Advent is a little Lent, and therefore a good time for being in the desert while we pray.
Deserts are, in the Old Testament tradition, places where we can feel far from God while, in fact, finding he is very near to us. Israel spends time there. So does Jesus himself. So does Paul after his massive encounter with the Risen Christ. Desert times can be incredibly valuable spiritual times.
Recently, I had a conversation with a reader having a desert time. He was hungry for a relationship with Christ and feeling like he was somehow failing in that. On the off chance it is helpful to other readers, I share it below.
He wrote:
I long for a friendship, a personal relationship with Jesus. Sometimes I feel like I have been lukewarm towards God.
I replied:
The best counsel I know for people feeling far from God (and which has been very helpful for me personally) comes from C.S. Lewis:
Remember the story in the IMITATION OF CHRIST, how the Christ on the crucifix suddenly spoke to the monk who was so anxious about his salvation and said “If you knew that all was well, what would you, to-day, do, or stop doing?” When you have found the answer, do it or stop doing it.
You already have a personal relationship with Jesus, because Jesus has already established it. So don’t keep struggling to create it. Instead, accept that it already exists and then start living into it small and simple. What’s a small practical way you can love a neighbor? Whatever it is will be love given to Jesus too. Start there.
He is Emmanuel. He is already with you.
Advertisement
2 Responses
Living “as if” as much as possible is generally always good advice – as if you were a better spouse, as if you were a more patient parent, etc., as much as you can all things considered. One moment at a time…