One of the most dark and devastating times of my life occurred many years before I ever began to write publicly. As my world was collapsing around me I turned to God for peace. I knew the formula…. difficulties plus prayer equals peace. I had experimented upon His word many times and found it to work. This time, however, in my deepest need I felt utterly alone.

Where art Thou?? This was my cry and it was being unheard, or so it seemed. There was no peace and days passed in turmoil. I did those things that I had learned in the past… those things that many of my guest bloggers are mentioning…. nothing. But then…. peace came and it came as never before. I was filled with the Love of God with such power and such peace. My difficulty continued for some time but I faced it now in the strength of my Lord.

It was in the waiting that I grew and the power that eventually came strengthened me not just for the moment, but all of these years into the future. Because of the waiting it was undeniable. So real.

A few days ago I reread several blog entries from 2014. I was sharing our cancer difficulties but along with it I am was full of the testimony of my Savior. Then, as now, I want everyone to know the source of my peace and my strength. Then, as now, I want everyone to experiment (we all have unique, individualized relationships) and find room in their life for God. I have now learned SO MUCH from reading what efforts several of my friends have made to include the Lord, as well as knowing that they often have to wait for help to come. Difficulties are where I am most likely to find Him and thus I can understand His charge to be grateful in ALL things. Emily Freeman says, “God will heal you heart, enlarge your capacity, and transform you into the person He knows you can become.”

Keep Him on your team!

Here are the final responses to my two questions from men and women from coast to coast and of all ages (see previous posts):

1. I’ve always felt God’s love. It is always there without question. Some prayers have not been answered in the manner I had hoped or as timely as I would have liked but I trust that His infinite wisdom exceeds my own.
2. I don’t think I’ve ever waited to feel God’s love. And answers to prayers I haven’t ever worried about waiting. I’m pretty confident in timing and there are little answers along the way. Like I’m not instantly cured, but I just change what I pray for. Don’t pray for cancer to go away, pray to not throw up ’til you get to the bucket.
3. Yes, I have felt there was not answer to my prayer quite often, not all the time, but yes. I see it as I need to learn from the experience. I need to use all of my tools to figure it out on my own so that I can learn. I think of an example of a child wanting to open the door. The parent can lift the child up to open the door, they can open the door for the child, or they can show the child how to open the door and let the child figure out how to get tall enough to open it themselves, or the parent can do nothing. Sometimes I have to figure it out my own way. I know He is with me, supporting me and won’t let me fall, but when I figure it out it is a huge light bulb moment and I feel like I accomplished something. it is not like something just got fixed or figured out.
4. Yes, I feel like I wait for God to answer prayers
5. Yes, I have had to wait for an answer to prayer.
6. I often hear answers to prayer right away, sometimes during my prayer. However, I have close family members who really don’t feel anything. They are faithful but they don’t have those warm feelings.
7. I pray expecting that Heavenly Father will give me the best outcome. I try to be specific and when I don’t get an answer it is one of those things when I have to look at it a little differently and think, “What do I need to do?” I try to open it up for the Lord and not be stuck in my answer, or what I want. Sometimes I ask God to guide my thoughts. My heart goes out to individuals who feel that God is not there. Even when I struggle with an answer I feel God’s love, I see His love all around us in the blessings we receive, even when things get hard. Especially when it is hard. When it is hard I can hear His voice saying, “Son, I know that it is hard, but you can do this.” You just go forward with faith.
8. I once felt that I was totally and completely abandoned by the Lord and yet I went to the Lord to ask for help because I was feeling totally and completely abandoned by the Lord. The answer to that desperate and wrenching prayer came very quickly, but I felt like the Lord was waiting for my desperation so that he could prove that He was there and supporting me and I needed to recognize His support. He allowed me to go through that vail of tears. Looking back I see that I was not abandoned but I was not seeing Him. There have been a lot of times that the Lord put off giving me answers and I often
9. In my experience the waiting in an essential part of the Lord’s process. If we truly believe God is all-knowing, then He also knows exactly when we are prepared to receive a specific answer or blessing. Patience often runs counter to the natural man, but it offers perspective as we work through trials, uncertainty, and unmet expectations. When we exercise faith and “lean not unto our own understanding,” we show our discipleship. Our faith grows as we consistently look for His hand in our lives — especially when His answers don’t come in ways or at times we didn’t expect.

Wow! I read #8 a couple times. Very nice. And now for a few more ways to learn to feel closer to God:

1. Work on your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Just like you work on any relationship. When you are feeling alienated or alone, count your blessings, reflect on the tender mercies in your life. Learn to listen with your heart and act on promptings – this build the relationship.
2. Go for a walk – to be away from the house and my usual concerns, because I am so visual. I have to change what I’m seeing and experiencing to change my thoughts. Also to be in God’s creations while I’m trying to connect with Him, is humbling and out of reach at the same time.
3. To be closer to God I serve others. It He was here that’s what he would do, but He’s not here so he has to use me to help other people.
4. Gratitude and prayer – read scriptures – listen to songs about God and Christ.
5. I strive to be in constant alignment with God’s will for me. This is a personal and intentional effort, supported by prayer, scripture study, and regular church attendance. But alignment with His will goes beyond spiritual habits – it requires sincere devotion in the way we live and the way we treat others. How we speak to family members, interact with friends and coworkers, and show kindness to strangers reflects our commitment to the Savior’s two great commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor. It is through these daily acts of love that I feel closest to the Spirit.
6. I try to not feel alone when I am not getting answers. I just try to work hard and not give up. Just keep going when I don’t want to. I have to remember my faith and just keep moving forward. it sound simple but it can be pretty hard, but I do it. I keep doing it!
7. What helps me to be closer to God is my daily journaling of how I’ve seen God’s hand in my life through prayer, scripture study, protection in my daily routine, acting on first promptings and opportunities to serve others.
8. The first thing that came to my mind that I do to feel close to God is to pray to Him often. I also try to learn more of Him and try to act as I feel He would or how He would want me to act. As I try to do this I feel closer to Him.
9. I like to sing songs of praise. I’m only a fair singer but often the lyrics touch me to the core and reflect on a deep level the feelings and love I have for God and the love I feel from Him.
10. Honestly I try every day to pause and look around to see how much I’m grateful for everything around me. Specifically nature and the outdoors and where I live. I try to count a handful of blessings and be aware of them every day.
11. I have an app that chooses one scripture verse and one religious quote per day and sends them to me. I read and ponder that verse and quote. I also read additional scripture throughout the week and try to listen to a religious message every night before going to bed. I have also found several weekly religious podcasts that are faith affirming and inspiring that I listen to each week. All of these things help me be closer to God.
12. I strive to do the essentials… saying my prayers, communicating with Heavenly Father (though I could do better). Additional essentials are studying scriptures daily, fasting at least once a month and as needed, worship. Listening to good music – I am trying to do that more often. Strive to put my heart and mind in tune with the Lord.
13. Sing in a religious choir and listen to good music.
14. Go BOLDLY before the Lord. Be specific. Ask specifically to recognize the hand of the Lord in my life, His guidance for me. Good music – I often receive answers while hearing sacred music. Talk it out with someone close – the answer often appears.

Go boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16