Rely only on God!

[HoldingGodsHand]

Maybe it’s just a bad morning or God has been trying to teach me this. If that is true why does this lesson hurt so much? It just seems you can’t truly rely on anyone in this world, not even the people you never expected would let you down. I’ve learned how much I really need God but sometimes it’s nice to rely on a friend too

God opens doors and even windows but I think sometimes the devil may sneak in instead.

 

[LSG]

Have you ever seen the classic old movie “Cabin in the Sky?” One of the characters wins a lottery ticket. Guess who sent it?

 

[JRKH]

Yes these lessons can be painful. but in th eend they are well worth-while

Peace
James

 

[HoldingGodsHand]

Yes these lessons can be painful. but in th eend they are well worth-while

Peace
James

Wow I truly hate this lesson. When will it ever be worth my while? Where is my comfort zone? I think I lost it somewhere. I think I feel the despair coming back. Even lost my temper this morning over a little tiny minor thing and said Gods name in vain… several times. Uggghh

 

[JRKH]

Wow I truly hate this lesson. When will it ever be worth my while? Where is my comfort zone? I think I lost it somewhere. I think I feel the despair coming back. Even lost my temper this morning over a little tiny minor thing and said Gods name in vain… several times. Uggghh

I’m afraid that I do not have answers to these questions.

It’s interesting that you mention “comfort zone”. This is one thing that God is good at doing as He brings us along on our journey. He moves us out of our comfort zone. He can do this in a number of (often subtle) ways and it can indeed be difficult.

One of the things we have to be careful about though is that we learn the right lesson - or even more than one lesson.
For example…in this case you see the lesson as needing to rely only on God because someone important to you let you down…but there can be other lessons hiding in this was well - Lessons about patience and forgiveness and forbearance.
So as you pray on this matter, ask God to open your heart to understanding how you can most benefit and grow from this negative experience.
You may be surprised…I know I have been many times…

Peace
James

 

[nuntym]

• JMJ +

Wow I truly hate this lesson. When will it ever be worth my while? Where is my comfort zone? I think I lost it somewhere. I think I feel the despair coming back. Even lost my temper this morning over a little tiny minor thing and said Gods name in vain… several times. Uggghh

Oh yes it will be all worth your while to learn this, no matter how painful it is. It has been painful for me too.

I find, in my experience on this, that it is our confidence and trust in ourselves that has made this lesson all the more painful, and the constant bombardment on us by the culture of the world to “believe in ourselves”. And yet time and again the saints have said to not believe ourselves, but in God. They point to what Jesus said: [BIBLEDRB]john 15:5[/BIBLEDRB]

and say that all good that we do comes from God, and the only thing that comes from ourselves is sin.

But (and this lesson was very hard for me to learn) all that means is that if you do something good, then God is already with you! Whenever we do something good we must be full of confidence because then it is not you who is doing good, but God.

 

[HoldingGodsHand]

I’m afraid that I do not have answers to these questions.

It’s interesting that you mention “comfort zone”. This is one thing that God is good at doing as He brings us along on our journey. He moves us out of our comfort zone. He can do this in a number of (often subtle) ways and it can indeed be difficult.

One of the things we have to be careful about though is that we learn the right lesson - or even more than one lesson.
For example…in this case you see the lesson as needing to rely only on God because someone important to you let you down…but there can be other lessons hiding in this was well - Lessons about patience and forgiveness and forbearance.
So as you pray on this matter, ask God to open your heart to understanding how you can most benefit and grow from this negative experience.
You may be surprised…I know I have been many times…

Peace
James

God took me out of my comfort zone several months ago. It was very difficult for awhile, then things got a little better. I started to learn and realize that God wanted me to rely on Him, to trust Him. So I started to accept the way things were. It was still hard but I was doing ok. Now suddenly I just find myself questioning why and I think I’m feeling anger at Him. I want to learn the right lessons and trust and rely on Him like I have learned. But sometimes I need more! I want some consolations. I want something good, some good feelings or some sort of hope. I want my faith to grow and to grow closer to God but sometimes it seems like I will never get much further than I already have.

 

[JRKH]

God took me out of my comfort zone several months ago. It was very difficult for awhile, then things got a little better. I started to learn and realize that God wanted me to rely on Him, to trust Him. So I started to accept the way things were. It was still hard but I was doing ok. Now suddenly I just find myself questioning why and I think I’m feeling anger at Him. I want to learn the right lessons and trust and rely on Him like I have learned. But sometimes I need more! I want some consolations. I want something good, some good feelings or some sort of hope. I want my faith to grow and to grow closer to God but sometimes it seems like I will never get much further than I already have.

Understood. Much of this comes from the conflict between our “natural” self and our spiritual self.
It’s in our human nature to need “more”…to need consolations…to “need” and to want and to desire.
It’s more in our spiritual nature to simply “be”…to rest in God and to be content in the simple knowledge that we are His…even when we might not have a strong feeling of his presence.
This spiritual contentment is really what is implied in the ideas of faith and hope and trust. The more we trust in the Lord, and the more we simply “be” in Him, the less other things will disturb our peace.

Peace
James

 

[HoldingGodsHand]

Understood. Much of this comes from the conflict between our “natural” self and our spiritual self.
It’s in our human nature to need “more”…to need consolations…to “need” and to want and to desire.
It’s more in our spiritual nature to simply “be”…to rest in God and to be content in the simple knowledge that we are His…even when we might not have a strong feeling of his presence.
This spiritual contentment is really what is implied in the ideas of faith and hope and trust. The more we trust in the Lord, and the more we simply “be” in Him, the less other things will disturb our peace.

Peace
James

Oh yes that conflict of nature and spirit. Yep, I know it very well. Those needs, wants and desires which lead to feelings of disappointment, failure, impatience. Not so long ago I thought I was a pretty patient person but God has showed me otherwise lately. Also I never thought myself as selfish but maybe I really am.
Anyhow, the natural self is so much louder than the spiritual self, at least in my case. How can my Spiritual Self win out and shut up the “Natural needing wanting desiring Self”? Is it just a matter of not trusting enough in God?

 

[JRKH]

Oh yes that conflict of nature and spirit. Yep, I know it very well. Those needs, wants and desires which lead to feelings of disappointment, failure, impatience. Not so long ago I thought I was a pretty patient person but God has showed me otherwise lately. Also I never thought myself as selfish but maybe I really am.

Sounds so much like my own journey…

Anyhow, the natural self is so much louder than the spiritual self, at least in my case. How can my Spiritual Self win out and shut up the “Natural needing wanting desiring Self”? Is it just a matter of not trusting enough in God?

Perhaps an analogy…
When a small child throws a temper tantrum, the best response to it is often “nothing”…ignore it…go on about your business. In this way the child eventually learns that they will not get their way by being loud and obnoxious.
The same thing is true spiritually. The Spirit (ego) must teach the flesh (id) that it will not get its way by being out of control, noisy or obnoxious…
Of course this won’t end the matter because, just like a small child the flesh will try more subtle ways to overcome the spirit.
Here again, it is just a matter of sticking to your guns and staying focused on the goal. Over time the flesh will become more and more conformed to the Spirit.
It takes time patience, discipline, and much much grace…

(and just so you know…I’m still struggling too.)

Peace
James

 

[HoldingGodsHand]

Thanks James. At least then you can relate to where I’m coming from. Temper tantrum is a good analogy! I’m pretty sure patience is another lesson God is trying to teach me. I’m just a slow learner but I’m sure God knows that already