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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
spiritual desert	stacey	Monday, August 25, 2008
Question: When I became a born-again Christian 2 yrs ago after being involved in the occult and experiencing demonic oppression, I began to experience God's miraculous presence in my life. I witnessed many small miracles that left me with no doubt that God was present in my life. It was like he was leaving me his calling card everywhere saying "Hey, I exist! Believe!" It was if I could feel him everywhere. It was around this time that I became involved in the Charismatic movement for a brief 2 years before I felt him leading me out of it for reasons I explained in my previous posts. I was used to associating his presence with feelings and confirmations of his presence. Now, I don't know whether what I'm experiencing now is another spiritual attack or just a phase but it seems as if God has withdrawn his presence and I feel like I'm walking through a desert. It's like I don't hear from him like I used to. All of his miracles and promises seem like they were distant dreams and thoughts keep coming into my mind like "Was this real? Does God keep his promises? Hey God, are you still here?" I still pray and stay dedicated to my devotionals but this is really trying my faith and my patience. Is this normal and will it pass?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Stacey: One of the dangers of the Charismatic Renewal with its focus on the emotional is that it risks getting use to that "feeling" and thinking that it is only with feelings. Then when those "feelings" are not sustained we "feel" that God has withdrawn Himself from us. God has not abandoned you. Nothing can cause God to abandon you. We read in Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Feelings and confirmations are transitory. The daily life is ordinary. This is not too much different than getting married. As newlyweds the blush of a new adventure is still on our cheeks. The couple usually has overflowing emotions and demonstrations and confirmations of their love. The honeymoon comes to an end, however. By that I do not mean that love diminishes, but that the constant emotion and confirmations of each other's love gives way to daily ordinary life. New ways of relating and loving are found as love matures. The same is true with our love of God. "Feelings" are not important. What is important is to maintain our faith with the blush has faded. We need to find a mature way to love God and to experience His love of us. The transition between this "blush" and a mature faith can be difficult. It can "feel" like God has abandoned and forgotten us. This is the purgation of our ego and pride. To go into the next step of intimacy with God we must purge the desires of ego and pride. This purging can be like a dark night, a desert. But once we find that it is pride to suggest that we deserve those feelings and confirmations and that we must persevere in the faith with or without them, then we can begin to find our way out of the desert. God always keeps His promises. God does not lie. God is always there. But, God knows what is best for us even when we do not. You say you were "used to associating his presence with feelings and confirmations of his presence". Maybe you need to realize that His presence is there without "feelings" and that the confirmation of His presence comes in other ways. I think that God is leading you into a greater intimacy with Himself. But to gain that intimacy you must go beyond the feelings and confirmations you were used to. Those ways you found before were the blush, now is the time for mature faith. The key to the Christian life is not feelings and confirmations. The key to the Christian life is perseverance. Luke 8:15 "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Romans 5:3-5 "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Persevere through the desert, purge the pride and the expectations that come with it, and on the other end of the desert you will find an intimacy with God that far surpasses anything you have experienced before. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

spiritual desert

stacey

Monday, August 25, 2008

Question:

When I became a born-again Christian 2 yrs ago after being involved in the occult and experiencing demonic oppression, I began to experience God's miraculous presence in my life. I witnessed many small miracles that left me with no doubt that God was present in my life. It was like he was leaving me his calling card everywhere saying "Hey, I exist! Believe!" It was if I could feel him everywhere.

It was around this time that I became involved in the Charismatic movement for a brief 2 years before I felt him leading me out of it for reasons I explained in my previous posts. I was used to associating his presence with feelings and confirmations of his presence.

Now, I don't know whether what I'm experiencing now is another spiritual attack or just a phase but it seems as if God has withdrawn his presence and I feel like I'm walking through a desert. It's like I don't hear from him like I used to. All of his miracles and promises seem like they were distant dreams and thoughts keep coming into my mind like "Was this real? Does God keep his promises? Hey God, are you still here?"

I still pray and stay dedicated to my devotionals but this is really trying my faith and my patience. Is this normal and will it pass?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Stacey:

One of the dangers of the Charismatic Renewal with its focus on the emotional is that it risks getting use to that "feeling" and thinking that it is only with feelings. Then when those "feelings" are not sustained we "feel" that God has withdrawn Himself from us.

God has not abandoned you. Nothing can cause God to abandon you. We read in Romans 8:38-39:

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Feelings and confirmations are transitory. The daily life is ordinary. This is not too much different than getting married. As newlyweds the blush of a new adventure is still on our cheeks. The couple usually has overflowing emotions and demonstrations and confirmations of their love. The honeymoon comes to an end, however. By that I do not mean that love diminishes, but that the constant emotion and confirmations of each other's love gives way to daily ordinary life. New ways of relating and loving are found as love matures. The same is true with our love of God.

"Feelings" are not important. What is important is to maintain our faith with the blush has faded. We need to find a mature way to love God and to experience His love of us.

The transition between this "blush" and a mature faith can be difficult. It can "feel" like God has abandoned and forgotten us. This is the purgation of our ego and pride. To go into the next step of intimacy with God we must purge the desires of ego and pride.

This purging can be like a dark night, a desert. But once we find that it is pride to suggest that we deserve those feelings and confirmations and that we must persevere in the faith with or without them, then we can begin to find our way out of the desert.

God always keeps His promises. God does not lie. God is always there. But, God knows what is best for us even when we do not.

You say you were "used to associating his presence with feelings and confirmations of his presence". Maybe you need to realize that His presence is there without "feelings" and that the confirmation of His presence comes in other ways.

I think that God is leading you into a greater intimacy with Himself. But to gain that intimacy you must go beyond the feelings and confirmations you were used to. Those ways you found before were the blush, now is the time for mature faith.

The key to the Christian life is not feelings and confirmations. The key to the Christian life is perseverance.

Luke 8:15 "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."

Romans 5:3-5 "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Persevere through the desert, purge the pride and the expectations that come with it, and on the other end of the desert you will find an intimacy with God that far surpasses anything you have experienced before.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.