How can I connect with God?

Question

I have always believed in God ... I have been baptized, attended church services for as long as I can remember, & I feel that I have felt him before. However, in recent years I have not felt any spiritual connection. I have asked, I have attended church, read literature, etc ... but that connection is gone. I feel numb & now whenever I do attend church much of what the pastor says doesn't make sense, or contradicts something that was taught prior .... I can't help but question everything anymore, & I feel like an atheist. I don't like being this way. I want to have that spiritual connection again, but I honestly don't believe that Christianity is that path ... maybe nothing is suited for me. My mother is dying of ALS & that has put a lot of stress on me & frustration with God ... but her faith has stayed strong, while I have none. Any tips for regaining my spirituality? I feel very disconnected.

Answer 1

Not every Christian is suddenly and passionately on fire for their beliefs.

And having doubts is not unusual. I have been a self-professed Christian for forty plus years and still wrestle with doubts. That is why we are admonished in the scriptures to seek out the truths of what we are being told, to study and grow in our faith.

It is important to keep in mind that belief without works as evidence of your faith is an empty vessel. Christians must bear the fruits of their faith, not just sit around and become spiritually stagnant. Recall that Christ cursed the fig tree that did not bear fruit. The more you learn the more you will be able to defend your faith and enable others to acknowledge your beliefs.

Start by getting yourself a good study bible, such as the NIV Study Bible or the MacArthur Study Bible. I use a Thompson's Chain Reference bible, but own many other versions. Then get the Strongest Strong's NIV Concordance so you can look up words occurring in all verses of the bible. This is a great tool for person, word, or thematic studies and is an important part of proper biblical hermeneutics.

As you grow in your knowledge, so will your faith. Eventually you will come to find that there is nothing in the bible, its historical accounts, or its doctrines that has been shown to be false by modern science, philosophy, and archeology.

Strongest Strong’s Concordance:
http://www.amazon.com/Strongest-Strongs-Exhaustive-Concordance-Bible/dp/0310233437/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0766306-2581655?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173733217&sr=8-1

NIV Study Bible:
http://www.amazon.com/Zondervan-NIV-Study-Bible/dp/0310929555/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0766306-2581655?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173733274&sr=8-1

Thompson Chain-Reference Bible:
http://www.kirkbride.com/index.html

MacArthur Study Bible:
http://www.amazon.com/MacArthur-Study-Bible-Revised-Updated/dp/0718018990/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-0766306-2581655?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173733445&sr=8-3

I speak to God in the same manner as I write these words to you now. That is, I have a plain conversation with Him each day, usually out under the stars late at night as my family sleeps. My prayers are conversations that follow a pattern. I start every prayer with the following: "Most merciful God, not my will, but yours be done." I repeat that phrase often during my prayers. Sometimes I will do so for tens of times just to quiet my mind and make it open to hearing from my Creator.

Use the following pattern in all your prayers and you will see them answered: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. See the links below for more information. (acronym: ACTS)

http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/actsmodel.htm

http://www.powertopray.com/howto/ACTS.html

Answer 2

It's okay to feel the way you feel. You've got no choice but to go all the way through it. You cannot hide from this pain. Just sit with it and feel it all. Naked of religion. Don't worry about connecting with God. No matter what all these knuckleheads say, there is no place where God is not. You are swimming in it. It doesn't always feel like magic. That's that. But it's not possible to really be disconnected. You must be feeling very tired and unequal to the task of being everything you'd like to be for your mother. I can't blame you. I think you were hoping for strength to bolster you up for the rest of the job, brave one. There is a wonderful book called "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche that has amazing information about dying and helping others to die in peace that might help. I'm certain, despite the title, it will make you feel better and give you some ideas of how to help, and how to refresh yourself. I'm sending you my best intentions.

Answer 3

Sorry about your mother. I wouldn't discard your religious upbringing based on your disconnection with God because this is your foundation. Now, all you have to do is build on that foundation. Take 5 minutes a day and make it he same time of the day.....say at 6:30 at night. Sequester yourself in a quiet room or area where you live. Make sure there are no distractions. Pray to your guardian angel/spirit guide and ask for guidance. Then clear all your thoughts and be still and quiet for 5 minutes. If anything comes to your mind like things that need to be done for the day or upcoming weeks, let it go from you mind and clear your thoughts again. Do this for 5 minutes a day and keep practicing. This form of meditation is very relaxing and maybe you can again feel connected with God. Continue going to church and pray with and for your mother. Another prayer I like to do is called "centered prayer" where when you breath in you mentally say something like "Lord" and when you exhale you mentally say something like "Jesus" so that your are saying Lord Jesus every breath. If you do this for the 5 minute period, it will help you feel more connected with God. Keep a journal of your quiet time and your time of centered prayer and record anything you remember happening or experiencing. If you enjoy doing this, then expand your time from 5 minutes to say 10 or 15. Good luck....it is difficult to see the face of God sometimes, especially when a loved one is sick.

Answer 4

PRAY!

The Triune God answers prayer. You must pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ. They have all the answers. Seeing as you have been on your journey with the Lord for awhile; and your mother also > Seems to me you both are on the right road; my friend, we all need a little edification now and again; you seem to be a wonderful disciple of Christ; continue on your journey sweet heart; with Jesus Christ in the drivers seat; sometimes it is a moment by moment journey; pick up you rewards along the way have some fun along the way with your eyes always on Jesus Christ and what the Triune God has done for us all. When you hear good and faithful servent; you will finally know it is, was and shall have always been worth staying on the right path. You are loved.

Answer 5

Your unasked question first: How can a loving God let my mother suffer with ALS like this?

I don't believe God has mapped our lives out for us and that health problems are His will.

I do believe He has seen His children suffer with health problems before and It pains His heart the way we suffer looking at a loved one's plight.

Will there ever be a cure for ALS? - Probably. But like a cure for war and cancer, a magical wand is not the answer.
(PS. I added a family support link from the ALS Assoc website)
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From purely a "connect with God" point of view ...

We can feel closer to another when we realise He has gone through similar problems that I have and has come through resentment free. By sharing tears with someone, we come closer.

There are kids that get into fights with their brothers or sisters over a balloon. They cause physical pain to their sibbling for something worth less than 3 cents.
Meanwhile, the parent is sorry to see the bitterness. This is not how parents want their kids to act towards each other. they have a better potential than that.

God looks at us fighting over things worth less than a balloon relative to the suffering we give one another. Do we feel His pain?

Some, who lost their mother at a very early age may feel envious of you, being able to spend quality time with your mum. Some have had very poor role models. They feel envious that your mum is still showing faith while theirs gets violent at the smallest problem.

Count your blessings. My prayers are with you.

Answer 6

I've gone through times like that before and yeah it just feels really weird doesnt it?People just told me that it was perfectly normal but it still felt wrong. there's nothing wrong at all in questioning your faith though coz what u learn will help you and also in the future you'll be able to help others in these times. I'm sorry to hear about your mum, that must be hard but its really good that your holding onto your faith. one thing that i learnt whilst going through somethign like what your going through was that life and worship wasnt about me. so, like when i worshipped, rather than thinking how i felt and what i was getting out of worship, i tried to keep focused on God and actually meaning what i was saying. so worshipping and not expecting to feel anything. it was hard at first but i gradually realised that i didnt need that reassuring feeling from God because I believed it all anyway and it sounds like you do to. I hope this has helped, I dont know if that is what you needed but thats what helped me.xxx

Answer 7

Where are you attending fellowship and worship? You need to surround yourself with others that are seriously following the LORD. Most importantly,you need to reestablish the connection with God through His Son,through prayer,and reading the Word...as well as fasting(ouch)

I am preaching to myself as well on a few points

God wants the relationship restored far more that you could ever desire it.

You undoubtedly know this already...I am just encouraging you to not give up.

Answer 8

Gods not real and no one can prove he is real casue there is so much evidenceto prove that he is a story to give people something to believe so they dont feel alone. If you dont get that i suggest you get a life and stop kidding yourself. You may not wanna believe it but its true and soon you will believe what i wrote today.I was baptized also but its all bull **** holy water is just water believed to be blesed by a priest.

Answer 9

I feel the same way--read His Word--it helps--not some devotional book or anything like that but the Bible. Think about it and then start reading whatever book of the Bible or passage that comes to mind first. Pray for us.

Answer 10

Sorry for what you are going through. Just an idea but if your mom has kept her faith with what she is facing, why not talk to her about your struggles. Mom's love to share in their kids struggles and often give really good advice. God Bless.