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January 24, 2006
Some comenters give some insight into the question that a student posed to me.
"What do you , Rhett, do when you feel distant from God?"
Here is what they do when they feel distant from God.....
Comments
When I feel distant from God, it usually is not God's end. If I believe that God has forgiven me, then I know he is with me. However, my faith is really the issue, not God. I just don't believe sometimes that God loves me. And, I know that I am sinful. But when I sin, it becomes worse--that feeling of distance. And, I do sin. So, there is the issue. What do I really believe about God?
Rhett--this has come up a lot with young adults that I know and have mentored over the years...as well as my personal experience. When someone feels dry, I usually end up finding a sin issue is what it is (big or small). However, it takes a few lattes to get there.
Posted by: Rich Kirkpatrick at January 23, 2006 09:58 PM
I would begin by reading Psalm 13...one of the most honest prayers in Scripture...and just let David's words marinate in my heart.
I wish that I would do this every time I felt distant from God...usually I mistakingly run to other things for comfort before I finally come around to the Love that had been there all along.
Posted by: Drew at January 23, 2006 11:25 PM
For me, feeling distant from God is usually more about me and less about God. More specifically, it's about how I'm spending my time and how busy I am, which typically means less time in prayer and less time in the Word. It's not always the case, but I guess I start with discipline - making it a point to set aside time daily to pray, read or just be still and clear my mind. It's the running around from place to place, the constant "to do" list occupying my thoughts and the tv filler that keep my mind occupied and leave little room for God at all.
Posted by: Heather at January 24, 2006 06:12 PM
Posted by rhett at January 24, 2006 06:26 PM
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Comments
Ter,
I've been reading JI Packer's "Knowing God" and in Chapter 21 - These Inward Trials it comments on this feeling far from God. I thought the insights in it were solid. He discusses that it is correct to look for sin in our lives if we are feelin far from God, there may be things we are doing to damage that relationship. He also talks about how God will at times step away and allow us to go through times where we don't feel close to Him. That God uses these times to mature us in faith and grow us up. That as we first come to Christ and are "spiritual infants" it's commonly an intensely joyful and peaceful time. Then as we begin to walk with Him and go thru a tough patch we should not look to return to that infancy and search for those feelings, but instead mature in faith and trust God that during he wildernesses He is still there.
I recommend reading Packers chapter, he's got some great insight into this topic. peace.
Posted by: Mike Haswell at January 25, 2006 12:05 PM
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