Do you feel abandoned by God?  This week I follow up on a blog post I wrote [When God is Distant ] detailing my thoughts from Hebrews 12:1-2:
2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Sometimes God just feels distant.  When we are young Christians, He feeds us with a steady diet of warm and fuzzy.  As we mature in our faith, He takes a step back from that feedback. It is not that is will abandon us, He actuals aims to encourage us by His silence.  It’s a sign of confidence that we can handle things without the “feeling”.  Well known and well loved, Mother Teresa was known to have a serious crisis in her relationship with Jesus. This quote is attributed to her in the linked article [Article on Mother Teresa’s doubt of faith]:
Where is my faith? – even deep down, right in, there is nothing but emptiness & darkness. – My God – how painful is this unknown pain. It pains without ceasing. – I have no faith. – I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart – & make me suffer untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me – I am afraid to uncover them – because of the blasphemy – If there be God, – please forgive me.– Mother Teresa
Oswald Chambers had an amazing way of connecting the reader to the scripture and ultimately to Jesus [Devotional From Oswald Chambers]. His comforting words reinforce the idea of God’s silence being a good thing.  Remember that God does not abandon His people. He lives beyond our time and knows all.

 
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