Brad and Ned,
I believe that this is what is meant by, "the dark night of the
soul."  We all go through it, usually more than once in our spiritual
growth, but that is what makes the touch of the Father so much more
wonderful when it happens.
Kathy

At 10:13 PM 8/30/2005, you wrote:
>Ned,
>
>We have all had these, and if we haven't? We will. It is so , how might
>one say, not necessarily frustrating, but empty, distant, lonely, and I
>guess yes frustrating the longer this goes on, yet equally as comforting,
>secure, warm, protected, and peaceful, when we reconnect with those
>feelings that we  haven't been forgotten or abandoned. With my wife in day
>care, and having raised a couple kids, it is at such times as described in
>the commentary, that I realize we are just like those little babies that
>cry when you put them down and will only stop when they are picked back up
>again, having that physical touch of an adult to know things will be OK
>and they are not alone. As they get older they are weaned from that and
>learn that they can explore on their own while under the watchful eye of
>the adult and not the need for a physical touch all the time.
>
>Brad
>
>
>on 07:29 AM 8/30/2005, Ned Benton said:
>Have you ever had those times when it seemed you couldn't reach God with
>your prayers nor feel His presence, a dry time?  Here is another of the
>Campus Fellowship devotions.  I hope it helps you all.
>
>Ned
>
>
>CCF   Survival Guide
>Tuesday  8/30/05
>Faith, Not Feelings
>"THE LORD HAS HIDDEN HIMSELF BUT I TRUST HIM."  ISAIAH 8:17 (TEV)
>
>You wake up one morning and all your "spiritual feelings" are gone.  You
>pray, but
>nothing happens.  You rebuke the devil, but it doesn't change
>anything.  You
>go through
>spiritual exercises, have your friends pray for you, confess every sin you
>can imagine,
>then you go around asking forgiveness of everyone you know.  You fast,
>still
>nothing.
>You begin to wonder how long this spiritual gloom will last.  It feels
>like
>your
>prayers bounce off the ceiling.  In utter desperation you cry out: "What's
>the matter
>with me?"
>Nothing!  This is a normal part of the maturing of our faith in God.  We
>all
>go through
>it!  It's painful, but absolutely vital to developing our faith.  God is
>always present,
>even when we are unaware of Him.  His presence is too profound to be
>measured by
>intellect or emotion.  He's more concerned that we trust Him, than that we
>feel Him.
>Faith, not feelings, is what pleases God.
>So what can you do when you're going through a time when God seems
>distant?
>Remind
>yourself that He is not, regardless of your feelings.  Focus on God's
>unchanging
>love for you.  Cling to His promises.
>During times of spiritual dryness, rely on God's Word, not your emotions.
>Realize
>that God is taking you to a deeper level of maturity.  Any friendship
>based
>on emotion
>is shallow indeed. So don't be troubled by trouble. God's grace is still
>in
>full
>force.  He's for you, even when you don't feel Him.