“Where've you been I've looked for you forever and a day
Where've you been I'm just not myself when you're away” –
(Kathy Mattea “Where’ve you been?”)
Where've you been I'm just not myself when you're away” –
(Kathy Mattea “Where’ve you been?”)
Ever get that feeling? And you struggle, and you try, and you know that He is there, but it’s just so hard?!?
“I'm tired
I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing
I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left”(Tenth Avenue North – “Worn”)
I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing
I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left”(Tenth Avenue North – “Worn”)
I read a devotion in Brennan Manning’s Reflections for Ragamuffins about Catherine of Siena. He spoke of her having a glorious prayer life, highly conscious awareness of the divine indwelling. I can honestly say that I have never felt that – can you? Have you dealt with those that had this (think Hallelujah chorus spirituality)? I think of myself more along the lines of “Fanfare for the Common Man”, or better yet – “If I could have a beer with Jesus.”
We are all tested on a daily basis, some days more than others. Some of these tests continue to be the same thing over and over, what seems like an unwinnable fight, an untenable position. Recently, I have found myself in this with a constant thorn, and one that defeats me every time, and I just can’t even pray about it anymore! I tried to tell someone about it. I told them that it’s a waste of time and energy when that heart is hardened against me, deliberately causing more distress and difficulty in an already hard situation. I told them that I was “letting go and letting God”, that I would no longer waste my time. Is this approach wrong? Most definitely! Am I sick and tired of the mess? Again, most definitely. What is the approach that should take place? “Pray unceasingly.”
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV))
And I was told this in no uncertain terms, and it hurt! It would hurt any way it came at me, but it came at me from a Hallelujah chorus spiritual level person to my Beer with Jesus consciousness, and so it was a major smackdown.
So, I turn inward, turn my radio dial to Praise music, try to find it in me to pray for my thorn, and give thanks for the storms. I want my struggle to be similar to Job’s, but my testimony not to be like Lamentations. Who wants to listen to a cry-baby continuously? And I feel that’s what I’ve become.
I’ve been here before
Now, here I am again
Standing at the door
Praying You’ll let me back in
To label me
A prodigal would be
Only scratching the surface
Of who I’ve been known to be
Turn me around, pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, I need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one
Who can undo what I’ve become - ("UNDO" - RUSH OF FOOLS)
I don’t go to church – does that surprise you? Many years ago, I was deeply hurt by a church, and those in it that seemed so much closer to Him that I could ever feel. That has left me with a probably permanent insecurity complex when it comes to Abba and an even more insecure feeling around those people who seem to exist on that Hallelujah chorus plateau. I was preached “at” rather than preached and witnessed “to.” Do you understand the difference? What it means to me is that when anyone comes at me with verse after verse from the bible, I get white noise in my head. Someone would say, like Casting Crowns frontman – Look, a squirrel!. He was dyslexic and had ADHD and so his attention would just go wherever, and that is kind of what I experience when flooded with biblical verses and references – look, a squirrel! I don’t know the bible well, as I was never given not only the opportunity to learn it with others of like mind, but was ciritcized for questions.