When You Don’t Want To Be With God

 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:66-69

 I was once spiritually and chronically shortsighted (and it was easy because I was in distress).  God looked guilty when I considered my circumstances. No matter which way I looked at things, I felt that He failed to love me the way He should if He was really a good Father. Angry and hurt, I made some very bad spiritual decisions. Now, years later ~ here’s what I would say to do if you and God are not intimate right now.

1. Go toward him, not away from him. The very one you’re angry with is usually the last one you want to run to for help. And yet, God invites all of us to pour out our complaint. If you don’t have God, who will you run to for help?
2. Verbalize your issues. When things swirl in your head, there is not clear thinking and the cobwebs only multiply. Talk to God. Write out what you’re thinking and feeling. Spell out the conclusions you’ve made about him. Repent for name-calling.
3. Ask God to take you to the right scriptures and open up your heart to them. He is the God who promises to write His Word on our hearts.
4. Look for a temporary mediator with skin on. Verbalize your issues for the 2^nd time to a seasoned Christian who has survived crushing times. They have, most likely, felt the same things you’re dealing with and yet God has gotten them to the other side with their faith in tact. They will offer perspective that is life saving and valuable.

The truth shall set each one of us free. Assassination of God’s character, which results in estrangement, afflicts children of God at some point in their lives. Anger seems justified but it never is. God will not cooperate in our demand that He prove His own goodness. Trust, faith, and humility ensure that we will escape painful spiritual detours.

You, Jesus, proved everything in Your incarnation. Let me bask in the story of the Gospel. Amen

Question: Are you talking with the right people? Who is feeding your anger against God? Angry people love to hang out with angry people.