How to Pray When You Are in an Agony of Soul
How to Pray When You Are in an Agony of Soul - The Orchard
How to Pray When You Are in an Agony of Soul - The Orchard
- No tags were found...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
4<br />
are given <strong>to</strong> us <strong>in</strong> Scripture should teach us that a godly believer c<strong>an</strong> come<br />
<strong>to</strong> a place <strong>of</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>g ab<strong>an</strong>doned by God.<br />
From his m<strong>an</strong>y years <strong>of</strong> experience as a pas<strong>to</strong>r, James Boice says:<br />
I am conv<strong>in</strong>ced that a feel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> ab<strong>an</strong>donment [among Christi<strong>an</strong>s] is far<br />
more common th<strong>an</strong> it appears <strong>to</strong> be. M<strong>an</strong>y people feel ab<strong>an</strong>doned – by<br />
others, first, but ultimately also by God.<br />
He goes on <strong>to</strong> say that although this is a common problem, it seems <strong>to</strong> be<br />
one that is <strong>of</strong>ten ignored:<br />
Why do you suppose this is? I th<strong>in</strong>k it is because we have been taught that<br />
Christi<strong>an</strong>s are not supposed <strong>to</strong> experience such th<strong>in</strong>gs, that we are only <strong>to</strong><br />
have the “life more abund<strong>an</strong>tly” or <strong>to</strong> “live vic<strong>to</strong>riously.”<br />
David speaks about his experience openly, <strong>an</strong>d the Holy Spirit has placed<br />
his experience <strong>of</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>g utterly ab<strong>an</strong>doned by God <strong>in</strong> the Scriptures for<br />
us. Speak<strong>in</strong>g openly about your experience won’t solve the problem, but<br />
it’s critical <strong>to</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>an</strong> authentic relationship with Almighty God.<br />
2. Lift Up What <strong>You</strong> Need<br />
Answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes… Psalm 13:3<br />
<strong>How</strong> would you try <strong>to</strong> help a person <strong>in</strong> your Life group who basically felt<br />
that they were ab<strong>an</strong>doned by God? Suppose someone were <strong>to</strong> say <strong>to</strong> you,<br />
“I’ve been a believer for m<strong>an</strong>y years, but right now I feel that God has<br />
forgotten me. I’ve been pray<strong>in</strong>g, but I don’t get <strong>an</strong>y <strong>an</strong>swers. I wonder if<br />
God really cares about me at all.”<br />
HOW TO HELP A PERSON WHO FEELS ABANDONED BY GOD<br />
i. Recognize the experience<br />
If a mature believer like David (who was a m<strong>an</strong> after God’s own heart)<br />
c<strong>an</strong> feel ab<strong>an</strong>doned by God, no one should be surprised when a brother or<br />
sister experiences someth<strong>in</strong>g like this.<br />
Don’t assume the worst about a believer who feels that God has<br />
ab<strong>an</strong>doned him or her. Remember, the dark valley is a part <strong>of</strong> the walk <strong>of</strong><br />
the Christi<strong>an</strong> faith.<br />
HOW TO HELP A PERSON WHO FEELS ABANDONED BY GOD<br />
ii. Discern the question<br />
It is a mistake <strong>to</strong> assume that everyone who suffers is ask<strong>in</strong>g the question<br />
“Why?” Some people are ask<strong>in</strong>g “Why?” when they suffer, but others are<br />
ask<strong>in</strong>g “<strong>How</strong> long?” These are different questions. “Why?” is a question<br />
<strong>of</strong> me<strong>an</strong><strong>in</strong>g; “<strong>How</strong> long?” is a question <strong>of</strong> endur<strong>an</strong>ce.
Change language