“Another ‘no,’ another bad grade, another failed relationship, another unexpected bill - God, where are you? I need you, but you don’t seem to care.”
Some of us have been there. A land plopped between a rock and a hard place. No sun, no stability, no outside interest. You feel stuck, and even worst, you feel like finding God in this situation is like finding a friend in a game of blind Marco Polo.
While some stumbled into a relationship with God and are accustomed to a rocky faith terrain, others have only known a sea of smooth sailing when it comes to faith.
No matter which path you took to join the holy family, if your faith has even been tested, this post is for you. Read on to find out how to climb out of Doubt Valley and build a home in Faith Fields.
Action #1: You’ve Got to Chill
First of all, calm down. I guarantee you, it’s not as bad as it seems. Stored in the back of my mind is a growing collection of real-life scenarios that appeared much more challenging than they actually were when I lived through them. If your faith seems to have depleted, this could be an unconscious habit of yours as well.
Even the healthiest of minds is not always reliable. Irrational fear clouds our thoughts obstructing our view of what’s truly happening. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6 - 7,
“6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
That leads me to my next point.
Action #2: Pray
When is the last time you prayed? No, I’m serious. Sometimes we get so flustered by things not going the way we expected that we begin to believe that God is not in control. We think that because things are not going in what we perceive to be the right direction, that God does not know what he is doing. We then try to take matters into our on hands to somehow create supernatural opportunities with mere human abilities. Spoiler Alert: it doesn’t work.
Ephesians 3:20 - 21 says,
“20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Reasons why are highlighted. It’s God who works the miracles around and inside of us, and Him who deserves the glory.
Action #3: Examine Your Motives
Now let’s be honest. Why do you want “this?” Where will it take you, and what will it demand of you? This “thing” could be the end of you. It could drag you places outside of God’s will, places where you won’t really want to be once you see more clearly what they are, places that will drain your human abilities because God has not graced you spiritually to be there.
Yeah, you might reach that place, but by the time you get there, or get that thing, you will be WORN OUT, because it’s not you, it was never you. It was always God giving you grace for certain areas.
John 4:33 - 34 says,
“33Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
A little while ago, God brought a lesson I had learned in school back to mind. For the longest time I did not connect the scientific term carbohydrates to the commonly used phrase “carbs”. I was thinking about my diet, and how much I really need to eat on a daily basis with an office job where I’m sitting most of the day.
I thought about the fact that even when I pack a small lunch, I still feel full. I then remembered that carbohydrates played an important role in bringing energy into the body. It then occurred to me that if I’m sitting for long periods during the day, I do not need to eat much, because I don’t waste much energy.
God will energize you for your calling. That’s why Jesus could go on and on, healing, delivering and setting free without running ragged. That’s not to say that getting tired now and then means you’re doing something wrong, but if you feel completely drained spiritually when carrying out a routine task, you may want to seek God to ensure you are going in the right direction.
Action #4: Reassess Your Study Habits
Do you know what’s going on? It’s hard to fight the good fight when you don’t know what the heck is happening. Everything is not a mystery. Some things are written down right inside the Word of God. Pray and ask God which book you should read, or which devotional plan you should start next.
Psalm 119:105 says,
“105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Stop operating in the dark.
Action #5 Remember Your Uniqueness
Your life isn’t supposed to look like hers. By attempting to match others’ lifestyles, we can unconsciously fall into the trap of walking down someone else’s path. Things are not working because they’re not for you.
1 Samuel 17:38 says,
“38 And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”
I once heard in a sermon that when David put on Saul’s armor to fight Goliath, it was too big, but when he picked up his homemade slingshot and gathered a few stones, he was able to take down Goliath in one hit.
We cannot expect to be successful using someone else’s gear. Use the life God has created uniquely for you and the tools with your name on them to pull down strongholds and set captives free.
With Love,
Monet
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