Life happens –

Life happens and we often find ourselves pulling away from things, not doing others as much as we used too, and even putting things off.  Or on the backburner, as my mother is wont to say.

How often however, do we find ourselves putting God on the backburner?

More often than we would like to admit, right?

This may sound familiar:

Things are bad.  Like really bad or even just kind of bad.  The storm has come, and you see no way out nor can you find a way to get the boat to slow down on the rocking a bit (even just for a little while).  You’re sea sick.  Bills may be piling up, the children or even you are sick, and your marriage or relationship (bf/gf) is not going the way that you thought it would (or should).  The job may be acting funny, is driving you up the wall or has let you go completely.  There are strong winds blowing and you cannot find the door to get below deck, let alone get your bearings….so you FINALLY call out to God, “Lord, I need you! Please HELP ME!”

And He DOES!

In turn you promise to GET IT TOGETHER.  You may start going to church again, or trying to find a likeminded Christian to hold you accountable for your actions.  Back to Bible Study you go, and the Word is now your weapon of choice.

You feel and hear God leading you.  You feel new and whole, and everything is right in the world.  The little barbs, and maybe even big barbs that the enemy throws don’t faze you like they once did because God and You (at this moment) are like white on rice.  Like Frick and Frat, you and God are.

A relationship has been developed.

However, like all relationships you HAVE to maintain it.

When things are going well in our lives it is easy to tell (ask) God to scoot over and let you drive for a bit.  Even though we know that we have absolutely no idea what we are doing, or where the car is going.

I made this mistake myself (I am not exempt).

We are told,

^“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17)

But that doesn’t stop us from thinking we know better, or that some issues don’t apply to us.

Let’s take a look at a personal short story time: I was going through some things and found myself drawing closer to God (which is usually how it is unfortunately for a lot of people, instead of just drawing close because we want too), reaching out to God more.  It was GREAT.  I felt loved, taken care of, and heard.  During my prayer time and studying the Holy Spirit would minister to me.  My writing was easier, I had no worries (in terms of dealing with other people) and I knew what direction He wanted me to take.  Then….I made changes.  I decided that what I wanted was more important that what He wanted for me.  I kept asking God for a certain outcomes and when nothing was happening took matters into my own hands. Even though I was still praying that “His will be done,” which made things even harder than they should have been or should be (since I was actively fighting against it).  I started noticing that my studying became less, and His voice became quieter.  Until I couldn’t hear Him…I knew He was around I just couldn’t feel Him like I used to.

I couldn’t write for Him.

The truth is.  God doesn’t step away from us.  The problem is that it is US who steps away from Him.

I praise God that He didn’t leave me (and He DIDN’T leave you either).  He waited for me (and is waiting for you) to realize (with nudging if necessary) what I was doing, and to come back and try to get it together.

When you become close with God the absence of that closeness will be felt.  You will know that something is missing.  You will feel that something is missing and your spirit will let you know.

John 15:4-5 says,

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing”

Which is exactly what it is like, being severed from your source by your own doing.  Like nothing is going in the direction that we thought it would.  All because we decided not to remain in Him.

The positive thing is that God has told us time and again that He will not leave us (or forsake us), and Numbers 23:19 tells us,

“God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”

This is an AMAZING thing if you think about it.  I have, you have, we have messed up time and again.  Put Him on the backburner but because we KNOW that He does not lie and will not forsake us, we have a chance to renew our RELATIONISHIP with Him draw close to Him again.

And I don’t know about you….

I don’t know where you are in your journey or relationship with God.  But I want to encourage you to KEEP going!  It is so worth it.  Yes, there will be hiccups along the way. Just trust in God and remember that He is always with you.  No matter how far it feels like you may have fallen, or walked away from Him. And He’s waiting for you to come back, like prodigal sons and daughters.

So will you? Will you remove Him from the backburner of your life and place Him up front where He belongs?