|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:59 am
What do you do when you feel weak and distant from God? I've been feeling that way lately... I go to church, and I don't feel the connection... and to be honest, I don't have that many Christian friends, and the ones I do have, I hardly ever see. I'm not sure what to do, but I can see and feel what the lack of God in my life is doing to me. Any advice?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:24 pm
well, first i would heartily suggest you get some Christian friends. you're in high school, right? try getting plugged into the youth group at your church. or if that's not possible, see if there's any Christian clubs or Bible studies at your school. fellowship with other Christians is almost essential to a strong walk. not only are you held accountable with other people, but you can encourage and be encouraged. "As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17
as for feeling distant, my advice would be to continue persevering in what you do when you're not in a "dry spell", so to speak. emotions can betray us and the times that we feel far from God can be the most important times in out lives. Brother Lawrence in his book The Practice of the Presence of God (a book is strongly recommend) says that these are the times that our strength is tested. it's easy to praise God when one is feeling close, but praising God even when we feel far from Him are so important, because it makes the times when we're in the Spirit so much more amazing. there can't be any mountains without valleys my friend.
"... whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."(NLT) James 1:2-4
everyone goes through these times though. sometimes it's a week and sometimes a month, but it is something that builds us up in our faith IF we let it. so know that there is hope and God is always with you even when you don't feel like He is.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:46 pm
No, I'm in college. And I the reason I don't see my friends is because I don't have time for them.
And I never do anything special when I'm not in my "dry spell". It's just a feeling. I feeling that I wish I felt now. But I don't.
I'm not really doubting. I don't feel like this is just a test. I just feel distant. Maybe I haven't been spending enough time reading the bible or praying or something. I don't know. I was just curious if anyone had any quick pick-me-ups, so to speak, that draw you closer to God.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:09 pm
Draycore No, I'm in college. And I the reason I don't see my friends is because I don't have time for them. And I never do anything special when I'm not in my "dry spell". It's just a feeling. I feeling that I wish I felt now. But I don't. I'm not really doubting. I don't feel like this is just a test. I just feel distant. Maybe I haven't been spending enough time reading the bible or praying or something. I don't know. I was just curious if anyone had any quick pick-me-ups, so to speak, that draw you closer to God. mm.. i think all i can do from here is pray for you rolleyes also, sometimes the feelings that we do have does not really matter. For example, if i feel like i'm going to do well on a test, but I didnt do well, the feelings are all wrong. That also happens with love. Even if your distant, or you are mad at a person, you can still love them. So try and keep on loving God, because if you search for him with all your heart, he surely will let you find Him...because he still loves you.. keep on hanging in there..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:13 am
Draycore No, I'm in college. And I the reason I don't see my friends is because I don't have time for them. And I never do anything special when I'm not in my "dry spell". It's just a feeling. I feeling that I wish I felt now. But I don't. I'm not really doubting. I don't feel like this is just a test. I just feel distant. Maybe I haven't been spending enough time reading the bible or praying or something. I don't know. I was just curious if anyone had any quick pick-me-ups, so to speak, that draw you closer to God. i think we all feel distant at times. it's a simple part of our Christian life. i too have had many many times where i simply felt distant from God, but didn't doubt His existence. as for quick pick me ups, the only thing i can think of is a verse from James that says that if you draw near to God He will draw near to you. don't think about the way that you're feeling, but rather the fact that the almighty God, who loves you knowing everything about you, even what you don't even know, is always present with you. oh, and when i use the word feelings i don't necessarily mean emotions, in case i might've been ambiguous in my use of the term. emotions are God-given and shouldn't be suppressed, unless they lead to sin. i mean, just read the Psalms. David was definitely an emotional man. your profile says you were born in 1989, btw, so unless you're a genius ... and your church probably has like a "college and career" group that's aimed at 20somethings. if not, then maybe there's something on campus. if all else fails, become a hermit. i'll be praying for you. (:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:45 pm
i like burnination Draycore No, I'm in college. And I the reason I don't see my friends is because I don't have time for them. And I never do anything special when I'm not in my "dry spell". It's just a feeling. I feeling that I wish I felt now. But I don't. I'm not really doubting. I don't feel like this is just a test. I just feel distant. Maybe I haven't been spending enough time reading the bible or praying or something. I don't know. I was just curious if anyone had any quick pick-me-ups, so to speak, that draw you closer to God. i think we all feel distant at times. it's a simple part of our Christian life. i too have had many many times where i simply felt distant from God, but didn't doubt His existence. as for quick pick me ups, the only thing i can think of is a verse from James that says that if you draw near to God He will draw near to you. don't think about the way that you're feeling, but rather the fact that the almighty God, who loves you knowing everything about you, even what you don't even know, is always present with you. oh, and when i use the word feelings i don't necessarily mean emotions, in case i might've been ambiguous in my use of the term. emotions are God-given and shouldn't be suppressed, unless they lead to sin. i mean, just read the Psalms. David was definitely an emotional man. your profile says you were born in 1989, btw, so unless you're a genius ... and your church probably has like a "college and career" group that's aimed at 20somethings. if not, then maybe there's something on campus. if all else fails, become a hermit. i'll be praying for you. (: heh heh, genius? naw... but i am only 17... and noooo... my church actually doesn't... they were gonna start something like that up, but they didn't...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:21 pm
Draycore i like burnination Draycore No, I'm in college. And I the reason I don't see my friends is because I don't have time for them. And I never do anything special when I'm not in my "dry spell". It's just a feeling. I feeling that I wish I felt now. But I don't. I'm not really doubting. I don't feel like this is just a test. I just feel distant. Maybe I haven't been spending enough time reading the bible or praying or something. I don't know. I was just curious if anyone had any quick pick-me-ups, so to speak, that draw you closer to God. i think we all feel distant at times. it's a simple part of our Christian life. i too have had many many times where i simply felt distant from God, but didn't doubt His existence. as for quick pick me ups, the only thing i can think of is a verse from James that says that if you draw near to God He will draw near to you. don't think about the way that you're feeling, but rather the fact that the almighty God, who loves you knowing everything about you, even what you don't even know, is always present with you. oh, and when i use the word feelings i don't necessarily mean emotions, in case i might've been ambiguous in my use of the term. emotions are God-given and shouldn't be suppressed, unless they lead to sin. i mean, just read the Psalms. David was definitely an emotional man. your profile says you were born in 1989, btw, so unless you're a genius ... and your church probably has like a "college and career" group that's aimed at 20somethings. if not, then maybe there's something on campus. if all else fails, become a hermit. i'll be praying for you. (: heh heh, genius? naw... but i am only 17... and noooo... my church actually doesn't... they were gonna start something like that up, but they didn't... draycore, you should explore the programs of other churches in the area as well. my church lacks a college group, mainly because the majority of college-age people that attend and would be interested are those of us in the internship program. We all sometimes attend the college group of the church we planted out of--it's larger, and gives some more guidence that we all can use.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
