Expert: D.David - 4/4/2008

Question
hello,
ill make it short, over the past 10 months ive felt a serious disconnect from the lord.  i think i became a christian 5 years ago. i felt an undeniable draw and asked him to come into my heart.  however 10 months ago i believe i heard the spirit tell me to change my major of studies at an inconvenient time.  I felt convicted that he was speaking to me on this but wasn't entirely sure.  Anyways as the summer went on i kept saying no to this insistant small voice until i told him i wasnt sure if i trusted him in that. at that time i felt almost a departing feeling.  Since that time my desires to serve him, share, and pray are there but they all seem hindered and fleeting.  I ask to be saved often in fear that He has cast me off forever.  What do you think happend. am i beyond retreival.  have you ever heard of this before?  can God take away His fellowship for a time?  I feel like god has answered some prayer in this time and has brought a very godly woman into my life but thin
gs like strong conviction over sin and feeling his tuggings has left me. also all my emotions and affections are gone. i feel depressed often due to my constant striving to get back to him. what do i do??

Answer
Hello Paul,

I do understand your situation. I have encountered such situation many times myself and have also advised many regarding this kind of a feeling. I would like to share a few thoughts that made so much sense to me.

Firstly, feeling disconnected with the Lord is a common feeling. We feel he has abandon us, but in reality we have moved a little further from Him. Jesus say,"Abide in me, and I in you." We are just as dependent upon Christ, in order to live a holy life, as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness.
  Consecrate yourself to God in the morning :make this very first work. Let your prayer be, "Take me, O Lord, as wholly Yours. I lay all my plans at Your feet. Use me today in Your service.Abide in me and let all my work be done in You."Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. We need to spent more time in prayer to hear His voice." In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah. 30:15)

God will never forsake us. A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. Your hope is not in yourself;it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom and your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. Put away all doubts: dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, " It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...(Gal. 2:20) God will never disfellowship Himself. It is we who choose to disfellowship ourselves. We need to study God's word constantly to keep our mind fixed on Him.

And Finally, Prayer, Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read: there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His Children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He take no immediate interest.

The relationship between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave Jesus. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine.

Paul, I pray that these thoughts encourage you in your Christian journey. I will certainly pray for you and your family. Keep in touch. God Bless.