Staying Faithful, No Matter What
Sunday in church and Monday morning during staff devotions I
was thinking about sharing this. I am not sure how to explain what I am
thinking and not sure how it will come across, but here goes.
I was wondering how does one approach a dry spell in a Christian
walk? What do we do when are not growing
spiritually or even feel like we have declined in our spiritual walks? Most of us can remember when we were that
wide-eyed, innocent young Christian to whom nothing seemed impossible with
God.
But sometimes our Bible reading seems empty. We read because we are supposed to. We know how to pray, or so it seems. We have the right words to say, but maybe we
feel like nobody is listening. We can
recall moments when we knew without a doubt that God had spoken to us, but that
was a long time ago. When we are in a
worship time, we see some that have joy flooding their whole being, and we long
to feel that again. We even listen to
preaching and don’t feel conviction.
Often times we are there, but not really a part of the Christian
community surrounding us.
Sunday I was a part of a beautiful worship service and
Pastor Percy preached a good sermon from the Book of Revelation; but I started
thinking of a sermon Pastor G. preached back in the early 80s about what you do
when you go through that dry spell. Many
people have given up when they go through a dry spell. What should our response
be?
Psalm 84 says, “What joy for those whose strength comes from
the Lord…When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place
of refreshing springs. The autumn rains
will clothe it with blessings. They will
continue to grow stronger and each of them will appear before God.”
If you are in the desert, that Valley of Weeping, and feel
lost, stop and dig a well. Here is what
I mean by dig a well. Continue to pray,
even if you feel nothing. Go through the
motions during worship and listen to the sermons. Read your Bible, even if you get nothing out
of it. Make a decision to stick with
God. Stay faithful, no matter what. I must emphasize, even if you feel nothing.
God is faithful. He
won’t leave you in the Valley, but maybe, have you ever considered this, maybe
He has you in that Valley for someone you will encounter in the future. Maybe God is letting you go through this, so
He can use you to guide someone out of the Valley. This is what I mean by digging the well. You are in the desert, but dig that well of
prayer, Bible reading, worship, and learning, so one day you can go back there
and give refreshment to someone lost in the Valley like you were.
We sang this song in devotions Monday. It seemed to fit so well with what I wanted
to say, and it almost always brings me to tears.
Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God
my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy
compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast
been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great
is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning
new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
Summer and winter, and springtime
and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature
in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that
endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and
bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
I know my momma knows this by heart
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