Getting Beaten Down Spiritually

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Question: My faith has been lacking for quite some time. I have questioned whether God truly exists or not, whether he truly is nice or not... I feel like I'm gonna go straight to Hell if I die right now... yet as I have stopped praying, I'm cussing a lot more, and I feel like I don't deserve God's grace and forgiveness... why me?  Help.. =(

My Reply:

Hey, it's not really a "why me" sort of question. The enemy attacks all Christians, and it sounds like you're getting bombarded pretty hard.

Cleaning Up the Garbage

Think of demons like rats…they hang around garbage.  You can cast them out, but if you don’t clean up the garbage, they’ll come right back, maybe even bringing more back with them.

Worship Like Demon Repellent

I once heard that if you spray insect repellent into a carpenter ants’ hole, they all come rushing out.  In the same way, if you think you’re being spiritually attacked, worship…worship acts like the insect repellent, for it flushes out the demons.

1)    Don't stop praying...pick it back up again. Only now when you pray, try asking these same questions to the Lord, the same way you asked them to me here. Then finish up by asking for help in your doubt.  Even pray the blood of Jesus upon yourself for protection.

2)    Crack open your Bible and ask the Lord to lead you to a part to read.  Psalms 27 is a good one to help with Spiritual Warfare, as are many others in other tough times, because we recognize and are able to relate to things that David and the other psalmists were enduring.

3)    If you know any songs that glorify God or remind you of who He is, sing those.

As you do all this, you’re actually spending time with Jesus, and your faith will increase.  Remember too, dogs don’t chase parked cars.  So if you’re being attacked, then it’s because you’re doing something that’s treading on their turf (which is a good thing if you are).  So worship, pray, sing, read, ask others to pray for you, and put on the full armor of God.  I’ll pray for you, too.

---Pastor Andy

When it's hard to feel God

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Dear Pastor Andy, I would first like to state that I believe in God, and that I have argued this so much when asking this to others. Anyways, about two months ago I went through a huge crisis of faith, and when it first began I literally felt the Spirit (or presence) of God leave me. I tried so hard to seek Him in those times...and now two months later, I'm sitting here on my laptop, still not feeling that Divine presence in my gut moving. I definitely believe in God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for all the junk I've done, and that He is the son of God.

I dunno it's like right now I can't sing the worship songs with all my heart, or pray with full care...

And I'm depressed. I don't really want to do anything. From the moment I wake up I look forward to when I get to go back to sleep...get out of here for a good 5-8 hours...

Yesterday I literally came to a place where I didn't care whether God was real or not anymore. I feel like He abandoned me. That I have been crying out to Him and He just doesn't care...

And I can't feel His Love either, and honestly, behind all this I think that's all I really want.

So what would you do? I'm plugged in the word. Seeking. Praying. Even crying. Do you know anyone who has ever been through this? How do I get out?

My Reply:

Friend, God never left you. He's right there with you, whether you feel Him or not.

What I continue to hear you say is how you "feel".  Dude, Satan uses our feelings against all all the time. And why not? We use them to decide our fate in the midst of decision-making. If it feels right, we do it. If it feels wrong, we don't do it. If we feel God's presence, we praise Him boldly. If we don't feel God's presence, we get depressed and question Him. I continue to say, "your feelings will betray you." (you'll also hear this in martial arts films and Star Wars, and they're right too!)

I know what you're talking about, and I believe we all get there sometimes. I'll sometimes pray and not feel His presence, but I still pray. Heck, I'll even start off saying, "Lord I feel like I'm talking to a wall because I don't feel your presence, but I know you're there, so I'll keep talking."

Often times when we get caught in a crisis, we feel like we're in a spiritual fog and can't see or feel anything. But even in the midst of them, Jesus never leaves our side. We just don't know that because of the fog.

2 Suggestions:

1) Read the poem "Footprints in the Sand".

2) Read your Bible. Jesus will meet you there.

Read Psalms if you want to read about David when he felt the same way.

Read the Gospel of John, starting with Jesus in the garden, praying for his disciples. 

Read 1 John to understand more about God's love.

Read the prophets in the Old Testament to understand how and why I can say all this honestly about God never leaving you.

I'll pray for you tonight. Feel free to email me if you like.

---Pastor Andy