.Thursday, August 30, 2007 ; 5:11 PM -
.His Mercy is New everY mornInG.
"In my soul I feel just that terrible pain of loss," she wrote in 1959, "of God not wanting me - not existing." According to the book, this inner turmoil, known only to a handful of her closest colleagues, lasted until her death in 1997. An excerpt from Mother Teresa's biography. It may sounds disturbing to know that Mother Teresa, the catholic sister who had devoted her entire life working with the poor until the last moments of her life, felt abandoned by God. Some may accused her of being a hypocrite, outwardly devoted to God, proclaiming the gospel while inwardly battling her very own sense of unbelief. She is not the only one. Throughout the bible, we've seen stories of people felt they have lost the presence of God in their life. I'm talking about the heroes in the bible, not just any passerby. One famous example is Job. He lost everything; his sons and daughters were taken away from him i.e. dead. Not to mention his possessions (he was a wealthy God fearing, righteous man). Throughout the book, Job was wailing and complaining to God, demanding an explanation or at least something from God that will ease his sorrow.
Job 19:7-12
“I cry out, ‘Help!’ but no one answers me.
I protest, but there is no justice.
8 God has blocked my way so I cannot move.
He has plunged my path into darkness.
9 He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.
10 He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished.
He has uprooted my hope like a fallen tree.
11 His fury burns against me;
he counts me as an enemy.
12 His troops advance.
They build up roads to attack me.
They camp all around my tent.
Poor Job. Someone who suffered much will understand this book. Bitterness are strewn across the book. Another example - King David. Look at the book of psalms. Sense of abandonment by the psalmists are all over the book.
Psalm 55:1-2
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
Loneliness and sense of abandonment are not uncommon in the bible. Even Jesus himself felt abandoned on the cross. Son of God, His Beloved cried out "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
So they asked, why such trials?Why God allow such isolation on His people? I don't know. One thing I know for sure; His words that He has spoken in the bible
Isaiah 55-8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Also, the last word spoken by Jesus before He ascended to the Father,
"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (matt28:20)
Jesus never said follow Him and have an easy smooth sailing life. Look at the apostles. They were either martyred, shut in prisons, or crucified. The one lived the longest was living in exile in Patmos. Look at Stephen, Philip, Paul, Timothy and many other disciples of Jesus Christ. They all have their fair share of hardships. Look at the christians in China. They are blatantly persecuted by their very own government. The world will not understand that our treasures are not in this world. Our hope is not of this world. Our joy and peace are not given by this world. Our Source is the great God of universe Himself.
Whatever tribulations or trials you are facing now, count it all joy. They are all for His glory sake. Jesus has overcome the world for us. The last enemy has been shamed and defeated. What is there to fear. If you must fear, do it for the lost souls. As long as men still haven't turn to Jesus, men are still in condemnation because we are all sinners. Their souls are on one way road to eternal hell. Don't believe, give it a try. But, no more turning back if men choose hell. It is either Jesus or hell, as simple as that. No in between. No such thing as all religions lead to one place i.e. paradise, gods, heavens, nothingness, universe(s) etc etc.
"Mother Teresa concluded that these painful experiences could help her identify not only with the abandonment that Jesus Christ felt during the crucifixion, but also with the abandonment that the poor faced daily. In this way she hoped to enter the 'dark holes' of the lives of the people with whom she worked."
Know that we are not alone in this journey. Be assured that many suffered the same way as we are. But, don't ever forget we have a Saviour who suffered and tempted in every way. Aren't we glad we have a God that understand our situation? He is not just an old grandfather in white, sitting up there in heaven listening to the angles playing harps. He was here; walked the earth and now He gives His Spirit to those who are willing to come to Him.
