Christians, please help...?

Question

All my life I have believed in God and at certain times in my life I have really felt that he was with me. Now I am at this point in my life where I can't feel Him at all, I stay depressed all the time, and I really have no reason too. I have tried praying, I have been going to church, but nothing works. I feel so lost. I know the Atheists that may answer this will say that I don't feel God because He does not exist, and that is okay, they have the right to beleive what they choose to. Sometimes I question His existence. If anyone could pleas offer any advice to help me through this I would be very grateful. As I stated I really have no reason to feel so depressed. Please help! Thank you!

Answer 1

You're not always going to "feel" God.

Mother Theresa had one good year of "feeling" God and then had to slog through the rest of her life on faith. Faith, after all is the belief in things unseen - if you are relying on a persistent sixth sense of God for your belief in God, then you are like the disciple Thomas, demanding to have your hands in the wounds.

What you are experiencing - this absence - is called "the dark night of the soul," (after the phrase coined by the mystic St. John of the Cross.) Everybody experiences this worry from time to time... sometimes it runs for years.

St. John even wrote his spiritual canticle about this absence, describing the love of God as though it was a deer that had fled from him and could no longer be found.

He gives good advice on how to handle it.

"A soul finds its delight in spending long periods—perchance whole nights—in prayer; penances are its pleasures; fasts its joys; and its consolations are to make use of the sacraments and to occupy itself in Divine things."

God will reveal himself in his own good time. For even with Thomas, Jesus eventually came and said, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." (John 20)

Be patient, but also - be faithful. It isn't always about "feeling" God. Sometimes it just has to be about believing.

Answer 2

God guided me to answer you today because he is there with you. This world has its ups and downs. We long for Jesus and the world doesn't fill his love. People that make us feel good are doing God's work. If WE do things for others we are doing God's work. Feelings are feelings and have nothing to do with God. Atheists feel good and Atheists feel depressed. But God is working in every life because he created us all and Love's us all. Even though he knows the outcome of each person, He gives all of humankind a chance to follow him or deny him because he gave us the gift of free will.

A poem comes to my mind and it may help you. I will paraphrase it for you Christie.

One night a woman had a dream. She dream-pt that she was walking along the beach with the Lord. She looked at the sky wondering where God lived and if he really existed and was also remembering her life so far.

She recollected that at times she looked back at the sand and saw no footprints for the times she failed or was sad and depressed. Other times she looked and saw another set of prints next to hers. She knew one set was hers and one set must be the Lord's. But she wondered; why would he abandon her when she needed him the most?

The woman eventually met the Lord and asked about her dream that night and why he wasn't in her life when she need him the most.

He replied; Darling, most loving child, when you were feeling good I was walking by your side and never left you. But I was carrying you when you needed me the most.

So know the Lord is helping you cope and believe. You have free will to get through this and make good choices like going to church. Do something for others and give all of your sadness to the Lord. He died for all of our sadness and all we have to do is get out of the house, walk and smell and breath the goodness of the Lord and pray that you will see Jesus working in others that meet you.

Answer 3

You might be suffering from a form of depression. Most people do at some point in their life. There doesn't have to be anything in particular to cause it -- depression is often caused by chemical imbalances in your brain.

Depression affects your ability to enjoy anything in your life -- even your relationship with God. So talk to a doctor, maybe see a counselor. Try to get to the root of why you feel the way you do. Once you're able to do that, you can focus more on enjoying prayer and worship again.

Answer 4

Your story reminds me of the song NEVER ALONE by Barlow Girl...here are the lyrics:

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?

I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I"m never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life

We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

And here is the video for the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FKajSiNvRA

The truth is this: When we accept Christ into our life, it's like stepping into a large room with just us and Him in the room. Just the two people. We can sit close to Him and here all He has to say. There is no hindrance to our relationship with Him. He is close to us and we can feel it. He speaks, and we here Him clearly. As time goes by, more people and distractions enter that room, and instead of sitting right across from Him, we drift to the back of the room. The truth is that He is still in the room. He is still talking to us. However, the distractions of life have made it seem like He is gone. We can't hear Him talk. We can't feel His presence. What we have to understand is that no matter how far from Him we feel, He is still there. That is His promise to us. Hebrews 13: 5 says, "Never will I leave you, nor forsake you." Romans 10: 11 says, "Anyone who has trusted in Christ will never be put to shame." Notice the word "never" in those verses. Never is a big word when it comes to God. If He says, "I will never do something...HE MEANS IT!" That is an awesome promise. What you may need to do is start clearing some of the distractions out of the room. One by one,distraction by distraction, start removing them. Where do I start? Good question!

First, pray and ask God specifically what distractions have come between you and Him. Second, ask Him to help you clean this disractions away. Third, ask Him specifically what your next step is when it comes to restoring any brokeness in your relationship with Him. If you need to confess sin to Him, do it. If you need to stop being involved in certain sinful things, do it. Be willing to do whatever He says, no exceptions. Don't just say, "God are you there?" His word says that He is. He has already told you that. Just be specific as I have said. God honors specific prayer. Just be authentic and ready to let Him work in you. You will see a difference. I promise.

I know this is a lot, but it is what God wants from us. Please let me know how everything goes. You can send me a message if you want.

Billy

Answer 5

Elijah Flees to Horeb
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

3 Elijah was afraid [a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

Elijah experienced the depth of despair after two great spiritual victory's. Often depression sets in after great spiritual accomplishments involving great emotion or physical effort. To lead him out of depression God first allowed Elijah to rest and eat . Then God confronted him with the need to return to his mission. There was much work to be done. When you feel depressed after a tough spititual accomplishment or victory remember that God's purpose for your life in not yet over. Anyway, this is God's words not mine. Glory be to God and may you find comfort in his word.

Answer 6

God is love. You will find God in the love of the people who love you.

Also, be aware that depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. You may need to go to a doctor for treatment.

Answer 7

Sweety, some people really do have a chemical imbalance in their brain that results in depression. This may have nothing to do with your faith, or what you do in that regard. Perhaps it's as simple as the fact that you may be clinically depressed. Faith is all well and good, but try a doctor. They are there for a reason too.

Answer 8

I have recently been saved and am learning A LOT and I am not yet wise so bear with me, but continue to pray. Get on your knees, bow your head, and ask God to help you through this. God calls us to come to him when we feel weak (and strong too) and put our burdens on him. Ask him to guide you to a church that will lift you up. Ask him for peace and knowledge. Put your heart into it... he will answer.

Answer 9

You can choose to continue a life of depression and doubt, or you can accept what you already know to be true - that your religious beliefs are man made - and move on through the stages of grief to acceptance.

(also, if this is constant depression, you might need meds)

Answer 10

That means the "honey-moon" phase is over where God's Presence is so real and near to witness to you of His reality and His presence inside you. Now, He want to trust in Him by Faith and not by feeling. This is testing time of what is really in your heart when time are seemingly stale- will you still trust Him?