I thought of this post because I have been listening to others in difficulty and imagined a whale lost out at sea and Christ trying to help somebody to move, but they were barely moving in a significant time and seemed somewhat stuck and frustrated by this. As if they were knocking their head or as if they were trapped as a mouse on a cage going round and round, which can be frustrating See a picture of this that may help to understand how may feel stuck at times at the end of this post. The Jonah story is one of my favourite stories in the Bible.
Reach out to the Holy Spirit
Jesus said that you can ask and pray to God for the Holy Spirit to help you at times you may need it. The Holy Spirit is there to help you in your walk with your faith to help support you to the end. The Gospel say that if you ask God for the Holy Spirit that he will give it to you in (Luke 11 11-13) “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him"?
The Holy Spirit is there to support you and reveal to you what will help you with your faith and this is clear in (John 16). “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit), is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself.” This is also clear in (Ephesians 1: 17) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Gather of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”
Jesus said that he would send his believers the Holy Spirit Comforter/advocate in (John 14) and the giving of the Holy Spirit is often linked in the Bible to baptism. The Holy Spirit has many roles how they can help believers. They can be a helper, healer, protector, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, standby, comforter, counsellor, baptiser and a sanctifier. There are prayers that you can pray directly to the Holy Spirit which are comforting and I link to them. https://companionscross.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Prayers-to-the-Holy-Spirit.pdf
Struggling with scripture
I have
communicated with some people who became ex Christians because as a
final catalyst they no longer believed the scripture and the faith to be
true. What I do suggest if you are struggling with scripture. I would
suggest that the gospel coalition website may be a good resource to look
for an answer to your issue over scripture or the working preacher
website. I was recommended both of these websites myself at one point by a
church ordained minister. I would also suggest if possible that you
discuss your question with other Christians and to a church minister if
you have one.
Also, try praying over the scripture and the Holy
Spirit may help you to shed some light about it and understand it as
this is part of their role and they are there to help and support you in
your journey. Try and trust God as well too as the Book of (Proverbs
3:5) tells us to do “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean
not unto thine own understanding. I also suggest to others when they are
struggling with the intention of scripture that they should try and
see the bigger picture where scripture is concerned. You know that God’s
intention is to do good and then trust that is their aim when you are
trying to understand something which may be difficult to read and try read scripture in context of other scripture.
Make
sure also that you have the correct interpretation too as some scriptures
may be a parable or poetry and not literal, which some people do not
realise. For example some people think that God approves smashing children’s heads
on rocks which he does not in (Psalm 137). This is a Psalm about poetry, victory and not murder.
When your prayers are not being answered or undergoing hardship?
If you may feel that your prayers have not been answered if doing the commandments that Christ asked us to or feel that you have undergone something very difficult. Keep in mind that life as a Christian isn’t always easy and can be difficult at times. Jesus told his followers to expect difficulty in life in (John 16:33). The Bible tells us that we will be supported if something overwhelms us and God will give us a way to escape as we are told in (1 Corinthians 10:13). “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
It may be difficult to remember too always for some people, but God does good-and there is sin in the world and corruption which isn't the fault of God. God doesn't punish evil doers today until the end times-but can help people to be protected from evil. With end times (Matthew 24) tells us that followers will to go under go
afflictions and sorrows, but this is normal and we need to hold on. Jesus gave believers the Holy Spirit comforter to try and help to support us to persevere to the end. You have to keep in mind to that life can be fragile and that there is a greater goal of the hope of eternal life beyond this world in the Christian faith.
Also, sometimes we may desire something from God, but is not God’s will to do it in our lives and he may respond in other ways. For example at 16 I prayed for a miracle, but God never gave it to me, but God gave me something to help me in my walk with my faith. God is more likely to respond to something of a spiritual nature rather than a material nature.
God too can have his own timing to respond to us. This is God’s promise to Jeremiah in the Book of Jeremiah who endured persecution. (Jeremiah 29:11). "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Job too experienced great difficulty in the Old Testament ( Job 42:10-17) and God helped Job to rebuild a life and hope after extreme hardship. Continue to pray in times of difficulty to and wait to hear God respond through the Holy Spirit or the words of others.
Waiting can be difficult and I have added sermons in the sermon section on this blog that should help you with this. Sometimes we need to be still, listen and reflect to find and hear the answers that are there from God's Holy Spirit to us or from others. During difficult times try and think about the good memories that you have had with the faith and any promises you may have made. Take some time out for yourself if you need to. You can also try something new to motivate you such as a new study aid. If you feel lost, perhaps try following what you know to be sensible advice until you feel you can trust your own thoughts. Perhaps visit a church if you haven't been in a while.
Whatever you are going through God cares and Jesus divinely loves you which he said in (John 15:9). " As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." Remember too that you can always return to the faith if you step away from the faith for a while. This is a link to the sermon section- https://www.racheltestimony.com/search/label/Sermons
