Something I have been struggling with lately, is my attitude towards difficulties in my life. My natural inclination is to resent the difficulty, and wish it would go away. The other end of the spectrum is the idea that God refines us through adversity, and that this is how we grow.
To be honest, without being too specific, I have been in a situation for a while that I am now finding difficult to cope with, and finding that I can't really keep going the way that I have been. I don't want to be too melodramatic, but this situation makes me feel pretty continuously anxious, stressed, trapped, resentful and angry -- things that I really don't want to feel.
There are times when I feel like I am really relying on God's strength, and during those times the situation seems a lot more manageable -- but I find it very hard to hold on to that and keep it going.
So, to get to the point, what I am really wondering, is how much I should be praying for a way out, and how much I should be praying for strength to continue dealing with it. If this is how I am growing, and something God has given me to strengthen me, then is it right for me to be praying for a way out? Any oppinions or advice would be welcome.
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
5 comments:
Hey mate,
Sounds tough. I'm not real good with persevering in prayer, but I figure you pray both - for relief, and for strength, and at the end, you pray that God's will would be done.
The other thing is, other people can pray for you too - I will.
I think Drew just said what I was going to say, but much more succinctly...perseverence is so difficult a thing, as its such an endless thing to learn...
Will keep you in our prayers Benny.
Hey, yes, I second Drew too ... And sometimes it's hard to keep trusting that God is good, no matter what, but we simply have to. Will pray also ...
Are you sure you're not talking about my life at the moment? Sounds strangely similar...
I feel your pain Ben. I think the thing I'm trying to remember is that while I'm struggling with what to pray, I need to ensure I just keep doing it one way or another. Right now, I'm just trying to lay my heart before God and actually communicate how I'm feeling and hurting. It's amazing how the prayer can then turn into seeking His will and asking for His strength.
But then I totally know what you mean when you say it's difficult to sustain that approach. One things for sure though, when we sang 'Never Alone' on Sunday morning, I could really sense God's presence and support surrounding and strengthening me. Now if only I can keep that going...
Take care
Thank you so much guys, I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers. It really made my morning reading yr responses.
Yes, I guess that is the answer-- to continue to pray BOTH. Praying for change gives voice to God what you desire, but praying for strength is accepting that He is in control, and that the time frame of our struggles is in His hands, and in His plans.
Thanks again, guys, and I will kepp you in my prayers also.
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