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Feeling Distant But, now I can boast in my weakness by Wilma Ditterline For the past few months I have felt so distant from God. Have you ever felt this way? Not only have I been suffering from writer's block, but I've been suffering from something I call "God-Block." It seemed like no matter how much I wanted to hear his voice or how hard I listened, I was completely blocked from the sound of comfort. My thoughts were "Why now? I'm completely stressed out trying to complete my classes in graduate school. I'm working. I'm getting ready for a big move from Tennessee to Colorado and You choose NOW. Why Lord?" Why would God have chosen now to send me through a drought in my life? But, it seems as though I'm not the first to have these feelings. Even in Psalm 102 you see the writer crying out to God, saying, "Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." (Psalm 102:1-2, NIV). I have to say that I was upset and confused not knowing what the outcome would be (as I am a very impatient person at times!). I was in distress and felt as though God was ignoring my cry for help and comfort. But I realized this week that He simply wanted my trust and patience. He was teaching me how to rely on Him (again) and actually lean on Him for comfort (not just beg for it). Sometimes we are sent through these seasons in our lives to learn to listen and to be okay with silence. This is a time of preparation, and no matter how painful it may be we must remember that our Lord is in control and He will not forsake us. What a realization that we have a God big enough to handle our cares and our troubles. How amazing is that?! I've learned that it's okay to not always be on the mountain top. We must learn to walk through the valley with our head held high and take this as an opportunity to learn to appreciate our mountain top times. So as Paul did, we must learn to be content even in our weaknesses, whether we have much or little (2 Corinthians 12:9a). As with Paul, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9b, NIV). Paul was a trusting man, and I only hope that I can learn to do the same, to truly be content with my shortcomings, my downfalls, my weaknesses, and allow God to be my strength and His glory to be shown through my reliance on Him.