Jacob
2006-10-31 02:12:46 UTC
If you have been a serious Christian for a reasonable amount of time
you would have come across some of those dry spells, when everything
seems to be rather low key - feelings, sense of the presence of God,
getting something from the word of God, interest in prayer, Bible
reading and fellowship with other Christians, sense of commitment,
purpose and boldness, etc. And we have wondered what was happening to
us.
The fact is, many times we are unable to understand what the matter is!
We think, if only we knew why things are like this we could do
something about them. We ask ourselves, "Is God angry with me?", "Have
I done anything wrong?", "Have I missed the way somewhere?", "Has God
left me on the shelf?", etc. We may thrash around with such questions
for some time, and give in to one of them out of despair, even though
we have a feeling in our heart, "It can't be!"
The experienced ones among us know all about these, and can instruct
others about them. But then when it strikes us unawares we are once
again sucked ino the whirlpool.
What can we do in such situations? Of course, we must first of all
check to see if we have gone astray in any way and if we need to set
some things right. That goes without saying. But after we have dealt
with such things and we are still puzzled, what shall we do? Those are
the times when we need to hold on to the bare facts of our faith. They
are 'bare' because they lack the thrills of bubbly feelings and
congenial circumstances. We look at the Lord and His word and conclude
that they are true and dependable, and then we choose to hold on. We
conclude that "after we have suffered for a little time" the God of all
grace will draw near to us again (1Pe.5:10).
It is not that He ever left us and went away. But we felt that way, and
it surely looked that way. Perhaps our physical tiredness or sickness
made us feel that way. Perhaps the anti-climax following some spiritual
mountain top experience made us somewhat exhausted for the time being.
Think of how God took care of Elijah when he, after the towering
experience of Mount Carmel, suddenly felt as though there was no hope.
God led him to a time of physical rest and gave him food and drink!
(1Ki.19:4-6).
Do we think we are so spiritual that we don't need rest? Do we imagine
that the ordinary laws of life on earth don't apply to us? Do we think
that if we are serving the mighty God we can take some liberties
without having to face the consequences? God says, "Don't fool
yourself! What you sow, that you will reap" (Ga.6:7).
We sometimes forget that we are not angels or supernatural beings who
do not need to eat, drink or sleep. We think we can work day and night,
fast often, pray long hours, sleep little, and 'burn ourselves out for
the Lord' without expecting to experience any burn-out! One day we will
have a glorified body, but not yet, brother.
http://www.c-n-c.org
you would have come across some of those dry spells, when everything
seems to be rather low key - feelings, sense of the presence of God,
getting something from the word of God, interest in prayer, Bible
reading and fellowship with other Christians, sense of commitment,
purpose and boldness, etc. And we have wondered what was happening to
us.
The fact is, many times we are unable to understand what the matter is!
We think, if only we knew why things are like this we could do
something about them. We ask ourselves, "Is God angry with me?", "Have
I done anything wrong?", "Have I missed the way somewhere?", "Has God
left me on the shelf?", etc. We may thrash around with such questions
for some time, and give in to one of them out of despair, even though
we have a feeling in our heart, "It can't be!"
The experienced ones among us know all about these, and can instruct
others about them. But then when it strikes us unawares we are once
again sucked ino the whirlpool.
What can we do in such situations? Of course, we must first of all
check to see if we have gone astray in any way and if we need to set
some things right. That goes without saying. But after we have dealt
with such things and we are still puzzled, what shall we do? Those are
the times when we need to hold on to the bare facts of our faith. They
are 'bare' because they lack the thrills of bubbly feelings and
congenial circumstances. We look at the Lord and His word and conclude
that they are true and dependable, and then we choose to hold on. We
conclude that "after we have suffered for a little time" the God of all
grace will draw near to us again (1Pe.5:10).
It is not that He ever left us and went away. But we felt that way, and
it surely looked that way. Perhaps our physical tiredness or sickness
made us feel that way. Perhaps the anti-climax following some spiritual
mountain top experience made us somewhat exhausted for the time being.
Think of how God took care of Elijah when he, after the towering
experience of Mount Carmel, suddenly felt as though there was no hope.
God led him to a time of physical rest and gave him food and drink!
(1Ki.19:4-6).
Do we think we are so spiritual that we don't need rest? Do we imagine
that the ordinary laws of life on earth don't apply to us? Do we think
that if we are serving the mighty God we can take some liberties
without having to face the consequences? God says, "Don't fool
yourself! What you sow, that you will reap" (Ga.6:7).
We sometimes forget that we are not angels or supernatural beings who
do not need to eat, drink or sleep. We think we can work day and night,
fast often, pray long hours, sleep little, and 'burn ourselves out for
the Lord' without expecting to experience any burn-out! One day we will
have a glorified body, but not yet, brother.
http://www.c-n-c.org