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Where IS Jesus? Right now? ???
I have been a Christian since I was 17.I was baptized at age 36 in March. Since that day, it's been like my mind and my family have been under spiritual attack. All of my life though, I have been very lonely. Gone through lots of different kinds of abuse, forgotten and abandoned by a lot of people, never had any real friends. I have always depended on God to get me through the hard times. Hard times have, in fact, drawn me closer to God--which, I suspect, is partially why I have gone through those hard times.
I have heard that I "don't need anyone else"--that I "need Jesus". Which I agree with. In Jesus & the Lord are everything I need. But sometimes, I need God with skin on. Sometimes I need a friend. Sometimes I need someone in person to talk to.
Now, I talk to God all throughout the day. Not just on Sundays in church. I spend time in worship with Him all day long. I talk to Jesus like he's my friend.
But where IS he?
Is he beside me? I don't feel him. Is he up in heaven? Is he wandering around the earth? Is he really listening to my prayers, which rarely ever seem to be answered? Is he really helping me when I ask him to? I've been praying for a friend, for him to heal my broken heart, for years and years. I do my part-- I do everything I can think of. I do my best to follow his will--when I can figure out what that is. I try to always do the right thing-when I can figure out what that is.
It just doesn't seem like he is hearing me. Where is Jesus at? Is he really beside me? And if he is, how can he be beside every believer all of the time?
There are promises in the Bible, like in Isaiah, about giving us double for our former shame, giving us a hundredfold reward, things like that-- but are those promises meant for ME, too? Or were they just for the people of long ago, for God's chosen people? Are God's promises really meant for Michelle, in 2009?
Please, I need to know.
I'm sorry for going on so long.
Thank you so much.

I'm glad that you have made this post because these are all answers that people must have, not just in words but in their heart.

We are told in scripture that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God. Mar 16:19, Luk 22:69

With that said we must also understand that Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God but He is also God Himself (1Jn 5:7) and we also know that God is all powerful and is capable of being everywhere all at the same time. Unlike what many Charismatic teachers may say God's presence with us is not always about "feeling Him". Jesus promised us that He would never leave us, that He would be with us always. God does not lie. He is there even when we in our weak, human nature cannot feel His being there.


God's promises for His children are for all of his children. Yes, there are some that are for the nation of Israel, there were some that are for just certain individuals. Sometimes it take a considerable amount of study to determine just who God is speaking to and when but we can be assured that when He makes a promise to all His children it is for all of us.

Thank you Pastor Roger.

I am still kind of confused though (big surprise... I'm often confused.) ::)

Will I, too, have double recompense for my former shame?
Will I reap a harvest for the seeds I am sowing?
Are MY tears in a bottle, too?
If I trust in the Lord, will He give me the secret desires of my heart, too?
Does God know how my I am hurting and does He care about ME, even though I'm really a nobody that no one else cares about?
Is Jesus MY friend?

Many of these questions are ones that only God can answer for certainty but I will attempt to answer them the best I can with His word.


Will I, too, have double recompense for my former shame?

Here you are referencing Isaiah 61. This is a promise to Israel that is to be given to them after the return of Christ.


Will I reap a harvest for the seeds I am sowing?

We indeed may do the sowing but the harvest is His and His alone.

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

If you are asking about rewards then yes indeed we will be given rewards according to His mercy and grace. An example of this are crowns that are mentioned. There is the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, the crown of glory just to mention three. These are not given because of works but rather because of what is in our hearts and because of the wondrous and beautiful grace of God.


Are MY tears in a bottle, too?

Those tears may be in a bottle now but when that wonderful day comes He will wipe away those tears forever. They will be no more.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

What a beautiful, wonderful day that will be! Praise God for His wondrous mercies.


If I trust in the Lord, will He give me the secret desires of my heart, too?

This all depends on Him and what your secret desires are. (I am not asking you to share those desires with us, after all they wouldn't be secret anymore then.)  ;)  We are told in scripture that if we ask for the wrong things or for the wrong reasons then we will not receive what we ask for. I am sure that there are other reasons that we may not receive what we ask for and those reasons may not be known to us but are for our good as God will do that which is best for us.


 
Does God know how my I am hurting and does He care about ME, even though I'm really a nobody that no one else cares about?

You are definitely not a nobody. God knows your heart better than even you yourself know it. He knows when you are hurting, He knows what you are thinking and why. Let me give you some scripture that says it better than I can.

Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.


Is Jesus MY friend?

Jesus is the best friend that anyone can ever have. If you indeed have accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour then you have have accepted Him as your friend and Jesus will not turn away anyone that has come to Him in earnest.

Thank you Pastor.

I am just so lonely. My husband and I talked about this for a while tonight. He has to work all the time, and I work alone. We only get to see each other on weekends.


Mostly I am looking for hope. I want hope that in spite of all the abuse I went through, in spite of all the rejection and abandonment I have been through, that my life CAN be good again someday.
That there can be hope and good things in MY life too... that I can have something to look forward to.
I just get tired sometimes of this constant mental battle, the fears and loneliness and ache in my heart that is still there, despite giving my heart to the Lord, & being baptized, & reading the Word, etc.

I just am looking for some hope that things will get better.

You are always most welcome here for some great fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. Such fellowship is always a comfort.

There is no promise that things here on earth will get any better. In fact we are told that we will face many trials and tribulations. We do have a much better hope though that, in God's time, that we have the promise of a much better hope. A time when there will be no more sadness, no sorrow, no loneliness, no need for tears. It is this hope, this promise, that we have to look forward to and that makes all that we may go through here in this world to be all the more worthwhile.

I want to assure you that you are not alone in your earthly troubles. We all have had our difficulties in this life and I am sure that there will be more. We can be happy though in our knowledge that we are God's children, that He is with us and does care for us, that we are able to look forward to eternity in happiness with Him.

Beautiful Thread! - AMEN AND AMEN!

First, it wouldn't be FAITH if all of our HOPES are seen right in front of us. I do understand GOD'S Requirement for FAITH and LOVE because WE WANT TO. On the other side of the coin, I also understand proper Reverence and Fear, but our FAITH an HOPE aren't based on this.

I really don't want the opportunities of a "Doubting Thomas" because we've had 2,000 years to look at tons of evidence - ALL pointing to the central focal point of history - JESUS CHRIST and the CROSS! The MOST written about in HISTORY is real, was crucified, did die, and did arise from the dead on the third day. There were huge numbers of witnesses of many events, and just GOD'S WORD is an overwhelming case of TRUTH and more TRUTH- ALL TRUTH. There is a literal CLOUD OF WITNESSES who have testified of the TRUTH, and we ourselves testify of the TRUTH. We didn't have to count on science because GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT lives within us, and we can have a personal relationship with CHRIST. This doesn't hint that we understand all of HIS ways, but we KNOW, and it makes us happy that we KNOW.

Love In Christ,
Tom

P.S. A lifetime is just time for a beginning exploration of HIS LOVE. In terms of REALITY, HE is the ultimate REALITY. We fail and all men fail, but we learn that HE never fails. I'm not talking about cheap science tricks, and I'm certainly not talking about signs and wonders that some seem to need. I'm talking about a personal relationship with CHRIST that is far better. This is where those who mock will laugh, and that's sad.

Revelation 21:23-25 NASB  23  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.  24  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.  25  In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;

When Jesus left this Earth He promised to send the Holy Spirit to comfort us.  So God is doing what He's doing in our lives through the One we know as the Holy Spirit (not that it really makes a difference because the Spirit is also God).  Your prayers are never unanswered.  When you pray to the Heavenly Father (as Jesus instructed us to do) He will answer in His time, in His way and in a way you will understand.  It really doesn't matter either if God (Jesus) is riding in your shirt pocket or is sitting on His throne.  He hears and sees you and will do whatever His covenant with us allows Him to do.  I don't believe Jesus is just "sitting at the right hand of God".  The Bible teaches us the Jesus said He was going to prepare a place (in eternity) for us.  Because He is God He can be everywhere at once and this is simply something we don't understand.  But I don't recall any Scripture telling us we are to understand God.  As a matter of fact the Bible tells us "His ways are not our ways".  Don't make the mistake of trying to understand God or our relationship with Him in human terms.

AMEN CHAPLAIN BOB!

Brother, it's great to hear from you, and I really enjoyed your post. It is more than sufficient for us to simply wonder about the MIGHT, MAJESTY, AND SPLENDOR OF ALMIGHTY GOD! This is far beyond human imagination.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 5:1-21  Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;  2  through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  3  And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;  4  and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:  5  and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.  6  For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.  7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.  8  But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him.  10  For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;  11  and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  12  Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned: -  13  for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.  15  But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.  16  And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification.  17  For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.  18  So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.  19  For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.  20  And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:  21  that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.