Not long ago, during one of my numerous "transitional" stages I was going through a very rough passage. It's symptoms were typical: fatigue, crankiness, impatience with EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY, dizziness, nausea, lack of hunger and generally depressed feelings. From a faith perspective it might be referred to as demons, the Evil One or spiritual warfare. From a non-faith perspective it might be referred to as over-stressed, over-committed, over-leveraged, over-extended, over-indulged and generally over-it.
A fellow pilgrim suggested in these instances I might try these four simple words: "You can't have me." In his translation the comment is aiming the power of God's protection directly at the Evil One. Satan. Beelzebub. Lucifer, El Diablo. Lex Luther. Sponge Bob.... It is intended as a direct and impenetrable armament and shield to his intended invasion through my many human vulnerabilities (take your pick). I actually have done this many times, and frankly with great results.
What's with that? Instead, could you simply deal with it through:
The power of positive thinking? Tony Robbins. Zig Ziglar. Steven Covey. Kahil Gibran. Socrates. Dr. Phil.
Maybe.
The power of professional counseling? Freud. Carl Jung. Abraham Maslow. Alfred Adler. Dr. Phil.
Maybe.
The power of medication? Ibuprofen. St. John's Wort. Prozac. Camomile Tea. Dr. Phil.
Maybe.
The answer is "yes" to all of the above suggestions. It's a matter of choice. Perspective. What you choose to see. What you choose to hear. What you choose to swallow.
I choose to pick the first One.
You?
For emphasis. (b)
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Hmm. I think that you have to be careful here, because there are 2 completely different issues. Spiritual attack is something we can, and should, expect - which is why Ephesians 6 tells us about spiritual armour - which we HAVE to wear not only to protect ourselves - not all the armour is defensive, but also to attack satan - some of the armour is offensive, the sword, for example. But all rest on the power of God's word - we can't fight back on our own, or think we can pull a fast one against satan by ourselves. Just as soldiers can only go into battle wearing the right armour, and using the right weapons, so we can only go into any battle with our adversary with the right armour.
ReplyDeleteThe second issue is that physical symptoms such as you mention above can also occur when we are not focussed enough on God - when we go and do our own thing, leaving God on the sidelines. Remember Jesus said he had living water - come to him and drink - and you will be refreshed. Take time out to drink from the well which never runs dry - be fed from the word of God which sustains you. Leave your problems at His feet and let His touch revive and encourage you.
Read some psalms - after all the various psalmists experienced a whole range of emotions, like depression, fear, tiredness etc - and see how the positive attitude that you recommend (which of course can be summed up as Trusting God) encourages the psalmist, whose hope can be found in the One who saves, who will never let go, no matter how far the elastic on your bungee rope has gone!!
Just because we can't "feel" God's presence, doesn't mean He's not there!
Bingo. Bulls-eye. Zinger. Righto. You have helped get to the core even better -- out side of "our selves" we are a distinct disadvantage. That's the faith in God difference. And, by the way, even though I totally get the surrender, let go, step off the ledge thing "in faith"...there is no way I will dive off a bridge with a large rubber band on my ankles. What's with that, anyway??
ReplyDelete(b)
I agree wholeheartedly about the diving off a bridge attached to the rubber band - NO WAY!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut if you think about it from a faith perspective - then that is THE crux of the matter. For someone who hasn't given their lives to God, just taking the first step is wholly like a bungee jump. It is putting your trust 100% into the unknown (at least with a bungee jump you can see the rubber band!) - hoping that you have an invisible cord safe to your ankle, but no way of SEEING whether it's there or not. For the cautious Joe Bloggs who doesn't take chances it's a HUGE step to take. Maybe bungee jumping wouldn't be so scary after all???????
(but i doubt it!)