[Wednesday's Devotional] - "Why have you forgotten me?"

There was a saying that used to float around in Christian circles ‘If you feel far from God, who has moved?’.  Well, as a saying it certainly has its place and it can be a very applicable challenge to some people that have put themselves in ungodly situations.  However, it isn’t a helpful question to a Christian suffering with depression, as feeling far from God is a symptom of depression for Christians.  The Psalmist really knew what feeling isolated from God is like.

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Psalm 42:4 [NRSV]

The memory of earlier times, of feeling close to God and delighting in his presence; not only that but joyfully leading others in worship.  Now just a memory as the writer asks the darkest of questions… I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?” (Psalm 42:9).  We may know that God hasn’t abandoned us and that he really is as close as ever.  That is only of limited help if we don’t feel his presence.  We may find that the prayer life that we once held dear as a time of being with God and sharing with him, is now a dry formality.  Worse, perhaps, we may find it impossible to pray at all.  Relax, God is still there and he will walk with you through the dark time, even if you can’t feel him there.

Many of the greatest and Godliest people have suffered dark times, when they felt distant from God.  St. Teresa of Avila went through a very long period of depression and darkness.  Towards the end of which, she had a vision of God.  God said to her “This is how I always treat my friends”. “Then Lord” she replied. “It is not surprising that you have so few”.

Teresa did go on to walk closely with God again.  Sometimes we go through dark nights of the soul because God wants us to change our prayer life, or will bring us closer to him through it.  What is essential though, is that we hang on to God through it.  If we can’t pray as we did, if our quiet times seem lifeless then just pray as you can.  Send out bullet point prayers of thanksgiving and request as you go through the day.  Perhaps you might find it helpful to go out and take a walk and talk to God as you go, or just write down some things that you are thankful for when you return.  Through it all remember that you are going to feel close to God again.  In fact you are going to feel closer to him than ever before.

John Martin-Jones