God, are you there? Have you turned away from me? Have you ever had a time in your life (or maybe several) when you thought or asked that of the Lord? I have to admit that I have. In Psalm 60:10 we see David asking the Lord "Have you rejected us, O God? Will you no longer march with our armies?"
So how should we proceed when something like this happens? I can think of several different responses, but I'm interested in yours. Tell me what's on your mind and then tomorrow, I'll let you know some of my thoughts. Have a good one!! Tami W.
Hie Tami,
im usually encouraged by a lot of things that you are doing to my personal christian life. Its true there are times when we feel God is not our side or we have been forgotten. Anytime we think of that we must always remember God said He is going to be with us for the rest of our lives, dont let problems in our life drive us away from the love that god has over our Life.
Romans 8 vs 35 to 39 bear testimony to this.
Back to the Bible is also another program that is changing my life every time I listen TO you and Dr Woodrow Kroll. This week you been talking about temptation in life of us believers and that just came at the right time to me I was struggling to overcome temptations this week. i thank God for you.
May god bless you abundantly.
Greetings! Right now I am struggling but what I have done/am doing. Is to start remembering all the way the Lord has lead me. I Start thinking of verses I memorized and recite them. Then start singing hymns - Great is Thy Faithfulness, All the Way My Savior Leads Me, Because He Lives.
Then I try doing something for someone else - visit mother's with children that do not get out that much or invalid. Make a Happy Box for someone. Happy Box= wrap up little things & write something reflects what is in the package. Put a verse or word of encouragement with it. Then number them. Day 1, Day 2 ect. on each package. For example
Tooth Picks - if you feel someone is picking on you these should help
Stamp - when you want to stamp your feet.
Puzzle- Are you puzzled - puzzle no longer
The person then opens a package each day. Happy Boxes are loved & enjoyed & are an encouragement not only to the person getting one but from me as thinking of a something clever about the item and what verse or word of encouragement that will be included in each package.
I have felt that way so many times. One, when I went through my husbands death. Felt numb. Mostly, I think this feeling is brought about by either a sin that is not dealt with, or not really knowing what God's will is. I probably do know, but do not accept it. Sometimes I feel like Jonah. Running from something. Maybe it is just fear of the unknown.
Trust, Praise Wait. Oh Sovereign LORD, you know better than I the path for my life. Give me strength to do Thy will and relinquish my own. Give me patience LORD to wait. Give me hope that I may feel your presence no matter the circumstance.
I said that I'd follow up with some thoughts about when I find myself starting to wonder where God is. So here goes. When I find myself wondering about God's involvement in something, it's helpful for me to step back and do a little assessing.
I can think of at least four reasons (and there may be more) why God isn't showing up or why I think He hasn't. 1) I have ongoing or unconfessed sin in my life and God is withholding because of that; 2) God is perhaps putting a test before me in a particular circumstance; 3) God is there and has been there but I'm just not tuned in and have missed the mark; and 4) God is there but has answered me with a "no" or a "not yet" and I simply haven't accepted that or don’t understand it.
Usually if I just stop and think about what's going on, I find myself in one of those four categories above. That gets me more focused and then I can do something about my situation and my attitude. Tami W.
Tami, I have to concur with all your points. One thing I would add is that difficulties prepare us to be a blessing to others. We can relate to and encourage people who have been through similar circumstances.
Carol
Thank God His faithfulness doesn't depend on our feelings.
Like the common theme throughout the Old and New Testaments, we should repent. Repent of all sins, both from commission and omission. Trust the Lord, and love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind (Luke 10:27). Then remember Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
God is awesome!
I feel rejected by God a whole lot. This is not what a christian is supposed to think,but I do a lot. My life is not anywhere near what I thought it would be. I have a wonderful family,my wife is tremendous and my kids are incredible. That God has blessed me with in numerous ways. I thank God everyday for my family. My home is nice,though I have lived in a lot of shacks. I am not saying that feciously. But, when I think of my life, all I see are hard times. I cannot see alot of good. I went to Bible College to become a pastor. When I graduated, I took a voluntary position on at the church I attend. This did not work,because I had to work a full time job to provide and was not able to give the ministry what I needed to. After a year I resigned, and looked for ministry elsewhere. Two years after I resigned, I was interviewed by two churches in Tenessee,both who were going to pay full time benefits,but neither one took a shot with me. My whole life I have only wanted to do one thing:Pastor a church.I am currently working at a pharmacy and I like the work,but I am so dissatisfied with the work.I yearn to follow my hearts desire and minister to people. I requested hospice to make me a volunteer,but I have no response. If God did not want me to Pastor a church and serve others, why do I have this desire so overwhelmingly.God is good, and He only wants our good,but a lot of times I ask why He made me want this so much. I feel rejected by God in my task. But I know He has good for me. Paul once said that he was torn between being for Christ and having to reject his heritage,or being for his heritage and rejecting Christ. This is where I am. Thinking about where I want to be and where I am, I see the grace of God,but I also see the desire that God gave me. Do you see what I am saying? I enjoy God,but I feel rejected because the plans that are in my heart have never been fulfilled.
Kevin, I'd like to share a few thoughts regarding your blog.
First, we need to take comfort in the thought that those who earnestly seek Him, God never turns away. He says in Proverbs 8:17, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me." God's promise in Jeremiah 32:40 says, "I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me." So we can set aside the fear that God has rejected us and be confident that "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
But what about those times when our heart says something--and God doesn't appear to be listening? That's when we turn to Isaiah 55:8-9 which says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
If God has given a burden, He will respond to that burden--but it may not be in the way we expect. If He has given someone a pastor's heart, then He will open the way to use that gift. But it may not be in a church setting. A man is first and foremost the pastor of his own home. Our spouse and children need pastoral care and should be at the top of our priority list. But there are a multitude of other outlets as well: nursing homes, prisons and shelters are possibilities. If God isn't opening the door to a church, He could very well be opening a window to one of these other opportunities. But you can be sure God won't waste any gift He gives.
Allen, Biblical Correspondent for Back to the Bible
Hi Tami,
I have enjoyed reading each of the comments today very much, and especially Allen’s thoughts.
I think that we need to be patient, and wait on the Lord. So many times he has put a desire in my heart, but my timing would be wrong. We also need preparation time; I find for me that if I stay busy, keep studying the word, and trust in him, it will all work out. Godly Desires in us will not go away when we are attached to the vine. But sometimes we need help interpreting them. We need to go to first base before we can go on to second, then on to third base, and finally home. Staying in the game, being part of the big picture, is what’s important, not necessarily being the most valuable player. God plans for us are good, and we will get where we need to go if we don’t faint or allow our self to get caught up with discontent with what’s going on in our life now. The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. He is the way the truth and the life. May each of us walk in his truth and have life more abundantly.