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D1stRU3T0R t1_j1jyfw9 wrote

Pastor, even tho I'm kind of good with almost everything, I lost almost all my source of happiness, and this Christmas ain't helping with anything else. Even if God helped me on all my journey, thru university (finishing rn), health and rational thinking, love, etc, I feel like I'm losing everything slowly.

Grades are still good, only thing I want to keep going to escape already, but regarding my willingness, health, loveness, almost everything going down since my last broke up, and I don't know what to do to really escape from this. I feel like I'm waiting, waiting but I don't know for what I'm waiting honestly, and I feel how my time is wasted for no reason, which as far as I remember is a sin.

By reading your AMA it made me feel a little bit happier, thank you for this, but you have any recommendations on how to get back on track again? Feeling like one missing piece, maybe love again, could fill in every other problem, but I cannot get back the missing love that I lost. Any pray or help, recommendation?

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revanon OP t1_j1kalje wrote

I am genuinely grateful and humbled that this AMA has had a happy impact for you, and believe me, I empathize with feeling as though you're missing the mark or a piece this year.

One Scriptural teaching that has made a huge difference to me this year is Jesus's teaching that sometimes the right hand must be cut off to save the entire body. Prior to my burnout, I saw that as, to use John's language, a hard teaching and one I continually struggled to accept. It took jettisoning congregational ministry in order to preserve the rest of my faith to understand the meaning and importance of that teaching. Which is not to say that the loss is any easier, but I can better understand why it had to happen that way. A loss so integral to who you are, such as of love or vocation, is like losing your right hand and it is deeply, profoundly painful. But Jesus is saying that amid the pain, life is saved--possibly for whatever God has in store next. I know that doesn't take away the pain, but I've learned that I am still capable of getting back on track despite the pain. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability here--I see it and appreciate it.

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Queso_Hygge t1_j1ko869 wrote

My brother and I had to make the really hard decision not to join our family for Christmas services when we came home this year. This message is really encouraging, as tough as that experience has been. For certain reasons, we just knew it wouldn't be healthy to go back in there.

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revanon OP t1_j1ktfj2 wrote

I can definitely empathize with your reasons and hope that it means you are more present, healthy, and whole for your family for the rest of your Christmas visit with them this year, and just in general headed into 2023.

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