December
2013/January 2014 - Vol. 71
CHALLENGES IN LIVING
TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY
.When
the Well Runs Dry
.
by
Tom Caballes
As
a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul
thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before
God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all
the day long, "Where is your God?"
[Psalms
42:1-3]
There are times when we follow God when we experience ‘desolation’ – when
it seems God is so far way when we need Him most. It can come in the form
of an unanswered prayer/s; or desires of our hearts that God seems to be
deaf; or extreme waiting, longing or difficult situation. We can ask: after
I have given my all to follow God, is this what I get? Sometimes these
experiences challenges our faith in God and can cast doubt on His love
and faithfulness. This is like when our spiritual wells run dry – and there
is nothing left to sustain us. This is a path many saints have trodden
– and sometimes He asks us to walk in this way.
So What Do We
Do When “The Well Runs Dry”?
Acknowledge your feelings before God. But look at the situation as an opportunity
to grow. Know that you are in a trial. See James 1:2-4 and James 1:12.
Have a balanced picture. Look in the past when you experienced God’s love
and faithfulness, when He was there when you need Him. Recall these times.
It is good to look back at the commitments that you made and do not turn
away from them during these times. Continue to pray and read the Bible
even if you do not get anything out of them. Continue to relate with and
serve our brothers and sisters in community. These things keep our focus
on others and let us avoid introspection. Have a balance of knowing our
pains but also not dwelling too much on them.
All trials and difficulties are there for a time; know that in time, they
will pass. We need to learn to endure and last it out. Know that our enemy
wants us to give up. Guess who succeeds when we give in to doubt, or abandon
God completely?
Talk with a person who can help you with during these difficult times.
The more we discuss it with a wiser person, the more help we can get –
and “the prayer of a good man is full of power in its working” James 5:16b.
Other Scripture
References
-
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28]
-
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing
with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [Romans 8:18]
-
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight
of glory beyond all comparison… [2 Corinthians 4:17]
-
Other references: 1 Peter 1:6-9; Romans 8:31-39; Proverbs 27:9.
For Personal Reflection
and Group Sharing:
-
When I experience dryness in my spiritual life, do I hang on or do I let
doubt creep in my life? Do I give in to self-pity?
-
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [Romans 8:35]
 |
Tom Caballes is the National
Senior Administrator and a National Coordinator of the Lamb
of God, a community of the Sword of the Spirit with 7 branches located
throughout New Zealand. Tom also leads Kairos
New Zealand, an outreach program for high school, university, and post-university
aged people.
Tom and his wife Mhel and
their two daughters live in Wellington, New Zealand.
|
.
|
. |
|