I had a friend come to me recently lost in despair. She had suffered a great insult which causes her untold pain. She is grieving the loss of something big in her life. The details are not important but her pain is very real - so real that she can't find God in the midst of her despair.
I'm not sure why she came to me but she sees me as someone who is safe. She is a devoted Christian, someone I admire greatly for her ability to show Christ to others -- and she came to me. It was quite a humbling experience for me for I know I don't have any answers.
I am grateful that she let me share in the depths of her despair. It is never an easy thing to join intimately in that place that is so full of angst, a place where God is but in our pain we can become blind to His presence.
Continue to pray. Even when you can't find God, go through the motions and keep the dialogue going. There are times in everyone's life where we don't feel the loving presence of God. We know we are His creation - beloved and cherished children of God. We are so special to Him that the hairs on our heads are numbered! We must keep talking and listening with Him...and look for the ways He displays His presence. We can believe despite the lack of feeling His presence.
Commit your daily walk to Him. Leave a sticky note on the bathroom mirror that says "Lord, I desire to walk with you today." When you get up in the morning and brush your teeth, read the sticky note out loud. When you can't feel His presence, understand He will never leave you.
Put on the Armor of God. Seriously. Satan senses our weakness in our painful state. I suggest you print this prayer out and tape it the above mirror. To allow evil to enter into the healing process is to delay it significantly and perhaps forever.
Resolve to spend time in His Word. Even when the pain you are experiencing leaves you exhausted and weak, open your Bible for new insights and words of comfort in the place where He speaks to us. A few minutes a day will be of great encouragement. I pray you will find yourself called more and more to that time with Him in His Word.
Make a decision for forgive. A rational decision to forgive those who cause us pain is the first step to healing. Make the decision, ask God to help you - even when you can't find Him. He will direct your path despite the wall of pain you find yourself surrounded by.
Ask forgiveness. Sometimes our pain is the result of our own sins. Confession and absolution great healers.
Give God your pain. How does one do this? It is no easy task - I know from experience. So often we want to hold onto that pain - our little hurts and our big hurts. Sometimes our hurts are associated with the death of a loved one and we cling to it as if we were clinging to the one we lost. We know are injured and weak. Begin with your thoughts in prayer - "Lord, I give you my burden. It is much to heavy for me. I need to rest in You."
Some things needs to be wrestled with in our relationship with God. Sometimes, we can't find God because of our anger with Him. When there is no one else to blame, we often blame and become angry with God. Why did He allow this injury/pain to afflict to me? He is ready for you! Yell, scream,rant and rage at and with Him. He is big enough and loves you enough that He is ready to listen and surround you with comfort, strength, and healing.
Trusted friends are vital. God gives us friends to love and support us on our earthly journeys - to pray with us and for us, to bless us with their ears, hearts and hugs. When you can't find God, let a friend share His love for you.
Seek prayer support. Not everyone needs to know the details but surround yourself with prayers and pray-ers. God knows your needs so ask others to pray for you and your unspoken needs.
Talk to your pastor. Pastors can be immensely helpful in counseling your way back to spiritual health and wholeness. If your pastor isn't gifted in pastoral care (yes, it can happen) an experienced Christian counselor can be helpful.
Knowing and believing are enough. When we can't find God on our Christian walk it leads to greater suffering and spiritual distress. As Christians, we believe in the reality of His presence. He is there. He surrounds you with comfort and healing. Our pain can make us feel separated from God but we know that is impossible.
Know and believe and the ability to feel His presence will return. I know...
Share |
I'm not sure why she came to me but she sees me as someone who is safe. She is a devoted Christian, someone I admire greatly for her ability to show Christ to others -- and she came to me. It was quite a humbling experience for me for I know I don't have any answers.
I am grateful that she let me share in the depths of her despair. It is never an easy thing to join intimately in that place that is so full of angst, a place where God is but in our pain we can become blind to His presence.
What does a Christian do when you can't find God?
Continue to pray. Even when you can't find God, go through the motions and keep the dialogue going. There are times in everyone's life where we don't feel the loving presence of God. We know we are His creation - beloved and cherished children of God. We are so special to Him that the hairs on our heads are numbered! We must keep talking and listening with Him...and look for the ways He displays His presence. We can believe despite the lack of feeling His presence.
Commit your daily walk to Him. Leave a sticky note on the bathroom mirror that says "Lord, I desire to walk with you today." When you get up in the morning and brush your teeth, read the sticky note out loud. When you can't feel His presence, understand He will never leave you.
Put on the Armor of God. Seriously. Satan senses our weakness in our painful state. I suggest you print this prayer out and tape it the above mirror. To allow evil to enter into the healing process is to delay it significantly and perhaps forever.
Resolve to spend time in His Word. Even when the pain you are experiencing leaves you exhausted and weak, open your Bible for new insights and words of comfort in the place where He speaks to us. A few minutes a day will be of great encouragement. I pray you will find yourself called more and more to that time with Him in His Word.
Make a decision for forgive. A rational decision to forgive those who cause us pain is the first step to healing. Make the decision, ask God to help you - even when you can't find Him. He will direct your path despite the wall of pain you find yourself surrounded by.
Ask forgiveness. Sometimes our pain is the result of our own sins. Confession and absolution great healers.
Give God your pain. How does one do this? It is no easy task - I know from experience. So often we want to hold onto that pain - our little hurts and our big hurts. Sometimes our hurts are associated with the death of a loved one and we cling to it as if we were clinging to the one we lost. We know are injured and weak. Begin with your thoughts in prayer - "Lord, I give you my burden. It is much to heavy for me. I need to rest in You."
Some things needs to be wrestled with in our relationship with God. Sometimes, we can't find God because of our anger with Him. When there is no one else to blame, we often blame and become angry with God. Why did He allow this injury/pain to afflict to me? He is ready for you! Yell, scream,rant and rage at and with Him. He is big enough and loves you enough that He is ready to listen and surround you with comfort, strength, and healing.
Trusted friends are vital. God gives us friends to love and support us on our earthly journeys - to pray with us and for us, to bless us with their ears, hearts and hugs. When you can't find God, let a friend share His love for you.
Seek prayer support. Not everyone needs to know the details but surround yourself with prayers and pray-ers. God knows your needs so ask others to pray for you and your unspoken needs.
Talk to your pastor. Pastors can be immensely helpful in counseling your way back to spiritual health and wholeness. If your pastor isn't gifted in pastoral care (yes, it can happen) an experienced Christian counselor can be helpful.
Knowing and believing are enough. When we can't find God on our Christian walk it leads to greater suffering and spiritual distress. As Christians, we believe in the reality of His presence. He is there. He surrounds you with comfort and healing. Our pain can make us feel separated from God but we know that is impossible.
Know and believe and the ability to feel His presence will return. I know...
Share |
