I was told recently of someone who doesn't believe in God.
I have been pondering this alot in my gardening time.
I wonder...If I didn't believe, where would I find joy? Where would I find peace? Where would I find the value of beauty? Where would I find the answer to my longings? Why would I want to live? Would anything have real value? To only have temporary pleasures just looks so hopeless. Meaningless.When I think about it.
Where would I go when I have need of help or direction in parenting?
Where would I go when I find out my best friend has lymes disease and is suffering?
Where would I go when a relationship is broken?
Where would I go when I have fear, or anger, or condemnation?
Where would I go when I hurt?
Where would I go when I am being slandered or forgotten?
More importantly,
Where would I go when I am so joyful I could just burst and I need to praise?
Where would I go when I see something beautiful and I have a need to praise?
Where would I go when I listen to music that moves my heart, and I need to praise?
Where would I go if I didn't believe He was here. Near. Always. Ever Present.
In my pondering, I have come to the conclusion that everything outside of Him is useless, unfulfilling and empty. Void. Darkness.
He makes everything beautiful! He gives life! He is light! He is wisdom! He is protection! He is provider! He is comforter! He is healer! He is a constant companion...
Peace, Power, Protection, Provider Passionate, Present always... What would I do if i didn't believe in God? I think I might have shriveled up. Praise God and believe Him! He loves you! Oh how He loves you!
10 comments:
Amen and AMEN! I pray for all who do not know our Lord, for I cannot imagine life without that relationship.
I have to make a comment here from the point of view of my old self, an atheist, and not my new self, a Catholic. The feelings you ascribe to an atheist are not generally those I have encountered or the ones I had for 50+ years. I was chronically happy and incurably optimistic. Now, God *was* with me all those years. I think that is something that neither believers nor atheists understand, but in retrospect I see that was true. (God did love the prodigal son.) Probably that happiness is what kept me from searching for God because I never felt the need for divine support (and yet, I had not only divine support but divine intervention that I did not recognize for years). Actually, God just bonked me on the head one day -- guess He got tired of waiting for me to recognize the source of my happiness and decided to make it all clear to me.
You are right in that there *is* a difference although it is not quite as easily defined. It is more of an inner peace and a sense of immense security. It makes happiness three-dimensional as opposed to what it was for me: two dimensional. (I never thought about any "interior castles" before.)
I hope that makes sense. It's hard to explain sometimes to someone who has not been an atheist.
This reminds me of the time Jesus asked Peter if he was going to leave also when many who followed Him turned and walked away. Peter answered...to whom would we go? I can't imagine life without Jesus. I was thinking of that this morning. This post flowed like beautiful poetry. Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog. B
I've often wondered this too, Kathy. What would be the point of all of this (life) if I didn't have Jesus?! So thankful we have Him to go to and to praise!
Kathy, I honestly don't know what people without the Lord do...in good times or bad. I can't imagine life without Him.
He is my all in all,
Joy
Kathy, I love the questions you posed, they really make me think and put things in perspective. Faith truly is a beautiful thing!! Blessings, Jill
I liked what you wrote. It made me think over few things.
Good questions. They are orienting. Very helpful. I don't know what I would do without faith. It affects every part of life. Thanks for this post.
Kathy,
It's great to stop by and read one of your posts. :)
I don't know what I'd do without God in my life. I am so thankful for the peace that my faith gives me.
Genny
First time to blog! ;-) What a great post. I often have wondered the same thing too - what a thin, meaningless existance - it is a sad state to be in.
Rachel
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