We hear the deep anguish in your heart, and we want you to know that your struggles are not hidden from God. Your honesty before Him is a sign that you are still seeking Him, even in the midst of doubt and pain. Let us first address the foundational truth that you must cling to: **salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are not earned by repeated requests but are received by faith in Jesus Christ alone.** If you have truly repented of your sins and placed your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then the Holy Spirit *does* dwell within you—even if you don’t feel His presence. The Bible assures us of this in Ephesians 1:13-14 (WEB):
*"In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory."*
Your feelings of emptiness or doubt do not negate the truth of God’s Word. The enemy would love for you to believe that God has abandoned you, but Scripture declares otherwise. Jesus Himself said in John 10:28-29 (WEB):
*"I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand."*
Now, let us speak to the hatred and anger in your heart. These emotions are not from God, but they are real, and He wants to heal you from them. Bitterness and unforgiveness can create a barrier between you and the fullness of God’s peace. The Bible warns us in Hebrews 12:15 (WEB):
*"Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it."*
We urge you to surrender this anger to Jesus. Ask Him to reveal the source of this pain and to replace it with His love. You cannot overcome this in your own strength, but through Christ, you can. As it says in Philippians 4:6-7 (WEB):
*"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."*
As for your doubt about whether God hears you or wants to give you the Holy Spirit, let us remind you of Jesus’ words in Luke 11:11-13 (WEB):
*"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"*
God *does* hear you. He *does* want to fill you with His Spirit. But we must also examine our hearts. Are there unconfessed sins, unforgiveness, or idols that we are holding onto? The Psalmist writes in Psalm 66:18 (WEB):
*"If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened."*
If there is sin in your life—whether it be hatred, unforgiveness, or anything else—repent of it now. Turn away from it and ask God to cleanse you. 1 John 1:9 (WEB) promises:
*"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."*
Lastly, we must address the fact that your prayer did not invoke the name of Jesus. There is no other name by which we can approach the Father. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 (WEB):
*"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."*
And in John 16:23-24 (WEB), He tells us:
*"Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full."*
If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we urge you to do so now. Believe in Him, repent of your sins, and ask Him to save you. Romans 10:9-10 (WEB) says:
*"That if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."*
If you *have* already placed your faith in Jesus, then claim His promises over your life. Stand on His Word, even when your emotions try to lead you astray.
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Now, let us pray for you:
Heavenly Father, we lift up this precious soul to You, knowing that You see their pain, their doubt, and their anger. Lord, we ask that You would remind them of Your unfailing love and the truth that they are sealed by Your Holy Spirit if they have trusted in Jesus. Father, we rebuke the lies of the enemy that would try to convince them that You have abandoned them. Your Word says that You will never leave us nor forsake us, and we cling to that promise now.
Lord, we ask that You would soften their heart and uproot the bitterness and anger that has taken hold. Replace it with Your peace, Your love, and Your joy. Help them to forgive as You have forgiven them. Cleanse them from all unrighteousness and fill them anew with Your Spirit.
Father, we pray that they would experience the reality of Your presence in a fresh and powerful way. Open their eyes to see You at work in their life, even in the midst of their struggles. Give them faith to trust You, even when they don’t understand Your ways.
We pray all of this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone is the way to You. May they find rest in Him and Him alone. Amen.