rhapdog

I understand what you are going through, Keilan. When I lost my family, I couldn't feel the presence of God through all my grief. Here's the catch, though. It's not based on emotional feelings. It's fact. God IS real. When I began to praise Him, he restored me. He also healed me. You have to rejoice in the day that God has given you, whether you feel like it or not. Before long, all the rejoicing and praise will lead to His lifting you up, and you will feel the presence of God in your life. You have to make that first step. Praise Him from your heart. It's the most powerful thing a person can do.

I've been there. I'd like to share my testimony with you and tell you how I got through it. I'd like to see you be able to change your name from xhistragedyx to xhisvictoryx. In just one day, I lost my wife of 12 years, my 9 year old daughter, my house, and everything I owned. The material things have never been missed, it was my family that was precious. If you have never lost a child, then you can't possibly imagine what I went through. One can expect to lose a spouse to death, especially as one nears the end of life, but it is a difficult thing to endure the loss of a child. The torment I endured was so intense; I had difficulty feeling God's presence at that time of my life. I prayed. I cried out to God. I poured over His scriptures morning, noon, and night. I needed to find Him, so I could ask him "Why?" I came to understand jeremigh 29:13 very well after this seemingly endless praying and pouring myself through His scriptures. Jeremiah 29:13 NIV, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." You see, after 2 weeks of prayer, and several days of fasting, I felt God's love wrap around me like I've never known. He reminded me of the words to a song I had heard when I was a child. "I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried. And I strove to remind you, it was for those tears I died." I've felt His love before, and I've been a child of His a long time. But the comfort given at that lowest point of my life showed me a love I had never quite comprehended before. It simply cannot be put into words. I asked God "Why" when I found Him. God led me to a number of scriptures for my answer. 1 Corinthians 13:12, Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. At this point, I answered, "Ok, Lord. You're telling me You have your reasons, and I'm not going to understand them. I just have to trust You. Ok, I accept it. I'll trust You. But how do I go on with this pain in my heart? It was then He ansswered me again, from His word. 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. "Well, Lord, your power must be perfected in me, because I am utterly weak," I answered. Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. So now He says He'll give me hope and a future. Now I know there must be more to my life. Isaiah 40:30-31: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. In Isaiah 40:31, He told me to hope in Him. Nehemiah 8:10: Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. "Do not grieve" I thought. That's easier said than done. But what's this second part? "the joy of the Lord is your strength?" Ok, so if I have His joy, I'll be strong, and the need for grieving won't be overpowering me any longer. But how do I reclaim that joy? Psalm 18:24: This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 150:6: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Ok, so here's the kicker. How do you get the joy? You have to start by "being glad in this day that the Lord has made" so to speak. Be thankful for it, just because God has given it to you. It isn't always easy to be thankful when you are hurting, but say "Thank You" to God for the good He has done in your life. Secondly, you must "praise the Lord." There is power in praise. If you praise Him, He WILL lift you up. If you want the joy of the Lord, then REJOICE! If you want the joy of the Lord, then PRAISE HIM! God does NOT want us to be miserable! He wants us to be Happy! When we follow His word, then we can be at peace no matter our circumstance. I am living proof of this. I have been under spiritual attacks. I have lost dear loved ones. And I have found I can still be at peace, be filled with His joy, and I can still praise the Lord. Satan wants us to be unhappy. Why? Because he does not want us to be strong. If we aren't happy, that is, if we are grieving or miserable, then "the joy of the Lord is your strength" does not apply! Do you want the joy of the Lord in your life? First, you have to be one of His children. Second, you must praise Him!