Asperger's and relationship with God

[Olivia Rose Marie]

So, I have a tentative dx of Asperger's and many, many, many of the traits I can see from when I was a little girl. Always socially awkward, a loner, very high intellect, hard to have and keep friends, etc. I "know" that God exists, that He loves me, that Christ died for my sins - but I have a difficult time sharing my faith with others and, also, feeling like I have interaction with God. My prayer life is stilted - I love Christian Contemporary music (sing very loudly in the car) but I have a hard time sharing someone else's enthusiasm about their relationship with Him. Am I struggling with the Asperger's? Or, is this really a spiritual problem? I feel like I'm in a world all of my own and there's no connection to anything outside of that.

Does anyone get what I'm saying? Or am I looking in the wrong direction?

 

[SeventyOne]

I have aspergers and I've actually found it to be a plus. I'm the type of guy who as a kid would watch Mr. Spock on TV and wonder why others considered him odd. He seemed perfectly normal to me. I find I don't get emotional ties with teachers or preachers, so I can examine what they say objectively, without placing them on some sort of pedestal.

I don't worry about 'feeling' anything when I pray. I'm just open and honest. I talk about things I've learned, things I'm unsure of or just don't understand at all. Really anything that comes to mind. Then I move on because I know He hears me, no matter what I'm feeling.

 

[Olivia Rose Marie]

I have aspergers and I've actually found it to be a plus. I'm the type of guy who as a kid would watch Mr. Spock on TV and wonder why others considered him odd. He seemed perfectly normal to me. I find I don't get emotional ties with teachers or preachers, so I can examine what they say objectively, without placing them on some sort of pedestal.

I don't worry about 'feeling' anything when I pray. I'm just open and honest. I talk about things I've learned, things I'm unsure of or just don't understand at all. Really anything that comes to mind. Then I move on because I know He hears me, no matter what I'm feeling.

I guess I get caught up with the "feelings" because of the people with whom I worked when I taught in Lutheran schools. They would get emotional and choked up when they talked about their faith and/or prayed - I couldn't get it and thought it had something to do with my faith walk or lack thereof.
I see you attend Calvary Chapel - I watch several of the speakers on a Roku channel. I think I spend more time there than I actually do in church. How do you manage all the stimuli in the worship setting?

 

[SeventyOne]

I guess I get caught up with the "feelings" because of the people with whom I worked when I taught in Lutheran schools. They would get emotional and choked up when they talked about their faith and/or prayed - I couldn't get it and thought it had something to do with my faith walk or lack thereof.
I see you attend Calvary Chapel - I watch several of the speakers on a Roku channel. I think I spend more time there than I actually do in church. How do you manage all the stimuli in the worship setting?

I moved away from my church a couple years ago, but he live streams on Facebook 3 times a week, so I can tune in when I'm able. If not, he also has an app I have on my phone.

As far as those getting all emotional and choked up, those of us with aspergers aren't exactly known for our flowing emotions. I've just learned to accept that I typically will stay non-emotional in otherwise emotional settings. It's not a result as a lack of faith or love, rather just a sign of our condition. We have our own walk with the Lord. He knows exactly how He made us and how we express ourselves towards Him. I'm fairly certain He's not expecting us to be like other people in that regard.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

Same.

The best thing you can do in prayer is be open and honest with the Lord and have faith that He hears you and will respond, maybe not immediately, but in due time.