Question: When I’m in trouble, I know to turn to Jesus for help. I’ve done this before, and He answers me immediately! But when the crisis is over, Jesus seems far away. Why does this happen?
Answer: The problem is not that Jesus has moved; you have. After the storm has passed, leaving you relieved from your fears, you become self-reliant again. You no longer talk to Jesus regularly or speak about Him to others. You don’t read His words from the scriptures to remind you of His promises. You forget Him until the next crisis arrives, and this reminds you that He is God, and you aren’t. He has the answers, and you don’t. You are like every other human being, with a nature that is self-centered and disobedient to Him. During our successful times, we gradually swell with pride and attempt to handle our problems in our strength alone, without help from God or other people. The scriptures call this being carnally minded or “relying on the flesh”, which means using our own human devices.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help and deliver them…because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:39-40
To avoid remaining in this same, discouraging cycle of failure to stay connected with Him, we must practice our daily reliance on the Lord of the Universe. Talk to Him, read about Him, listen to radio or television messages about Him, and talk to others about what new things He’s doing in your life. Write down your favorite scriptures or thoughts about God and post them in your home, car, and office, where you’ll see the reminders often. That is how we can keep Him in mind throughout the day and night. That’s called staying close to God, which helps you to avoid pride, or too much trust in yourself, with its many pitfalls.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Holy Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you…if Christ is in you, the Spirit of Jesus who was raised from the dead is in you… Romans 8:5-11
Believers have the Holy Spirit of God living in them when they invite Jesus into their hearts. Have you asked Him to live in you?
All you need to do is ask!
He will give you the life and peace you have searched for all of your life.
