Michael Card: Lamenting is Worship! part 4

[@caheddr]

This helps me to understand what can come out of this. God is good, even if He has given up on me. I deserve NOTHING from God, except judgement.

[@denymyselfministries9607]

This is outstanding. Thanks Michael!

[@TheThrone4ever]

Who can stand before the face of God, who can stare into those burning eyes and not flinch away?

[@caheddr]

I have struggled this past year, but, mostly, the past couple of months. I have been asking those questions...though my life has not been easy, I have never felt such profound sadness. Most of the time, I feel that God has surely given up on me, as He knows who is destined for heaven and not. I don't blame God for anything. I just don't understand why He chooses not to heal me of my emotional turmoil, while some are cured of cancer, etc. Still...I can tell anyone that He loves them deeply.

[@donnag.3611]

+caheddr Perhaps you have a physical or psychological problem...how was your childhood? Could it be unresolved anger, stuckness, depression, etc. Have you ever checked out Peter Gerlach on YT? Just some thoughts & please take them to the Lord b/c I know nothing about you & He knows you perfectly.

[@caheddr]

+Donna G. Yes. I struggle with PTSD, caused by abuse inflicted by my adoptive father. I know cognitively from where the issue stems, and I work with a therapist...and, have my Masters in psychotherapy. I have dealt with this for decades, yet, spiritually is where I struggle the most. I have begged God to relieve some of the pain, yet, it continues. Again, I don't blame God. I just don't understand His silence.

[@donnag.3611]

caheddr I have CPTSD & I struggled for years re: the Lord, but now I realize He was watching over me all those decades but the problems w/in are now being tackled, spirit, soul & body in a new way...w/ more layers removed from me, I can now understand a lot that I didn't understand before...we pray the right prayers but it takes the Lord & our awakening & awareness to many things so we can cooperate w/ ourselves & become the true self always trusting in God's love...I suspect you may be focusing on the election of God which should bring you assurance & joy rather than fear...it could be the enemy is tormenting you or it's the embedded psychological leftovers...I am in the midst of neurofeedback which should help some more...also the EMDR did help me...God has the help for us. Again, take a look at Peter Gerlach on YT & www.giftfromwithin.org

[@09jvn]

thank you for letting me know that God is perfectly fine with me complaining when the rest of the Christian world tells me that I should stop.

[@favianee]

i think complaining to God is perfectly fine :) it's complaining to other people that may not be a good thing, even though the Bible does recognize it as a natural thing

[@donnag.3611]

+caheddr--as an afterthought re: election...I think it is futile to try & wrap your head around this doctrine, esp. if it makes you feel like God has given up on you...I know you believe in the scriptures, but sometimes we don't really agree w/ them...that's those other parts of us that are not our true self, for an example, you know that God will never leave you or forsake you, & you know that He will in no way cast anyone away. W/ our finite minds, we can never understand the mysteries, the grand schemes, the incredibleness of our God, Rom. --11:33-- & other places...sooo it might be a good idea to just pray for the grace to enjoy your loving, near, healing God! :-) I know it's a challenge when we have problems w/ PTSD but it can be done. God bless you richly by moving you higher in perspective, closer to the Lord's heart & more deeply hidden in Him...learning to enjoy Him.

[@lisamarie6611]

So will the seal be better,,,,More whan I already trust? No! Only God can break the seal!

[@jghollowell4]

Hmmm… I think I have a suggestive thought about Psalm 88. The Chesod jumped out to me! A trash compactor. What it seems as if the psalmist is going through, are the sobering realizations of this world. We can lie to ourselves. The product of lying to ourselves is what we get in psalm 88. Perhaps even still, it is like the fleshy part of an oyster. We have the irritation inside of us. When we are sobered to God’s Will in our lives, he will start layering that irritation over. To us, a pearl is valuable. To the oyster? It is irritation made smooth again. It seems as if the snapshot of the psalmist we are getting in 88, is the beginning of the realization of that irritation. If we only knew how the psalmist turned out!