I was thinking today about how easy it is to praise Our Awesome God when everything is going our way or at least the way you think it should be going. When everything is going good it's really a piece of cake to give praise to GodBut, it's in the tough times when your real faith shines through. When you're having a bad day and feel like God is nowhere in site or maybe you got the news about a raise or promotion that you have really been praying real hard about lately and it turns out all bad. Maybe you, your spouse or a friend got laid off from work, or worse, lost their job all together or someone you know was diagnosed with cancer, or maybe your relationship is in turmoil. Whatever the situation, you get the idea, it's in those times when your faith is put to the test.
So what is you reaction? Do you pout around with your lip dragging the floor or do you continue to praise God as you normally do or the way you would when everything is good? During these times do you wonder if there really is a God and does He know you are having these troubles, or maybe you think that He just hasn't discovered what you are going through yet?
Well, trust me, we all go through times like this. It's completely normal for God to feel distant at times. It's not because He really is, He's always there, it's because we are all humans and humans are not perfect. I've talked with pastors who have told me that sometimes they feel like SHOUTING HALLELUJAH and sometimes they don't. Sometimes the Spirit of God moves in you at different degrees and levels. It doesn't mean that anything is wrong or that God is not there.
A lot of times when you are having tough times with your spirituality it is satan himself at work. He will try and deceive and confuse and make you doubt your very salvation. He's been at it a long time and has perfected his techniques. Be thankful that he (satan) has no power over Our Lord Jesus Christ.While I have experienced all the things above at one time or another I have been challenged and found that it is always best, know matter how hard it may seem at the time, to Praise the Lord even more. Stay steadfast to your convictions and never waver. Don't loose your concentration on the things you cannot control, just give them to God and continue to praise Him.
We see our lives as a day to day situation, happening or event, God sees the whole picture, knows where all the pieces go and knows exactly what the out come will be. God doesn't do things in our time, He does them in His time, which is all perfect, according to His will for our lives.
So the next time you feel far away from God because things are not going the way you want them to, just hunker down(as we say when the storms/hurricanes are coming), and get back to the basics. Forget about all the doubts roaming around in your mind and look around and give thanks to God for all the wonderful things He is doing in your life whether you actually feel like it or not.
The Spirit will return to you. Never doubt it, and never give up on it. It's real and has stood the test of time. Praise God!
