NACR Daily Meditation for Thursday, Jan 23, 2003

23 Jan 2003 08:00:01 -0000

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NACR Daily Meditation for Thursday, Jan 23, 2003

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How long, O Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Or cry out
to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look
at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before
me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Habakkuk 1:2-3,13

Where were you God? Where were you when I needed you? Didn't you see the
violence? The abuse? The injustice? Didn't you care? There are times in
recovery when we are full of questions about God. The pain of past trauma
can be intensified when we begin to struggle with these hard questions about
God.

It is important to acknowledge that these questions about God are not academic
questions. No theoretical explanation of the problem of pain will soothe
our raging, confused hearts. These are urgent, personal questions about
God and about God's involvement in our lives. We want to know that God sees
and cares and intervenes in our lives. We need God. We need God's love. We
need God's help.

It is an important source of encouragement to know that we are not the first
to ask these hard questions. There is clear biblical precedent for asking
difficult questions about God. People of faith have always struggled with
questions like these. We can take comfort and courage from knowing that
the prophets also asked urgent questions similar to our own. 

God, I am afraid.
I don't understand.
Violence and abuse happen and you do not stop it.
You seem absent.
You seem uncaring.
I need to know that you see and care.
I am calling to you for help, God.
Please hear me.
Please respond.
Amen.

Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan 

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ROOTED IN GOD'S LOVE (the book from which these meditations are taken, is back in print! To order call our office at 714-529-6227 ext 111 or order online at

http://www.nacronline.com/dox/store/dox/nacrbooks.htm

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Meditations from previous days can be viewed at:  

http://two.pairlist.net/pipermail/nacrmed/

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Plan now to join us at STEPS 2003, a national conference for Christians in recovery jointly sponsored by the NACR and Overcomers Outreach. It will be held June 26-28, 2003 in Southern California. Plenary speakers are Steve Arterburn, David Stoop, Rich Buhler, Sandra Wilson, Mark Laaser and Ann Kiemel Anderson. Over 45 workshops. Support groups. Specialized gatherings. And lots of fellowship and support for your recovery. Details as they become available and online registration will be at:

 http://www.nacronline.com/dox/steps2003.htm

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