Posted in choices, Faith, fear, God, Uncategorized

How do you do it?

Posted on by Dede

How does one accept God’s plans when the are so different from your own. It’s easy to say have faith when all is going well but when there are bumps and sometimes mountains in the road, it’s not so easy. I must be missing some large piece of the puzzle because praying, studying God’s word, worshiping has not helped me accept this new path.

I feel like a fake when it comes to faith because mine is so weak right now. I feel like doubting Thomas, I want to see proof. I need to know on this Christmas Eve that God has not forgotten me because it feels like he has.

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I am always learning something new about life. My life is made richer by friends, family, travel, experiences, books and hobbies.

11 thoughts on “How do you do it?”

  1. I kept hearing from people that if you feel far away from God that you’re the one who moved. In some circumstances that is true, but through my life and the studies I’ve done as I have come to know Him more, I’ve learned that sometime God is silent. If we are followers of Him then He always hears us, but sometimes His answer is wait or not yet. Those times feel a LOT like He’s left us. One of my favorite verses that remind me of His love for us is Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

    He delights in us, loves us and, my favorite, sings over us with rejoicing!!!

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    1. Zephaniah 3:17 was my younger daughter’s confirmation verse. I love it. And I agree that many times God is quiet or telling us to be patient. I just need the strength to wait a little longer.

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      1. What a great verse for a confirmation. I have had a rough life (I don’t know if you remember our interaction at an earlier time). There were times when I was so deep in my grief and pain that I couldn’t feel anything other than those feelings. But, as I’ve started to climb out of the deep, deep valley, I look back and see how He carried me through so much and saw how His hand was working where I could not see, hear or feel. I hope you will be able to look back some day and see the same. I will be praying for you.

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  2. Hope you’re doing okay — I’m guessing it may have been a long weekend for you, and maybe the pain continues into the week. You are far from alone. Keep reaching out and know that so many of us care. It will get better. My dad once told me, whether times are good or times are bad, we always think they’ll never change, and they always do.

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  4. Dede, your post has been heavy on my heart since I first read it yesterday. All beings are so connected that when one feels pain it affects us all in some way.

    This is my third attempt to respond, not wanting to give advice when advice wasn’t requested. But I did a daily reading today and it reminded me so much of this post I had to find it again and respond. I hope it comes across with love. It’s all about seeing the whole path, even what is beyond the path itself. It might be that the path is one that you are told must be traveled. Consider that along this path there might be a flower that you had never discovered before. Or as you travel you hear a song from a bird you’d never heard before. Or maybe it is a seedling that has traveled its own path in darkness to finally see the light. Here is a meditation prompt that I read this morning that may give you comfort:

    “- Sit quietly and look at things about you, common as they may seem.
    – Breathe deeply and close your eyes and pray to see everything again for the first time.
    – Breathe slowly and open your eyes and enter your life again as a pilgrim.”

    I hope you find this short meditation helpful. I offer it with love from someone who has not felt your pain but has felt pain and was offered a new way of looking at things. Peace be with you, Dede.

    (The quote is from the 12/25 reading from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo.)

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    1. I think my title says I want advice especially from people that don’t know all the details. My head comprehends but my heart lags behind. I keep telling myself when I am on the other side of this storm, I will understand. The question is whether I will have the strength to survive. I appreciate your kind words and please any time you want to respond please do. It makes me feel less alone.

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  5. Sweetie, thank GOD that you’re asking those questions out loud because I was afraid to for years.I knew ALL the Sunday School answers and they didn’t help. As with any relationship, there’s a honeymoon period, but eventually it comes down to communication and work. Just know that you are NOT in a boat by yourself. A lot of us are asking the same thing. In the meantime we participate in a local church congregation and just ask God to bless our journey wherever it takes us. Blessed Christmas Dede.

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  6. I wish I had a magic answer for you, but I don’t. I just know honesty is best in these situations, and telling God what you’re feeling opens up a lot more doors than trying to feign faith and grab hold of it when it doesn’t exist. I struggled for years and still often think I’m missing the boat when it comes to faith, hope and trusting God. It seems so natural for other people, yet it’s not for me. I don’t understand why my life has failed me in so many ways, and what, if anything, I can do to change it, and what, if anything, God will do to change it. And would I accept those changes anyway? I have no idea if my own doubt helps you…but you are not alone.

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Penny for your thoughts