You reach and it feels like you’re grabbing air.
You know that God is real. You aren’t going anywhere, because even when you don’t feel it, you can’t help but thank him for who he is, and what he’s done.
But it’s dry.
So stinking dry.
And you want more.
That’s where I found myself recently. Like “last night” recently. I tell you this because you might be there too, and maybe you’ve started to believe it’s because you’ve messed up somehow. Or that you’re not as spiritual or faith-filled as others.
Nope, that’s not it all.
It’s the wilderness, and for whatever reason, we can end up there for a season. It’s so opposite of the times that God is as close as a whisper, or when joy bubbles up, or you throw your hands in the air (maybe in your thoughts, because there’s people all around) as you rejoice in who God is.
So, last night, when I was lying in bed, I talked to God about this.
Lord, I don’t feel you. I wish I could. It’s been awhile, and I miss you. But I know you’re there. I know you are working on my behalf. I know you hear me. I trust that this wilderness season has a purpose, and I trust you.
Tears ran down my cheeks.
Tears of sadness for what I’m not feeling right now. Tears of gratitude for the knowledge that I will feel it again — and regardless of when it takes place, He is with me now.
[bctt tweet=”When you’re not feeling God, it doesn’t mean He’s not there. It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. #livingfreetogether https://wp.me/p4jbdw-4wh” username=”suzanneeller”]
I don’t know why I’m in this wilderness season, but I’m not going to lay down, stop believing, stop sharing truth, or stop being me — Suzie, who loves God with all her heart, soul, and mind.
I’m not sad. I’m just in a season of trust.
If you are in a similar place, I’m reaching with a huge hug.
You’ve not done anything wrong.
He’s not far away, I promise.
Every word ever spoken over you by him is yes and amen.
The wilderness won’t last forever and as we follow him, he’ll teach us and love us through it.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV)
This is my promise. It’s yours as well. We can’t see it right now, but as we dip those roots deep into faith and truth, fruit is rising up inside.
You aren’t walking through that wilderness alone. He’s got you. We’ve got each other. And we’ll come out on the other side stronger.
Suzie
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Such authentic encouragement, sweet Suzie! For me, I’m walking through the wilderness with someone I love dearly, being ready to support and encourage. Right now, he’s not ready for that, so I am following quietly, seeking God for both of us. The burdens we take on are so much heavier than they have to be. God lightens the load and makes the road so much easier. I’m clinging to that truth. I covet your prayers.
Claudia, your sweet words touched me this morning. You wrote, “Right now, he’s not ready for that, so I am following quietly, seeking God for both of us.” Sweet faith of Jesus is in the waiting, in the quiet of seeking. Prayers for you and yours as you cling to the Truth-Maker. ❤️
Thanks Suzie. I needed this today.
Thank you Suzie! Am going thru a difficult time and waiting on God to “ open a door” with employment. Your message today has renewed my strength and I feel in his timing he will place me where I’m meant to serve.
Have a blessed day.
OK, I just got goose bumps! My name is Christina too. I commented one minute apart from you. I too am looking for God’s direction with employment and have an interview this morning relating to a different ministry job. Prayers for you as you are also on the search.
Working as a ministry leader and feeling like this has been difficult for me. At times I wonder if what I’m teaching is effective because of where I’m at. The enemy attacks and messages like this help me to stay strong in my faith. Thank you for being “real” and truthful. Suzie, you have encouraged me today and made me realize I’m not the only one.
Amen, Christina. It is refreshing and encouraging to see we are not alone in these emotions.
Discouragement and dry seasons are especially common in ministry work. The enemy wants it to keep our thoughts on the circumstances or difficulties. God intends it for our good. Two verses help me during these times: 2 Cor. 10:5 and Philippians 4:8. Praying for your continued strength and encouragement!
Thank you Rebecca Lynn
Thank you for sharing truth when I need it most. Your transparency is what I love so much about you. I just wanted you to know how much you bless my life Suzie.
I sooooo needed to hear this. A few weeks ago in a quiet reflective time at church, we were to ponder how does God want me to love Him more. And I couldn’t even ponder for thinking it sounds like another item on my to do list. Then of course, guilt soon followed. So the past three weeks, I am diving into how I experience His love for me. But it has been a dry, distant season. Thank you for sharing your vulnerable place and by doing so removing aloneness in my own heart.
Karen, that is the beauty of LFT Group…we are shoulder-to-shoulder sisters. We help each other through all life moments.
My reminder verse in times of feeling alone is Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Such a powerful truth from our Father.
Thank you for sharing where you are today with your faith-walk. Prayers over you, friend. ❤️
Thank you for this reminder. I’ve been in the wilderness, it seems like forever. I won’t give up because I know He is still good and this won’t last forever….it can’t because His promises are true.
Thank you for this! I know God is near, but my wilderness experience has been going on for so long that I honestly have to wonder sometimes.
I too,am in the wilderness & have been for some time.A close relative of mine pushes me away & always says hurtful things to me. I trust God is with me & has lead me to this verse.You do not know what I am doing now but you will know thereafter.I covet your prayers also.Thank you Suzie,you have helped me countless times.I pray for you too.
I am at my desk at work, trying not to cry. I needed to hear this so, so much. Especially “you have not done anything wrong.” I will print this out and re-read it many, many times.
Oh, how I needed this today. Since my husband went to be with Jesus in May of last year, I have been stumbling around trying to figure out who I am. I have felt as though God has left me and even though I know He has not; it sure feels like it sometimes. Thank you Father for using these words to give me hope and realize others feel this way sometimes. Thank you Susie ❤️
Dianna, you wrote the words my heart is screaming out! I lost my husband of 42 years in October 2017. I am going to start a brief program tonight, say a prayer for me.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth that Susie speaks and speak to Dianna during the difficult season, Amen.
Amen.
Hugs and support to you, sister! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings, for it helps us to acknowledge ours.
Thank you so very much for this reminder, Suz. It reminds me of the story of Rahab. She probably couldn’t feel God … she really had yet to know Him. Nor would she have heard or seen Him, yet she kept the red cord hanging in the window. Her reminder that her confidence was not in what she could feel, see or hear. Her confidence was in the truth – God was coming for her!
Thank you for your transparency Suzie :)) knowing that I am not alone in this wilderness season makes ALL the difference . Thank you xxx
What if you started in a wilderness season and then it progresses to feeling like your faith is just gone? That’s how I feel. It’s like I can’t even manage to believe at all anymore. I have prayed so many times and I just feel like God is really not there. It’s lonely and scary. I can’t seem to make this doubt stop. It’s been so many years now…I just feel like I have traveled so far down this path and now any faith I had has been destroyed, or God has taken it away because my heart was too cold- I don’t know. I just know that this feels scary and I wish I could go back in time and have the faith God once gave me.
Don’t give up Elizabeth. I’m sort of going through the same thing in a way. I know God is there but sometimes He just feels so far away. I think sometimes when this happens we have to see if there is any sin in our life we haven’t repented of, or if there is anything we may be holding back from God. Other times I think maybe its just a time of our needing to cling to Him and build our faith even when He feels far way. God is never very far from us. I guess sometimes we just have to cling to that faith, believing in what we don’t see but know is there. I hope this helps a little. Just keep on believing and praying to Him, and know you aren’t alone no matter what it feels like.
Thank you for sharing these encouraging words Megan. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone.
God is still there, Elizabeth. Rather than go back in time, today is the day to walk back into his love. I love your honesty and I know God hears your cry. He’s bigger than doubt. He’s bigger than our fears. Maybe today you can simply rest in the fact that you are loved, that God does hear you. That his plans for you are still in place.
Lord, cover our friend with your sweet presence. Fill her to overflowing. Pour into her doubts. Thank you for her courage and honesty. In Jesus’ name.
Thank you for this today. Lately my prayer life has just kind of petered out and I don’t feel the desire to prayer, nor have the will to pray sometimes either. I keep trying to do it though. I just feel so empty sometimes and worry what’s wrong with me. I worry about my heart becoming hard and that I’m slipping away from God. I miss God and don’t know what’s happened that I no longer feel the joy I used to feel. So much in my life lately, with relationships, has just made me kind of irritable and I don’t like who I have been sometimes. I worry I don’t really know God in a personal way and I worry I won’t ever have that personal relationship. Thank you for this post, and prayers would be appreciated.
Maybe, it is a season of rest and trust. You may not always know when you are in His presence, but He knows you are in His.
My husband and I are calling out to God and praying mightily for our daughter’s spiritual eyes and heart to be open to hear God’s voice. There have been times when I have had to remind myself that there is no special formula to prayer because, as long as we have been praying (years) for her, I sometimes am emotionally worn out and then wonder if I am “missing something”. This morning while walking our dog,I was praying and talking to myself saying that if I don’t believe that God is the God of the impossible and that His time is perfect, how can I believe anything else that God says He is. I can’t have one part of God and not the rest. It’s all this time waiting that can cast doubts and causes me to literally get on my knees and cry (again) for Him to give me somehong to let me know He hears me.
Beautiful words Suzie to describe how this wilderness feels “in a season of trust” –
Thank you, Suzie
The past few months I’ve been in the wilderness, too. I’ve struggled, God has felt far away, and the voices of doubt have whispered in my ears. The Father recently reminded me that it’s not about the strength of my faith, but about His ability to hold on to me. And He can still work through me. Yes, trust. Thanks for your words.
Hi Suzie, My name is Diane Coral. I receive your devotionals through my email, but I am not on facebook, or anything else. So I don’t reply to your emails but I read them
all. I really appreciate them. So many times I am right there and it is just what I needed to hear. I feel like those are the times God is responding to me, rather than always
in my prayers when I am talking to Him. I am trying to learn not to lean on my emotions as much to tell me how I feel, but, when I don’t feel God I try to lean on my faith.
Thank you for your time spent on these devotionals. Just know even when you feel alone, God is still working through you to help others hear God when we feel the same
way as you do.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I need this today Suzie! Thank you. Love you BIG 💕
I love that, Dyana!