake by ecclesiastical authorities on May 30,
This verdict was overturned in 1450 as her influence and popularity only grew after her martyrdom. Her innocence, holiness, and abandonment to the will of God was acknowledged later on, and Pope Benedict XV declared her a saint in 1920. St. Joan of Arc’s life teaches us a valuable lesson-God is not limited by our inabilities, positions, or circumstances. If we are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can discern His plans for us. Our willingness to cooperate with Him will determine the course of our lives. Despite the challenges we may face, a life surrendered to God’s plan will be accompanied by His presence and guided by His wisdom in this life, leading to everlasting glory in eternal life.