Change and Growth are important for us to mature as Christian believers. It can be hard to face change and we may need new tools to help work through fear and challenges. This Podcast discusses various reasons we may get stuck and tools for growth, while giving some real-world application.
Let’s be honest, having a relationship with God can be difficult. Well, having any relationship is hard when you didn’t grow-up around positive relationships. It’s the “how to” that gets me.
I grew-up with some trauma, not to mention things like an abusive father figure, no idea who my biological father was, a traumatizing stepdad, and other men coming in-and-out of the home. I can’t blame my mother—she obviously didn’t know how to do relationships either.
Mom passed away in 2001, so I can’t heal and grow with her here. All this has truly hindered my ability to have relationship with Father God.
The hardest thing is that I have lacked encounter with God lately. Without encounter He’s not here with me, well He is, but it feels like He’s not.
I go through these phases of building and having a wonderful relationship with Him and then I stall out, so-to-speak. I want to get to the next phase. I want my motivations for relationship with Him to be honorable. And I don’t want to feel abandoned.
But how do I do it when He’s not visible in the room with me, or I’m not in the middle of an encounter?
Now, it’s an obvious answer is to say have more faith. That’s Biblical. And it wouldn’t hurt. It’s obvious to say I need healing, okay. How? I’m a mature Christian who has worked through these relationship issues for decades, including abandonment, victimhood, codependency, and more. So, what am I missing?
Let me put this another way: I think my perception and expectations of relationship and encounters need to change. Encounters have this way of helping us to “feel” Him, to experience His presence. But relationship must be more than encounters.
I think I expect that encounters are the relationship. But they’re not. They are merely a byproduct of the relationship.
I have family I don’t see every day. I know we still love each other and when I do see them, I’m more grateful for the time. So, why don’t I feel that way about Father God? I love Him, I obey His commands and I know He abides in me. So, what then?
Jesus and Holy Spirit are always accessible to me. Why not my Father in heaven? I’m pretty sure He’s not too busy for me.
King David felt this way. In Psalm 30 we read that David was horrified when God hid His face from him. Yet, David kept praising His Name in desperate gratitude.
I think the obvious answer is the right one after all. So, I’ll read and hear the Word of the Lord to increase my faith, learn more about the character of God and my identity as His child.
Whew! Amen.
So, crazy thing… I decided to start playing the violin. Then, I learned it was the hardest instrument to learn. Yikes! I do always go in headfirst. Thing is, it’s a blast!
It’s technical and challenging which is exactly the way I like my extracurricular activities. It reminds me of playing golf. There are so many variables to hitting a sweet shot. The swing, your stance, the ball, the club, the terrain, the weather… and your mood, all affect the outcome. It was easier for me to learn to ride my 1100cc V-Twin motorcycle.
Why did I want to learn the violin? I had played briefly as a child, and I kept getting this urge to play again. I couldn’t remember how. I know I wasn’t good at it. But I couldn’t shake this feeling of playing in the Spirit, moving and dancing with Jesus.
I longed to hear the sweetness of the music while getting lost in my Father’s embrace. I wanted to worship Him.
It’s been several months now, and I can see a huge improvement. I can only play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, a few bars of Amazing Grace, and some exercise scales. But when I hit that note just right my heart leaps. I can feel the music through my whole body and soul.
One day, I’ll be able to play a whole song. One day, I’ll be able to play and dance with Jesus.
Excerpt from our new book, Hardwired for Creativity: Art Supplies for the Mind, coming out in the next few months.
Father God in heaven, thank You for other people. Thank You for allowing us to have relationships and to interact positively with those around us. Forgive me for abusing relationships, for neglecting others, and for having a bad attitude at times. Help me please, Jesus to be aligned with Your will for connections and communication in my life. I pray for Your guidance as I work to improve my ability to acknowledge others. I ask You for strategy and wisdom from Your Holy Spirit. Teach me to be open to change my thinking about others, so I can improve my life and the lives of those around me. Please, be the power that fuels my desire to have relationships with others. Anoint me with the confidence, patience and love I need to engage effectively with others. Teach me to be kind, loving and lovable. Allow love to rise from within me with Your never-ending grace and power to accomplish all I set out to do. Thank you, Lord, for Your eternal love. Amen.
“However you wish to be treated by others is how you should treat everyone else.”
—Luke 6:31 The Passion Translation
Just Sharon & Jana 
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