Spiritual Direction: What To Read When You Feel Down?

Have you ever felt down on your luck?

Have you ever complained about things?

Have you ever been mad at someone because of something they did or did not do?

Well, you would not be the first person to have felt like this nor the last person who felt like this. The problem is that we do actually feel like this. 

What happens when we start blaming someone else for our own problems?  Does this really work?  What happens if we begin to blame God, Himself for our own shortcomings.

All you have to do is read this very short passage from the Book of Numbers to see how this all adds up. 

Numbers 21: 4-9

  They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the

Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew

impatient on the way; they spoke against God and

against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up

out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no

bread! There is no water! And we detest this

miserable food!”

Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them;

they bit the people and many Israelites died. The

people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we

spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the

LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses

prayed for the people.

The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up

on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a

pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and

looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

The people grew impatient, imagine that.  Can one really realize that there is a difference between God’s time (eternal) and our time (man-made- temporal).  We want things to happen like four days ago- instantly in fact if not before. We always order our products in a rush order. We tend to drive too fast in our cars and rush around only to get to a place too early and sit down. What is wrong with this picture?

Instead of being stratified with what we have, we want more, more, more, and more things. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no

bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

If we get free food, instead of thanking God, they complain.  Today are we not doing the exact same thing?  If something is given to us, we should thank the person.  If God gives us a talent, use it.  Do not curse God and wish for another talent.  Use the one you have.  Just do it!

Moses was a wise ruler, the type people would listen to.  In an era that would have you believe in politicians as being good and the government will take care of you don't forget God.  God is the most important person in your life.  Just like the Trinity has three so should your marriage-God, you, and your spouse. We may not all have snakes (physically) yet brothers and sisters, they are out there.  We may have taken our eyes away from God, but today you can look into Moses' eyes and see the passion of his faith burning just like the burning bush.  Brother and sisters do not turn your eyes away from Moses as he leads us to the promised land.  We are here and ready to follow God. Amen