St. Raphael the Archangel-When You Feel Stuck & Something Is Standing in the Way
Feast Day: October 24
Have you been praying and praying, yet something seems to be blocking the way forward?
Maybe you feel stuck in the same situation. A door will not open. A relationship cannot move forward. Healing seems delayed. You know where you need to go, but something keeps standing in the way.
Turn to St. Raphael the Archangel.
The Book of Tobias gives us a beautiful picture of St. Raphael as an angel sent by God to guide, heal, protect, and remove obstacles.
His Story
In the Book of Tobias, two families are suffering and praying for God's help.
The elder Tobias has become blind. Far away, a young woman named Sara is also suffering terribly. Seven times she had been given in marriage, but the demon Asmodeus had killed each husband before the marriage could be consummated.
To everyone looking at the situation, Sara's hope for marriage appeared impossible.
But God had heard their prayers.
God sent the Archangel Raphael.
Raphael accompanied the younger Tobias on his journey, guided him safely, and led him to Sara.
But before Tobias could peacefully enter into marriage, the obstacle had to be removed.
Following Raphael's instructions, Tobias used the heart and liver of the fish, and Raphael bound the demon that had tormented Sara.
The obstacle that had prevented her marriage was removed.
Tobias and Sara were married, and they prayed together, asking God to bless their union.
Raphael later helped bring healing to the elder Tobias's blindness.
Only afterward did the family discover who had been walking beside them:
Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who stand before God.
When You Feel Stuck, Pray to St. Raphael
St. Raphael's story reminds us that sometimes God is already working even when we cannot see what He is doing.
There may be an obstacle we do not understand.
There may be something that needs to change first.
There may be a different road God is asking us to take.
Or the answer may simply require God's perfect timing.
When you feel as though something is preventing you from moving forward, ask St. Raphael to accompany you.
Ask him to pray that God will remove whatever obstacles are contrary to His will and help you recognize the path He wants you to take.
Turn to St. Raphael especially when praying for:
Obstacles that seem impossible to overcome
A situation in which you continually feel stuck
Discernment about the next step in your life
Marriage and finding a good spouse
Healing of relationships
Physical healing
Safe travel
Protection during a journey
Guidance when you do not know which direction to take
Spiritual growth when something seems to be holding you back
A Saint for Those Seeking Marriage
St. Raphael is a particularly beautiful intercessor for those praying for a holy Catholic spouse.
Tobias did not simply find a wife.
God led him to Sara.
Raphael guided the journey, helped remove what stood in the way, and encouraged Tobias and Sara to begin their marriage by turning together toward God in prayer.
If you are waiting for a spouse, struggling with discouragement, or wondering whether God has marriage in His plan for you, entrust the journey to St. Raphael.
Ask him not merely to help you find someone, but to lead you toward the person and vocation that will help you reach Heaven.
Prayer to St. Raphael When You Feel Stuck
Glorious Archangel St. Raphael,
guide and companion of Tobias,
I ask for thy intercession today.
Thou wast sent by God to guide Tobias on his journey,
to bring healing to his family,
and to overcome the obstacle that stood before him and Sara.
I place before thee the obstacle that troubles me now:
[Mention your intention.]
If anything is standing in the way
of God's holy will for my life,
pray that it may be removed.
If I am walking in the wrong direction,
pray that I may be redirected.
If I must wait,
obtain for me patience and confidence in Divine Providence.
If I am afraid,
help me to trust that God has not abandoned me.
Walk beside me as thou didst walk beside Tobias.
Guide me where God desires me to go,
protect me along the way,
and obtain for me the healing and grace
that will bring me closer to Our Lord.
St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for me.
Guide me, protect me, and lead me according to the holy will of God.
Amen.
A Simple Prayer for Every Day
When you do not know what else to say, simply pray:
“St. Raphael, go before me. By thy intercession, ask God to remove the obstacles that keep me from following His holy will.”
Then continue praying and doing what God asks of you.
Sometimes Raphael's help may not look like the answer we expected. A closed door may remain closed because God is leading us toward another one.
The goal is not simply to have every obstacle removed.
The goal is to be led where God wants us to be.
A Testimony Written in Scripture
We do not have to rely only upon modern stories to see St. Raphael's powerful intercession. One of the greatest testimonies is already contained in Sacred Scripture itself.
Tobias needed guidance.
Sara needed deliverance.
The elder Tobias needed healing.
Their families prayed.
And God sent Raphael.
At the end of his mission, Raphael revealed that he had presented their prayers before God.
Their prayers had been heard even before they understood how God would answer them.
That is a beautiful reminder for us when we feel stuck:
God hears the prayer before we see the answer.
Are You Waiting for Your Way to Open?
Perhaps you have been praying for months or even years.
Perhaps you cannot understand why something will not move forward.
Perhaps you feel as though you keep reaching the same obstacle.
Ask St. Raphael to walk with you.
Do not ask merely for your way to open. Ask him to help you discover God's way.
Because sometimes the miracle is the removal of an obstacle.
Sometimes the miracle is healing.
Sometimes the miracle is finding the right person.
And sometimes the miracle is discovering that God was quietly guiding you along a different road all along.
St. Raphael the Archangel, guide us.
St. Raphael the Archangel, heal us.
St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.
