From a Christian Pastor

I vividly recall some of my anger and fear when I discovered I must have by-pass surgery. We ministers are "expected" to have an unshakable faith, but there are some events that call into question the supports we have taken for granted most of our lives. Illness is certainly one of these circumstances.

I am not suggesting that your faith is being tried, but I would be surprised (especially after my own experience) if you have not had thoughts like "Why me, Lord?" and "Don't you hear me, Lord? Don't you care?".

It may be some comfort to you to know that this is a fairly common experience among Christians down through the ages. One of the saints of an earlier era dubbed these periods "dark nights of the soul." His point was that during these spiritual "dry" spells, we have not lost God's presence, but have simply lost the "feeling" of God's presence.

A contemporary Christian has suggested that we should not consider our emotions and fears the thermometer of our spiritual life.

I'd like to suggest a couple of things that have been of real help for me. Hold on to your belief that God is with you, even when His presence is not evident and the questions come quick and harsh. Continue to be faithful in your Christian walk and live in expectation that this dark time will not last forever. The dawn will come! Sometimes during these periods, we can experience some real Christian growth, where God helps us to walk more by faith than feelings.

A good friend once said to me, "I know the Lord will never give me more to carry than He and I can manage together, but sometimes I just wish He didn't have quite such a good opinion of me."

Please know that you will be in my prayers. Hundreds of Christians around our country will be lifting you up to God. Each of us lives our life in the Hands of God, and there is no safer place to be...than in God's Hands!

Your friend,