Letter 60

Dear Shay,

I have read your website and am very pleased to have found it. You and I seem to have a great many similar beliefs. However, I must admit I seem to have gone a bit astray lately. So finding your sight was an interesting, and enlightening, reminder to get on with my own spiritual life. I find that although others seem to think I am very strong, I eventually get very weak and discouraged. I've always helped people, genuinely loved people, listened and prayed for people, genuinely worked on my own spirituality, and tried to put into practice whatever I learn, but then so many horrible things happen that I more or less crumble (spiritually) and then eventually give up for awhile. I end up thinking everything is a hoax and that its just there to keep us miserable because no matter how much I try to do all of the above, it seems there is never any appreciation for it. People always take me the wrong way and whole heaps of trouble ensue. I often thought to myself I should just live as selfishly as others and not care about others at all. I often feel used and abused. I know at times it may have been my fault for running on empty, so to speak, but there have been many times when I had been in contact with Love/God and living very spiritually - so to speak. My question is: Why is this so? Does it happen to all people? Is it just me? Do I have a curse on me? I am an honest, sincere, caring person - and I'm often told that I have lots of empathy and compassion for others. I help them however I can, but people always seem to unload their problems on me and seek my advice. I really don't mind at all - I believe in helping others and keep trying to remind myself, eventually, something good will be returned. I guess my real question is: How can I stop this cycle of negativity that keeps coming back at me?

The negativity you’re talking about is there so that we can grow. Let me illustrate.

Every night, I pray to the Lord to increase my faith. EVERY NIGHT. So, inevitably, during the next day and throughout the week I experience things that tear away at my faith. And, similar to weightlifting, my old faith is torn away a little so that my new faith can grow to be even stronger than it was before. What you’re experiencing is a similar thing.

Every day, we go through so many trials, so many hardships, that on some days we wonder if there really is a point to it all or if there is a God. And then, something happens, whether it be through our own workings or through someone else’s, and God comes out and smacks us across the face with His Love and says, "HERE I AM!", and we have no choice but to acknowledge the reality of His existence.

So, in your situation, I think the best thing to do is remember a few things when you feel "weak and discouraged". Write these down on a piece of paper and keep them with you if you must. Here they are:

- God will always Love you. No matter what other people do and say, He has a special place in His heart for you and a room in His home.

- Love beats all. No matter how much negativity some might throw at you, if you fire back with Love and compassion, you will come out victorious.

- There’s always a tomorrow. No matter how bad today went, there will be a tomorrow and it will be wonderful, purely because you will get to spend another day improving yourself and becoming closer to God.

Remember to pray every day and keep the Lord in your heart. He is always there for you, just as you are always there for Him. It’s a partnership…don’t forget that!

May the Love of Jesus be with you always!

Love, Shay