God

[Little Brother]

I can honestly say that I have believed in God all of my life.Through the hard times and good but having faith doesn't help me with anything.Sometimes I honestly believe that God has put me here to suffer.How can I have faith in something like that?What does that say about me?What have I done to hate this life so much and why have I been sentenced to this?I don't want to be here and faith doesn't help me.

[vincejohn]

The creation of God is here for God to see who loves him. This is a test, the end result of your life will be judged by God. The final kingdom as proclaimed by Holy Jesus is far greater and more beautiful than any of us can imagine. Do not lose faith and fight sin everyday. Show God you care and are struggling ..He knows you and your sufferings. The Holy Spirit is real and exists. the word came and was manifest. This is a great battle which all of us fight but remember you are not alone and Holy Father Jesus Yeshua is with us. Count your blessings my friend and brother sister and all here. Vince.

[Little Brother]

Thats possibly some of the best advice I've ever heard.

[ritawal]

I can honestly say that I have believed in God all of my life.Through the hard times and good but having faith doesn't help me with anything.Sometimes I honestly believe that God has put me here to suffer.How can I have faith in something like that?What does that say about me?What have I done to hate this life so much and why have I been sentenced to this?I don't want to be here and faith doesn't help me.
bless your heart. constant suffering can take a toll on anyone. i have been through alot these last five years. recently, back in october, i went to the hospital for a minor surgery, i ended up waking up out of a comma in intensive care. i spent 5 weeks in the hospital. i'm still recovering and 3 weeks ago, my husband lost his job. 3 years ago, my husband was having stomach problems. the surgeon removed 9 inches of his colon. the severe pain continued. after some months of him being back and forth to the hospital, the problem was finally found. it was some nerves from his back that cause the pain that felt like it was from his stomach. removing 9 inches of his colon was all for nothing. in the process of all this, our credit cards were maxed out and we have a slew of doctor bills. when all this was happening to him, my blood pressure went through the roof. much has happened even before all this. i was in a church for over 20 years. full of false doctrines. as the lord showed me. we're not homeless in all that have happened, nor hungry. none of our utilities have ever been cut off and my husband and i are both alive. my walk with God has become very close now days. when dealing with the false doctrines of men for as long as i have, God's ways gets very distorted. even though we have had some bad times, keep this in mind, there's always someone doing worsier. keep the faith and take out some time daily just for him. make getting to know him your main goal. even though times are hard, there's much to learn about him in these constant storms.

[c1ners]

I think that we learn from our suffering. I've not had an easy life by far, but I don't think that it is a punishment from God, rather a blessing. If everything came easy I wouldn't be the person I am today. Through my suffering I have learned to be a kind, loving, compassionate person. (Even though I did call VinceJohn a false prophet. Sorry, I was having a bad day). It doesn't mean God loves us any less than the person who doesn't seem to go through difficulties. Lean on him right now. Let God be your strength when you don't feel you have the strength to go on. He will get you through it. No, things may not get better, but he'll get you through it. And you'll be stronger in the long run. :hug:

[vincejohn]

Its not easy even if you receive the Holy Spirit and have visions of God. I am going through a most horrendus time these past few weeks and have sinned repeatedly to my disgust of myself. Im at the point where I feel ashamed to tell myself the blood of Jesus cleanses me. But i say it .....I recieved bad news a couple of weeks ago an insurance company asking us to give them 36000.00 dollars. This was a wicked thing to do on their part, I slipped into drinking more than I should have to try and forget and then I flirted with women....I hate myself and I hate them.....

[c1ners]

Its not easy even if you receive the Holy Spirit and have visions of God. I am going through a most horrendus time these past few weeks and have sinned repeatedly to my disgust of myself. Im at the point where I feel ashamed to tell myself the blood of Jesus cleanses me. But i say it .....I recieved bad news a couple of weeks ago an insurance company asking us to give them 36000.00 dollars. This was a wicked thing to do on their part, I slipped into drinking more than I should have to try and forget and then I flirted with women....I hate myself and I hate them.....

Ouch, that's an awful lot of money. I will most assurdly keep you in my prayers.

Please don't beat yourself up over being human. We all slip, it doesn't mean we're bad, or going to hell, only human. I do hope though that you meant you hate the insurance company, and not women. That part confused me a little.

[vincejohn]

The insurance company ,thanks for your prayers.

[JonF]

.Through the hard times and good but having faith doesn't help me with anything.Sometimes I honestly believe that God has put me here to suffer.How can I have faith in something like that?
One of the bigger lies that is presented by most of Christianity is that God somehow cause suffering. God allows suffering, there is a major difference between the two. Here are some reasons why God allows suffering (I don’t have a bible on me right now so these will be lacking scriptural reference).

1. It refines our faith.
2. It refines our character.
3. It helps us evangelize.
4. It helps us minister and relate to our fellow Christians.
5. It can glorify God (depending on how we handle it)
6. The world is fallen.

I think 6 is probably the biggest cause of suffering in the world. The story of creation (jon version) goes a little something like this. In the beginning, God created the world. God gave us protection from basically all harm: death, decay, loneliness, pain, etc. Then the human race as a whole, in all its wisdom decided to tell God thanks but no thanks and rebel against him. So a piece of fruit later we live in a world that is fallen to sin. Think about what it means to live in a world fallen to sin, it is essentially a world where God’s will isn’t absolute (in the sense that it is not always carried out), and hence we aren’t under God’s absolute protection from everything. Does this mean God couldn’t protect us? Of course not. Does it mean he often protects us anyways? Of course. But what it also means is that bad things happen to good people for no real reason because that is what the human race as a whole basically asked for.

[jingwei]

Snake, GOd doesn't make you suffer, people make you suffer because there is a lot of bad people lately.

However God does test us, and refines us into steel.

[Little Brother]

I'm just tired of the tests and not understanding.I don't get it.I never did anything terrible.I feel like I don't deserve it but maybe I do.

[Super Gnat]

If you're suffering, and there's no obvious reason why, it may be that God is preparing you for something great. There are many examples of this in Scripture; I'll list a few of them below.

Remember the story of Joseph. His own brothers sold him into slavery in a far away land. He rose to become second-in-charge of his master's household, but when his master's wife made a pass at him and then lied about it, Joseph was the one who went to jail. But God was preparing Joseph. Joseph was in the right place to interpret the Pharoah's dream, and eventually rose to become the Pharoah's right hand man. When famine came to the land, he had stored up enough grain to feed the Egyptians and anyone who came to buy some, and was able to save his entire family from starvation.

Remember Moses. He was raised in the lap of luxury, but when he killed to protect one of his people, he had to go live in the desert for forty years herding sheep. But God was shaping him to become His greatest prophet and to lead his people out of Egypt.

Remember Ruth and Naomi. Naomi's family moved to a faraway land, where both her husband and her two sons ended up dying. When she and her daughter-in-law Ruth came back to Israel, they were so poor that they had to scoop up the extra grain from fields being harvested in order to get enough to eat. But because Ruth remained faithful to God, the man who was to become her husband noticed her. She ended up marrying him, and through her came King David, and through him, Christ.

Remember David. He was anointed to be the new king of Israel, but he spent several years running away from Saul, the old, jealous king who wanted to kill him. At some of those times, it must've seemed like he would never live to inherit his kingdom. But God was faithful. David took the throne and ended up ruling for forty years.

Remember Job. Lots of bad things happened to him, and he didn't deserve any of it at all. But he remained faithful to God, and God restored to him more than he had lost.

Remember Jeremiah. He is called the weeping prophet, because he spent much of his life prophesying (sp?) the fall of Judah. When Judah finally was conquered and her people deported, he wrote Lamentations, one of the saddest poems in the Bible. He died seeing his nation shattered due to the sin of its people. And yet, due to his prophecy and their chastening, when the people came back after 70 years, they had a commitment to serving the Lord. Though he never saw the fulfillment of this, he was still instrumental in it.

Remember Jesus, of course. He took on our sins and died on the cross as a sacrifice for them. He was humiliated and hung on a tree to die accursed even though He was innocent. And yet through Him comes our hope and our salvation.

I know that you're suffering right now, and I know that it's hard. But you're going through it for a reason. You may see the reason for your suffering while you're on earth, as Joseph did; you may die without knowing why, as Jeremiah did. But we know that all things work together for the good of them who love God, and He will never put more on us than we can bear. Your suffering is not in vain. God is using you and will use you as a part of His perfect plan--a plan which will ultimately prosper you and all of God's people. He is teaching you to be dependent on Him and only Him. Let Him give you the hope you need to persevere.

I'm praying for you.

[Little Brother]

Thats a very terrifying yet honest approach to problems.I don't desire to be anything great, just human.I want to be happy for once and thats it.

[ritawal]

Thats a very terrifying yet honest approach to problems.I don't desire to be anything great, just human.I want to be happy for once and thats it.
i feel you on this.

[jingwei]

How bad does your day get? Can you say a little so I can understand problem? Maybe the same thign's hapening to a lot of us

[ChristianM0Mof2]

Its not easy even if you receive the Holy Spirit and have visions of God. I am going through a most horrendus time these past few weeks and have sinned repeatedly to my disgust of myself. Im at the point where I feel ashamed to tell myself the blood of Jesus cleanses me. But i say it .....I recieved bad news a couple of weeks ago an insurance company asking us to give them 36000.00 dollars. This was a wicked thing to do on their part, I slipped into drinking more than I should have to try and forget and then I flirted with women....I hate myself and I hate them.....
:hug: :hug: Praying for you! :crossrc: :crossrc: god bless

[Super Gnat]

Thats a very terrifying yet honest approach to problems.I don't desire to be anything great, just human.I want to be happy for once and thats it.Yeah, I know what you mean. I think you should talk to God about how you're feeling, and ask for His peace and His joy.

[lunalinda]

It's totally weird to read other people utter the same emotional pain that I feel. I wonder why that is? Totally weird indeed...

Here's hoping all of us who suffer will be delivered soon...

[vincejohn]

Jesus told us that to follow him will be tribulation in this world ..not the gospel of riches. But in the final Kingdom we will retain our souls and live forever with the Lord and his Father family while others will burn in hell.

[The Lord is my banner]

God is FOR you, He wants to BLESS you.
Hold on, don't give up. He is holding onto you.
God is good and he LOVES you.
He does NOT send pain upon His children.

We hurt because we are broken people, we live in a broken world, among other broken people, and we can only be continually made whole in Christ.
None of us is perfect in faith, and beating ourselves over the head because we think we ought to be is not going to help!

"Snake" I am praying you receive a great revelation of the truth of Jesus and His passion for lost and hurting people.
God doesn't call you snake. I wonder why you chose that name?
Ask Him.

I'm just peeping in during lunch, have to go.

Father God bless you - deeply and lavishly in His love, amen.

[Little Brother]

God is FOR you, He wants to BLESS you.
Hold on, don't give up. He is holding onto you.
God is good and he LOVES you.
He does NOT send pain upon His children.

We hurt because we are broken people, we live in a broken world, among other broken people, and we can only be continually made whole in Christ.
None of us is perfect in faith, and beating ourselves over the head because we think we ought to be is not going to help!

"Snake" I am praying you receive a great revelation of the truth of Jesus and His passion for lost and hurting people.
God doesn't call you snake. I wonder why you chose that name?
Ask Him.

I'm just peeping in during lunch, have to go.

Father God bless you - deeply and lavishly in His love, amen.




The reason why I chose "the snake" as my name is because I feel like I am ruining myself somehow and God isn't really looking out for me.I feel like the only reason I'm here is to cause some kind of problem that I don't understand the consequnces to and someone will get in trouble for it.Didn't ask to be here, don't want to be here and now I'm gonna suffer for it.Now I feel even worse....

[Little Brother]

Just wanted to add that I never felt more hopeful than since I joined this forum.Smartest thing I ever did.

[The Lord is my banner]

Just wanted to add that I never felt more hopeful than since I joined this forum.Smartest thing I ever did.

Welcome home little brother. It's going to be alright.
:wave:

[ChristianM0Mof2]

Just wanted to add that I never felt more hopeful than since I joined this forum.Smartest thing I ever did.
:hug: :hug: :hug: I am so happy you are here!! May God continue to bless you..:hug: :hug:

With love.. CMomof2

[ChristianM0Mof2]

The reason why I chose "the snake" as my name is because I feel like I am ruining myself somehow and God isn't really looking out for me.I feel like the only reason I'm here is to cause some kind of problem that I don't understand the consequnces to and someone will get in trouble for it.Didn't ask to be here, don't want to be here and now I'm gonna suffer for it.Now I feel even worse....
God will never ever think any less of you, no matter what the most horrible thing you have done!! He is always there for you.. by yourside.. God loves you, and your brothers and sisters love you too. We are all on the same side, and are here to catch another if we fall...
God bless, lil brother :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Super Gnat]

Just wanted to add that I never felt more hopeful than since I joined this forum.Smartest thing I ever did. :hug: I'm really glad to hear that.

Trust me, mate, no matter how you feel about it, God isn't going to do anything horrible or hurt you. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 19:11 is one of my favorite verses.

[vincejohn]

Brother that name does you no good, it lowers your self esteem , Im sure the moderators will assist in giving you a new name...you'll commence to be born again, the rainbows and living water of the Holy Spirit will dwell in you and shine from you. Bro Vince.

[Little Brother]

Why should I change my name?I don't feel any different really.Maybe I should....Any suggestions?I'm not good at these things...

[ritawal]

[quote]Why should I change my name?I don't feel any different really.Maybe I should....Any suggestions?I'm not good at these things...


feeling better don't happen overnight. it takes time. everyone gave alot of encouragement on this post. through time with good encouragement like this, you will start to feel awhole lot better. if there's people in your life right now that is discouraging, i suggest you draw away from them like i had to do at some point. most of them were my own family members. at this time, they refuse to except christ into their life. i know through time, the Lord can use me to witness to them but for the time being, i had to make a temporary decision to pull away from them. when you start to feel better, you'll change your name. :thumbsup:

[vincejohn]

call yourself brotherofYeshua........

[Little Brother]

I love my family no matter what.Its not them thats causing the problems.It's me.I just don't really know how to deal with my problems.I feel like killing myself all the time.God is either testing me or this is my purpose:to commit suicide.I don't want to, but how do I deal with life as it is?I've never had it easy, which is fine, but when am I going to be rewarded with having faith?I don't know if I care about the afterlife anymore.Why should I have faith in something that has ruined my life up tp this point?I just want it all to end.Who would really care?I know I wouldn't.Being forced to choose between this life and Hell, I would choose Hell.I have nothing, I am nothing.

[Little Brother]

I feel like I should give some insight as to why I feel the way I do.I have grown up without a father, and my mother was never been there when I needed her.She has her reasons and they are justified.I have always been a good friend and a good stranger.I have helped people when I could but everything has worked out against me.God must have a bone to pick with me or something.He's never been around when I've needed Him but I still feel this urge to worship Him.My faith is VERY shaken at this point and I am wondering why I should even bother worshipping Him.After all I've done for people I don't know, why should I have faith?I do.Its dwindling so very fast and to me it seems like He doesn't care.Now my faith is in question and He isn't there to help.I hate not believing but I fear it doesn't matter anymore.I could easily not believe and I would get the same rewards, nothing, but with faith it hurts so much more and no one seems to care what happens to me.I hate God's plan because it involves so much unnecessary pain.Why should I believe in something that is out to hurt me so much?

PS- I should add that I'm only 20.Shouldn't I be enjoying life?But how can I enjoy life when God is out to destroy mine?I don't believe that He is looking out for me.He took away my hope and ambition a long time ago.Why should He care now?I have nothing to live for.I have nothing to wake up in the morning for.I'm alone, as I always will be.I can deal with that.What I can't deal with is everyone around me getting everything they ever wanted for nothing.I have believed in God all my life.These people NEVER believed in God.Why should I think that God is there to save, when He has let me destroy myself, while rewarding those who don't believe for so long?He must have something against me or someting.My faith is dwindling so fast and He doesn't care.Whats one soul to Him?Nothing.So I guess my faith will be destroyed soon (most of it has).Back to the heathens I suppose.Those happy people have it so much better than me anyway.I hope I get a few minutes with God when I die.I have more than a few questions for Him.Forgive me....

[ritawal]

I feel like I should give some insight as to why I feel the way I do.I have grown up without a father, and my mother was never been there when I needed her.She has her reasons and they are justified.I have always been a good friend and a good stranger.I have helped people when I could but everything has worked out against me.God must have a bone to pick with me or something.He's never been around when I've needed Him but I still feel this urge to worship Him.My faith is VERY shaken at this point and I am wondering why I should even bother worshipping Him.After all I've done for people I don't know, why should I have faith?I do.Its dwindling so very fast and to me it seems like He doesn't care.Now my faith is in question and He isn't there to help.I hate not believing but I fear it doesn't matter anymore.I could easily not believe and I would get the same rewards, nothing, but with faith it hurts so much more and no one seems to care what happens to me.I hate God's plan because it involves so much unnecessary pain.Why should I believe in something that is out to hurt me so much?

PS- I should add that I'm only 20.Shouldn't I be enjoying life?But how can I enjoy life when God is out to destroy mine?I don't believe that He is looking out for me.He took away my hope and ambition a long time ago.Why should He care now?I have nothing to live for.I have nothing to wake up in the morning for.I'm alone, as I always will be.I can deal with that.What I can't deal with is everyone around me getting everything they ever wanted for nothing.I have believed in God all my life.These people NEVER believed in God.Why should I think that God is there to save, when He has let me destroy myself, while rewarding those who don't believe for so long?He must have something against me or someting.My faith is dwindling so fast and He doesn't care.Whats one soul to Him?Nothing.So I guess my faith will be destroyed soon (most of it has).Back to the heathens I suppose.Those happy people have it so much better than me anyway.I hope I get a few minutes with God when I die.I have more than a few questions for Him.Forgive me....

please snake! give some examples or some experiences of why you feel this way. your so young. you sound like your such a good person but your hurting so bad. have you talk to anyone other then the people on this post about what's going in your life? what has happened that drove you to these extreme feelings?

[Little Brother]

please snake! give some examples or some experiences of why you feel this way. your so young. you sound like your such a good person but your hurting so bad. have you talk to anyone other then the people on this post about what's going in your life? what has happened that drove you to these extreme feelings?

I love how everyone cares on this forum.Some experiences?I've grown up alone.My father was non-existant (still don't know who he is to this day).My mother wasn't a bad person but preoccupied with my brother and sister.Thats ok.All my friends seem to enjoy dumping all their problems on me without gratitude (they are my family).I can understand all of this, I easily accept it.What I don't get is this : I'm supposed to help and understand everyone else, yet there isn't a single person there for me ever.Fine.Yet God has abandoned me?Thats something I can't deal with.This is the reason for my pain.I can very easily deal with being the emotional landfill that everyone wants to alleaviate their feelings with, but I can't stand being rejected by my supposed Creator.I have no one to turn to.Who is there for me?God HAS abandoned me and there is nothing in my life worth waking up for.Maybe I have lost faith but isn't God supposed to be by my side?I've spoken to, prayed to God, yet it yields nothing.No hope.No reason to exist.I just hope that God can see what I am turning into.A hateful, faithless, suicidal person.I hope He can understand why.

[Lpe04]

I can honestly say that I have believed in God all of my life.Through the hard times and good but having faith doesn't help me with anything.Sometimes I honestly believe that God has put me here to suffer.How can I have faith in something like that?What does that say about me?What have I done to hate this life so much and why have I been sentenced to this?I don't want to be here and faith doesn't help me.

John 8:32 "You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free".

What is this Truth? The very Word of God.

John 17:17 "Sanctify them by the Truth; your Word is Truth."

The Scriptures have changed more lives than you could ever imagine. God does not leave us without hope or Truth in the world (that would be very unrealistic). The Word of God is Truth, to the degree that you accept it, read it and believe it you will see deliverance. The thing is, you say you have faith, but what is your faith in? A lot of people have faith in God but don't understand who He truly is. Just as you have heard the expression, "you are what you eat", you "are what you eat" spiritually and mentally. Jesus rebuked the devil using the Word of God, "it is written" (Matt. 4:4). Christ is the Word of God in the flesh, He is the Scriptures come to life. In His earthly ministry He was walking and breathing Scripture and could truly say "'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matt. 4:4)

Brother, I hope the best for you. Get your mind renewed to that Word of God and you will see changes really start to happen in your life.

Prov. 23:7 "For as he (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he"

[ritawal]

[quote]I love how everyone cares on this forum.Some experiences?I've grown up alone.My father was non-existant (still don't know who he is to this day).My mother wasn't a bad person but preoccupied with my brother and sister.Thats ok.All my friends seem to enjoy dumping all their problems on me without gratitude (they are my family).I can understand all of this, I easily accept it.What I don't get is this : I'm supposed to help and understand everyone else, yet there isn't a single person there for me ever.Fine.Yet God has abandoned me?Thats something I can't deal with.This is the reason for my pain.I can very easily deal with being the emotional landfill that everyone wants to alleaviate their feelings with, but I can't stand being rejected by my supposed Creator.I have no one to turn to.Who is there for me?God HAS abandoned me and there is nothing in my life worth waking up for.Maybe I have lost faith but isn't God supposed to be by my side?I've spoken to, prayed to God, yet it yields nothing.No hope.No reason to exist.I just hope that God can see what I am turning into.A hateful, faithless, suicidal person.I hope He can understand why.

one thing i see is that God brought you to this forum. even though these people never met you, they do care or they wouldn't take out their time to try to encourage you. my father left us when i was 12 years old, one of my little sisters was only 7 months old at the time. she's alittle bitter about this and i know why she feels they way she does. for a few years after he left, he did visit a few times and would take all us kids with him and leave her behind. he would tell us she was too young. (now that i look back on it i think he just didn't want to be responsible for a toddler). but her being a toddler at the time, she has a good memory. me being the oldest, i was kind of glad he left because he used to beat my mother pretty bad. i don't hate him now but i kind of pity him. when i was 17, he got mad at us kids and said, he doesn't care if he ever sees us again. after that, i stayed away. the only one that stays in contact with him is my brother. when an event happens, my brother always inform us that he's mad because he wasn't invited to marriages in the family and so on. the reason why i stay away now is because of the memories i have because of his violent temper. it's very scary. i know who my father but in your case, you haven't met yours. that could make one feel empty to a point. like something is missing. i understand to a point how you feel about going out your way to help others, and when you need them they're not around. i feel that way sometimes. but please know this...God has nothing to do with that. he gave everyone the ability to choose to do what's right or what's wrong. if they choose to be the takers, He is not in that. it still hurts though but it still isn't Him. in reading the old testament, God always let people know the punishment/evil was coming from him for their sins. no one was in the dark wondering if it was God or not. He always made it clear that it was him. kings, the children of israel, saul etc. it good you have a good family. there's alot going on in mines right now. when i was in intensive care a few months ago, my husband had to band my own mother from coming to the intensive care unit. she's into alot of new age stuff. she was telling nurses how she visits other planets etc. she even call all the family members and told them that it didn't look good for me and they should prepare for the worst, that a spirit guide told her this.
i even had some family members on drugs that stolen from us over and over again. it's alot of drama. right now, i just pray for them. we don't have the knowledge and ability to help everyone but God does. :)

[vincejohn]

ritawal I feel for you as I also have Godless family who have done their utmost to destroy me for my faith and greed even though I have been the most generous person to them. The Snake, I understand where you come from, please read this from me it may help you. I was betrayed by my wife who fell pregnant to a friend while she was having the affair my family knew and told me nothing. I was betrayed like Jesus and you also my brother. It got much worse for me where I attempted to kill myself by starvation after my childhood sweetheart died at 23 years of age. In 1988 after visiting many denominations who said we will pray for you but could offer no real words of help I became dissolussioned with organised religion and still am to this day.. in 1988 after suffering grief and betrayal I screamed yes screamed out to the Lord....''Jesus save me'' at that very moment a spirit entered me and I felt the love of God and the Holy Spirit like a million arms wrapped around me. I was then led into a new life of preaching the words of Jesus Yeshua, found a loving wife and was able to start a new life..most importantly the words of Jesus are true ''all who cry out to the Lord Jesus will be saved.....prior to all this happening I was refused baptism by a mainstream church because I have a couple of beers and found some Christians who agreed to baptise me in my bath. Dont lose hope my brother I see me in you and we are in Jesus and in God. Your true Father is in you and in Heaven....PM me if you wish to talk to me about anything, I lost my brother years ago maybe we can become spiritual brothers...I love you bro..Vinny from Australia and my wife Melaia..Fijian Princess of 16 years together.

[The Lord is my banner]

Hello again Snake,

you know, the suggestion to change your name to something positive and hopeful is a good one.
It would be an act of determination to believe in the goodness of God which you are yet to be able to appreciate.

You speak a good deal about two things regarding your faith so far - faith in "God" and faith in your own "good works."
May I ask you a few questions about your God?

Firstly, where do you see Jesus Christ in relation to all this pain you are going through?

Do you know that not one person on earth has ever done enough good works to cancel out their sin?
Have you believed at times that you might save yourself that way?

There IS hope for you, God DOES love you, and He IS good.
But there is only ONE way to rest secure in that.

Do you understand what I am asking you little brother, and that I ask out of love and compassion for your welfare, not to try to judge you?

Are you ready to fall at the feet of the only one who can lift you up?

Praying for you still, God bless, love Sue

[vincejohn]

I have something in common with you. When I received the Holy Spirit after my childhood sweetheart died, my sister ,her brother was in the same rockn roll band as I. He was my best friend for many years..he was with me when I received the Holy Spirit after crying out to Jesus and he received the gift also..his nick name at school was ''the snake''. I'm speaking the truth, this is what first drew me to your thread it reminded me of Jerry.

[Little Brother]

To the question where I see Jesus in all of this:I see Him as a source of comfort.But having faith is getting increasingly difficult.I wonder what I should have faith for.I don't mind good deeds going unrewarded, I never really expect anything from it.But when is enough going to be enough?It would be so much easier to just give up on faith.People without it seem so much better and happier to me right now.Maybe I'm just bitter towards this planet.

[The Lord is my banner]

To the question where I see Jesus in all of this: I see Him as a source of comfort. But having faith is getting increasingly difficult.

My dear little brother, God bless you in His astounding grace!


Time for some straight talking now, about how you see God, where you are with your relationship with Him.
I am giving you all I have to offer – I have empty hands – I can only show you Jesus, and He is always enough.


You see Jesus as “a source of comfort”, yet you feel comfortless, and you feel that having faith is a struggle.

Do you want to move forward today, from a hazy belief in “God” and from proving yourself worthy to Him by hard work, into the peace of knowing that Jesus has taken away your sins?



I wonder what I should have faith for.



That is an excellent question to ask!
Here’s another - what is your greatest need?



I don't mind good deeds going unrewarded, I never really expect anything from it. But when is enough going to be enough?



You cannot earn your way into God’s presence. You cannot pay in good works to offset the weight of your sins. Who told you that you could?


Your greatest need is to receive forgiveness for your sins, just as this is the greatest need of all of us until it is met in Jesus.


The living God longs for you to come to Him, to be free, to be His child, to be comforted, and He has made the way, but you cannot come to Him on your own behalf and say; “look at my deeds, how good I have been, You must accept me now.”


Have you ever yet come to the Lord, laid all your good works at His feet, and admitted to Him that they cannot save you?

Have you asked Him to accept you solely because of the blood of Jesus, which is sufficient to take away your sins?

Until that is done from your heart, it will all be a struggle. Have you done this?

1 John 1:
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.


God bless you, love Sue

[Little Brother]

I'm sorry, I should clarify that when I said "when is enough going to be enough?", I didn't mean "where's my reward?".What I meant was simply "when am I going to happy?" or "how much I am going to have to through to be happy?"I didn't use the best wording.

[Lpe04]

To the question where I see Jesus in all of this:I see Him as a source of comfort.But having faith is getting increasingly difficult.I wonder what I should have faith for.I don't mind good deeds going unrewarded, I never really expect anything from it.But when is enough going to be enough?It would be so much easier to just give up on faith.People without it seem so much better and happier to me right now.Maybe I'm just bitter towards this planet.

Well, true Christian living (living in Christ) should be very liberating and easy (much easier than living without Christ).

Matthew 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden light".

Heb. 4:9-10 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from His own work, just as God did from His.

Furthermore, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Jesus said that He gave us His peace (not as the world gives) and that His joy would be in us (John 14:27, John 15:11).

If you are truly walking in the Spirit of God and are "hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3)" you should be manifesting a truly "more abundant life".

John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

If you are truly living the way God has created us to live, (freedom from sin, guilt, fleshy desires, etc.) then you will be walking in a more abundant life. A true Christian has great inner joy, inner joy in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ, they see the vision of what is ahead, not of what is happening around them. It doesn't matter what is happening in the outside world, their lives are built on that firm foundation, that rock that is Christ and nothing can blow it down. Look at Paul, Barnabas and the original disciples in the book of Acts. Altough they were being imprisoned, beaten, etc. they still had greater inner joy in Christ.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a precious jewel that you find in a field and go and sell everything you own to possess it. Once you truly have Jesus and that living Word of God inside of you, nothing can distract you, and nothing else will matter to you.


Acts 13:52 "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

[The Lord is my banner]

I'm sorry, I should clarify that when I said "when is enough going to be enough?", I didn't mean "where's my reward?".What I meant was simply "when am I going to happy?" or "how much I am going to have to through to be happy?"I didn't use the best wording.

Forgive me for not understanding you. I don't know what else to say to try to help. :sigh:

Is there anything more specific you want to ask here, anything that would help you deepen your trust in Jesus and enjoy your faith?

I wonder also whether you have thought about whether you might benefit from some prayer ministry, Christian counselling, medication? Any or all of those can help with depression, which you seem to be suffering symptoms of.

Sometimes even a short course of a few months of tablets can help clear your mind, help you feel more positive and enable you to work through any difficulties.

God bless, love Sue

[vincejohn]

Lpe04 is correct no matter what we go through if you are walking with Holy Jesus Yeshua you will have an inner piece that no worldly problems can take away. Look at your life are you walking with Jesus. Do you go to prostitutes, watch porn, rage like there is no tommorrow at parties, hang around Godless wicked friends etc..how can we indulge in these things continually and expect the Holy Spirit to live with us. I'm not saying you do this just getting you to look at your life. When Jesus said He and His Father would come and live with us this is no lie it is true but you have to be serious its up to you to make the first move not God God already has made the first move by sending His one and only true son..

[Little Brother]

No offense but I don't think I need meds.I think I need to look to the future instead of fousing on how bad it is now.But how do I take that first step?I'm pretty pessimistic but I don't believe that this will last forever.

I've noticed that a few of you have been calling me "little brother".Maybe I should change my name to that?It sounds stupid I know.Any thoughts?

[Little Brother]

Lpe04 is correct no matter what we go through if you are walking with Holy Jesus Yeshua you will have an inner piece that no worldly problems can take away. Look at your life are you walking with Jesus. Do you go to prostitutes, watch porn, rage like there is no tommorrow at parties, hang around Godless wicked friends etc..how can we indulge in these things continually and expect the Holy Spirit to live with us. I'm not saying you do this just getting you to look at your life. When Jesus said He and His Father would come and live with us this is no lie it is true but you have to be serious its up to you to make the first move not God God already has made the first move by sending His one and only true son..

I can honestly say I don't do any of those things.I do drink sometimes as a form of escape but I don't go crazy for it.It helps me quiet my mind.I know I shouldn't but what have I got to lose if I do?

[The Lord is my banner]

I've noticed that a few of you have been calling me "little brother".Maybe I should change my name to that?

That's only because I am old enough to be your mother!
But it would be a lovely name.

Taking the first step - I'd say lay it all down, begin to seek rest in Jesus, stop thinking it all depends upon you.
Tell Him you can't do it - He knows anyway. Trust him, that's all He wants. Everything else follows that as surely as day follows night.

Can you do that? can you tell Him you're going to trust him to carry you?

Depression can be healed, the Lord did it for me, He can do it for you.

Good night, God bless you little brother!

[Lpe04]

No offense but I don't think I need meds.I think I need to look to the future instead of fousing on how bad it is now.But how do I take that first step?I'm pretty pessimistic but I don't believe that this will last forever.

I've noticed that a few of you have been calling me "little brother".Maybe I should change my name to that?It sounds stupid I know.Any thoughts?

Yes, meds only "mask" the pain, they don't heal the wound. Jesus said that it is our faith that makes us whole (Matt. 9:22). The more faith you have in the Word of God and His promises to you, the more you will live in victory. Look at Mary Magedelne, she must have been a nervous wreck, Christ cast seven demons out of her, but she had great faith. Paul says that the only fight that we have, is the fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12), and that we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Even Martin Luther struggled with condemnation and depression for decades as a Christian before getting his head in the Scriptures and believing them and then he was transformed into one of the most powerful men of God. Every great man of God from Smith Wigglesworth, to Martin Luther, to George Mueller, all put there complete and absolute faith in the Word of God and lived by it.

Renew your mind (Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:23), put on the Word of God, clothe yourself in Christ Jesus (Rom. 13:14), pick up that shield of faith, loin thy girdles with truth, and wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. (Eph. 6:14-17)

You see, you have to reckon your old man dead and walk in newness of life (the resurrected life of Christ). You see, you have been raised your whole life thinking the way the world has taught you to think and believing what the world teaches you to believe. But the whole world lies in the control of the wicked one (1 John 5:19). satan is the god of this world and as long as you play by his rules and think what he wants you to think, you are going to be defeated. You see, it's a battle for your mind.

2 Cor. 10:4-5
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;


Just as God instructed the Israelites to move in and conquer a land and that they were to destroy all strong holds, idols, etc. we are to do the same. You must pull all those strong holds down in your mind, you must get everything in submission to Christ, and you do this by renewing your mind to the Word of God. Anytime the Israelites failed to destroy a strong hold or idol, it always came back to them.

Check this out,
1 John 2:14;
I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The Word of God abiding in you will overcome the wicked one. It is not a power struggle, Christ has all authority and power and has given that to us. It is a truth struggle. satan got Adam and Eve to fall into sin (and thus guilt) by questioning God's Word, "Did God really say...?" (Gen. 3:1) This is also how he tried to tempt Christ. That's the only way he operates, only where you give him authority by believing his lies. he is the father of all lies (John 8:44). You must be like Christ, the Word of God in the flesh and fight back in that wilderness and say, "it is written" (Matthew 4:4,7,10) You must live off every Word from the mouth of God. David loved God's Word so much he meditated on it day and night and wrote the longest psalm on it (Psalm 119).

Paul says to renew your mind. Get that old junk out of there. You are what you eat. "As a man thinketh so he is". We are sanctified and cleansed by the washing by the Word (Eph. 5:26). The Bible is full of men of faith. Abraham our father was a man of faith, not wavering at any unbelief, but he saw that future city which God had promised to him (Heb. 11:8-10). You see you have to have that vision, that spiritual vision. You are very much right about looking ahead to the future. That's what faith is, that's what hope is. You've got to have hope, where there is no hope, there is only depression and darkness. Hope gives you that vision.

Heb. 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

You have to keep your eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith (Heb. 12:2), you have to have the vision that He had, looking to that joy set before Him and not what was around Him. That's the true spiritual man. You see, the flesh only sees what's around it, it only sees temporary, but we have something much better than that, we can see that which is invisible, the only things that will truly last, that's what the spirit man sees, he's not focused on what he sees, rather he's walking by faith and not by sight. When you come to Christ He gives you that spiritual vision. Like Paul those scales fall from your spiritual eyes. Jesus came to give sight to the blind, well guess what? we all come into this world blind and dead in our trespasses, when we come to Christ He heals our blindness. "According to thy faith be made whole" He tells us. Do you beleive that He can heal you? Do you believe that He can give sight to the blind? Well according to your faith you will be made whole! Sing along with the hymnal, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, was blind but now I see!" You will see the world for what it truly is, you will see the goodness of God, you will see that heavenly tabernacle he has prepared for you. Can you feel Jesus beside you on the cross saying, "I tell you this today, you will be with me in Paradise"?

Oh what a blessed Saviour we have! What a wonderful Word of God and hope that we have. Keep looking up my friend, and nothing will bring you down.
God Bless

[Lpe04]

I can honestly say I don't do any of those things.I do drink sometimes as a form of escape but I don't go crazy for it.It helps me quiet my mind.I know I shouldn't but what have I got to lose if I do?

No problem with drinking on occasion. As long as it's not any sort of bondage to you. The Pharisees called Christ a drunkard for drinking. Doesn't sound like it's anything that you are exalting over God or that is affecting your relationship with Him. God looks upon the heart and desires to have a relationship with you. As long as it is not affecting your relationship with Him or others or harming yourself or others. Remember, we walk in love above all. It's all about the heart. Remember, "it's not what goes into a man that defiles a man, but what comes out of a man" (Matthew 15:11). Let God's love permeat through you! Be strong in grace! (2 Tim. 2:1)

P.S. idolism is where you love something more than you love God and His Son. i.e. where you love the created thing more than the Creator. Doesn't sound like you have this problem.

1 Tim. 5:23
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Matt. 11:9
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

[ritawal]

But how do I take that first step?I'm pretty pessimistic but I don't believe that this will last forever.

start spending alot of time with the Lord. just time between you and Him. get into His word.:pray:

I've noticed that a few of you have been calling me "little brother".Maybe I should change my name to that?It sounds stupid I know.Any thoughts?

i'm old enough to be your mother too. little brother, that's a good name for you.;) :cool:

[Super Gnat]

I think Little Brother would be a cool name, though I doubt I'm older than you.

You can correct me if I'm haring after the wrong rabbit, but it seems like you haven't talked much about your communication with God. Have you talked to God and told Him how you're feeling? Have you specifically asked Him for His help in overcoming this? Have you looked through the Bible for passages relating to your feelings and/or your situation? I don't want to sound condemning or anything like that... just trying to figure out exactly where the problem is and/or what we're overlooking.

ETA: What Ritawal said.

[Little Brother]

Of course I've looked over scripture etc.It does me no good.

[Lpe04]

You've got to combine it with faith. Trust me, I have dealt with depression, etc before. Here's what I like to say about the Word of God. Read it, Believe it, Receive it, See it. Also, it depends on what Scripture you are focusing on. All Scripture is profitable, but we should be focusing on the Church Epistles, those written by Paul to us, the Church of God, that is Romans through Thessalonians with the book of Acts being the beginning of the Church and the Age of Grace we are now in. All of our doctrine should revolve around this as this is the dispensation that we are currently in and what is applicable to us and Paul is our spokesman, just as Moses was the spokesman for the Israelites during the Exodus.

[Super Gnat]

Of course I've looked over scripture etc.It does me no good.Yes, but have you prayed about it?

[Lpe04]

I know where you are coming from, I've been there before. Praying about it is a good thing, but it won't work as well if you don't have faith. People who are praying for an answer but not believing God will be like Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden, they will feel distant from Him rather than close (He never changes, only our feelings and beliefs toward Him), they won't believe enough to receive an answer from God, or if He does answer them and is able to get something through, they will either believe that it wasn't Him (it was just a coincidence or thought or something) or they will hear from Him and will believe for about a week or so until those winds come and blow their house down because they had no firm foundation or they will question wheter it was really from God, did He really say that, or satan will just come along and snatch that seed away because it hasn't been planted in good soil, it hasn't taken root.

You see Abraham was a great man of faith, this is why Paul uses him as an example. It was Abraham's faith in God that gave him (Abraham, and us too) right standing before God (Rom. 4:22-23). You see, Abraham's faith was so great that he believed God's promise to him even when it was beyond belief. Not only had God made the promise to Abraham over 15 years before, but Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was well beyond her years of conception, plus she was barren to begin with, so it seemed that the odds were really stacked against Abraham, yet he still believed what God told him and did not waver in unbelief even with all of this in front of him (Rom. 4:20). Abraham hoped even when there was nothing for him to hope in (Rom. 4:18), this is incredible faith and it gave him hope. Jesus said all we need is faith a small as a mustard seed, why? Because this kind of faith just like the mustard seed will grow and become bigger on its own, it is only the unbelief (the doubt) that keeps God from working in your life and staggers all hope that you may have.

Matt. 13:58
"And He (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief."

Mark 6:6
"And he marvelled because of their unbelief."

You see, where there is doubt and fear, the Lord can not work with you. It's not that He doesn't want to, but it's just that you are limiting Him. Remember again, this is a walk of faith.

2 Cor. 5:6-7
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight)


Are you confident that you are only here for the time being? That while we are here we are only absent from the Lord? Paul says that we should have this confidence (this faith) always. We are always confident of His promises, for He is faithful, even when we are not. He is the faithful one, we are the ones who receive His grace. That is such a beautiful word, grace. Do you know what that means? It is unmerited favor, it is favor given to one who is undeserving, it is only by this grace that we stand before the Almighty, but what blessed grace it truly is.

Matthew 9:2
"Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

What saved the man? Was it not his faith. Did he not put his faith in Christ? Did not Christ see his faith and let him know his sins were forgiven him? That's all the man needed to hear, at once he was healed. He knew he was forgiven.
How many times are Christians crippled in their walk because they haven't received their forgiveness yet? Yes it's there, but they haven't learned to reach out and grab it. They are too focused on their sins rather than on His goodness. Did not Christ have compassion for this man as He had for everyone who came to Him?

Eph. 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Know of God's promises, confess them, believe them. This is hope, and hope will not be put to shame (Rom. 5:5). Dwell in that love of God, focus on His goodness, live in that grace, taste of the Lord and see that He is good (Psalm 34:8), know of His calling to you, be of good cheer (Matthew 9:2) and that little seed of faith will move mountains. Praise God!

God Bless!

[Little Brother]

Yes, but have you prayed about it?

Of course I have.God knows how I feel.

[The Lord is my banner]

I lay my head upon Thy infinite heart,
I hide beneath the shelter of Thy wing;
Pursued and tempted, helpless,
I must cling to Thee, my Father;
Bid me not depart,
For sin and death pursue,
And Life is where Thou art!

[vincejohn]

Snake I believe your a joke pulling everyones legs..seeya brother.

[Super Gnat]

Of course I have.God knows how I feel.And what did He say to you in return? Did you hear Him say anything to you?

[Little Brother]

Snake I believe your a joke pulling everyones legs..seeya brother.

I hope that was a joke, even if it was a tasteless one.I'd like to know why you said that.

[Little Brother]

And what did He say to you in return? Did you hear Him say anything to you?

I can honestly say I don't know.

[Super Gnat]

Okay, so now we've got our problem identified. Is this usual, or a recent thing? What I mean is, have you ever heard God speaking to you? If so, when did you stop hearing Him?

[Little Brother]

I don't think that God has ever spoken to me.I believe He has sent me messages that I have misinterpreted.But thats about it.

[Little Brother]

TO vincejohn-What did I do to make you think that I was a joke?...seriously?

[vincejohn]

The thread name and your name I find tasteless, when read together as all read it ....everyone is praying for you and your attitutde is blase luke warm. If I was wrong I appologise.

[Little Brother]

The thread name and your name I find tasteless, when read together as all read it ....everyone is praying for you and your attitutde is blase luke warm. If I was wrong I appologise.

I don't understand your aggression towards me to be honest.I didn't intend for anything to be offensive."blase luke warm"?I love God, just still searching for some answers I guess some people are just ignorant or read too much into things.Are you drunk?Whats your problem?If "God, The Snake" offends you I'm sorry.I had no intention of it being offensive/wrong, I'm not here to decieve you or hurt you.I chose the name according to my feelings, not to stir up crap, but if you want to mad about it, fine.I can't change that, although I hope you change your perspective on it.

[Little Brother]

Okay, so now we've got our problem identified. Is this usual, or a recent thing? What I mean is, have you ever heard God speaking to you? If so, when did you stop hearing Him?

I don't know if God has ever spoken to me.But I do FEEL like this is just a difficult time for me to go through.I think that this is something to put me through to make sure my faith is real.It gets hard but I still have faith.It hurts etc. but I know that God is with me.I don't like it but what can I do?

[vincejohn]

I pm'd you , you now know me. I feel for you and lets pray together, Im in a lot of trouble. I love you and pray you will think of me, friends bro ..vince.in Holy Yeshua'a Jesus blessed name Amen.

[Super Gnat]

I dunno. I think it says in Scripture that God sometimes makes us feel that we're far from him in order to strengthen our faith.* But that shouldn't be our normal state of affairs. I don't mean that I always have a special feeling... but God talks to me, all the time. And if He never talks to you, then something is wrong. I don't know what, but it's something; I'll pray on it, and pray for you. I'm really happy to hear that you're committed to staying firm in your faith, though.

Are you going to church? If so, I would suggest that you talk to the pastor, a church leader, or an older person you trust about what you're going through. If not, or if you're not very involved at your church, I would suggest that you start going to a godly church and start fellowshipping with the people there. Part of the reason that you feel so isolated may be because you are isolated. As much as we want to help you, we're only interacting though the Internet, and we don't get to see your daily life. Someone who knows you and sees your daily life may be able to point you in the right direction.




*I say 'I think' because I've forgotten or never knew the reference, and I don't know how I'd find it even with a concordance. Does anybody know what I'm talking about, and whether or not it's correct?

[vincejohn]

All churches are corrupt scream out to Jesus and you'll be saved and contacted.

[vincejohn]

Your tears to Yeshua Jesus are your baptism.

[Little Brother]

All churches are corrupt scream out to Jesus and you'll be saved and contacted.

There is no such thing as a corrupt church.Only misguided people.Deeds/actions/results can be corrupt, but not a church.Man gives birth to falsehoods not God.Wow, a little more philosophical than I had meant.

[Little Brother]

I dunno. I think it says in Scripture that God sometimes makes us feel that we're far from him in order to strengthen our faith.* But that shouldn't be our normal state of affairs. I don't mean that I always have a special feeling... but God talks to me, all the time. And if He never talks to you, then something is wrong. I don't know what, but it's something; I'll pray on it, and pray for you. I'm really happy to hear that you're committed to staying firm in your faith, though.

Are you going to church? If so, I would suggest that you talk to the pastor, a church leader, or an older person you trust about what you're going through. If not, or if you're not very involved at your church, I would suggest that you start going to a godly church and start fellowshipping with the people there. Part of the reason that you feel so isolated may be because you are isolated. As much as we want to help you, we're only interacting though the Internet, and we don't get to see your daily life. Someone who knows you and sees your daily life may be able to point you in the right direction.




*I say 'I think' because I've forgotten or never knew the reference, and I don't know how I'd find it even with a concordance. Does anybody know what I'm talking about, and whether or not it's correct?

I just don't know what you mean by God speaking to me.Is it a feeling?In which case, as of late, yes.Is it a voice, then no.I know we are just communicating over the Net, but its easier to deal with my problems without a face looking back.I don't feel as bad as I did when I first came here which is AMAZING.I feel closer to and more accepted by God but I still have my issues (which I'm beginning to believe are trivial).Thats ok.I never really expected faith to be an easy thing to maintain and it gets difficult when I see people around me doing so much better, without having to go through anything.But thats life right?I think I'm going to be ok.I have God as a source of comfort and strength, how can I fail now?Typing that made me feel great.My friends aren't religious so I also have a kind of haven here.I have rambled long enough.

[vincejohn]

No one is doing better than you God does not discriminate all of us his children will have our faith tested one way or the other.

[Super Gnat]

Sorry for the late reply. I read this, and started thinking about what I was going to say, and then had to go to class, and thought that I had already said it... anyway, I'm posting here now.

I can't speak for anybody else, but God talks to me in a bunch of different ways. Sometimes it is a feeling, though I try not to rely on that. Sometimes it's when I ask Him for something and He does it, or shows me why He says no. A lot of the time, it's through reading His word; there's always something in it that relates to me and my situation. Sometimes He speaks to me through other people, whether in conversation, through a sermon, or through the posts on this forum. Sometimes it's through a good book. Sometimes it feels like a gentle prodding to stop doing something or to do something else. Sometimes it's through a sudden change in my circumstances, whether it be large or small. I don't know if 'talk' is the right word for all of these things; maybe a better word would be 'commune'.

These are only my experiences, though. To everybody else reading this thread: how does God speak to you?



I'm really glad that the people on these forums have given you encouragement. Just looking back over your earlier posts in this thread, I can see how much more happy and content you seem to be. But we can't give you everything. I would really, strongly recommend that you seek out a good church and become involved in it. You don't have to pour out your life struggles to everybody at the first Bible study you attend (though of course, if God leads you to do so then you should). But we believers are called to gather together and encourage each other. If you're not going to church, not only are you missing out on recieving encouragement, but you're not able to give encouragement to other believers as they go through their struggles. It's a lonely world out there, and one that can often be hostile to Christians. We gotta stick together.

[Little Brother]

I see what you mean.I should be looking for some signs.I know that they aren't going to be given to me but I should keep my eyes open.

I'll look into doing something for the church but I don't really feel ready to be going to Bible studies.I think I need to solidfy my faith a little more and find a religion that I can be happy with.I'm sure God is pointing me in the right direction, I just have to take that crucial first step.He knows whats best for me and won't disappoint me with religion.I'll be patient.

A support system sounds good.Never had that before.I know that I can't expect everything from this forum nor do I want it.But the help I got here was definetly worth it.Opened my eyes a little more.

[Super Gnat]

It really sounds like all you need is to be hooked in with other believers. God will show you the right place to go, as long as you take that crucial first step and start actively looking for a church home. Trust me; as soon as you do that one small thing, God will meet you so completely that your breath will be taken away! I'm not saying that there won't be any difficulties; the Devil doesn't like it when you start doing what God wants you to. But God will close the wrong doors and open the right one, and lead you to the right church for you.

I would suggest that you start going to Bible study once you find the right church, even if you don't want to say much at first. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to initiate relationships with other people either, so I know how nerve-wracking it is to think about trying to make friends with a whole group of people who you don't know. But you'd be surprised; chances are a few people will approach you and try to get to know you better. And you should let them and get to know them yourself, as long as they're not obviously crazy. Think how much encouragement you've gotten here. Now think how much more encouragement you'll be able to get from (and give to!) people who you can talk to, people who can see your body language and respond to it, people who know your life, just as you'll know theirs. It took several pages and a lot of questions for me to figure out that you weren't going to church; a RL friend would have known that already, and been able to give you better advice.

It's scary. Trust me, I know; I'm the sort who's scared to talk to anybody or open up in any way. But once you get over that first hurdle, and form good relationships with other Christians, it's like seeing the light of the sunrise after a long, dark night.

ETA: Like the name change :clap:

[Little Brother]

Making friends will always be hard.I don't want faith or anything to be easy."Anything that is easy to get, isn't worth having".Thats a favorite quote of mine.I just have no idea where to begin.

[GK]

And yet, doesn't Jesus say his burden is easy and his yoke is light? Who made this rule that things worth having can't be easy and is that rule really truthful?

[Everlastinglife]

Psalm 92:1-2, "It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods. Every morning tell him, 'Thank you for Your kindness,' and every evening rejoice in all His faithfulness."

I Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Psalms 103: 2, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

I would find it extremely hard to imagine that you have nothing to be thankful for. You are breathing and of sound mind. Can you walk, possibly talk? Do you have a job? Drive maybe a car? No blessings at all? Nothing to be thankful for? Evaluate all that is good in your life, thank God and pray on your individual battles that come up. God will never abandon us.

[tommyboy]

boy oh boy little brother, you really received some great answers... I was very impressed. good job,
God Bless

[Super Gnat]

Begin by looking up a list of churches near where you live. Visit a few of them, and when you find one that's theologically sound with friendly members, start going there regularly. When people come up and talk to you, hold a conversation with them. That's all you have to do to start.

Don't set yourself up for failure, either. You seem to have this idea that everything is just going to be hard, but that isn't always true. This is going to be scary, true, but I don't think it'll be hard.

[Martin]

I can honestly say that I have believed in God all of my life.Through the hard times and good but having faith doesn't help me with anything.Sometimes I honestly believe that God has put me here to suffer.How can I have faith in something like that?What does that say about me?What have I done to hate this life so much and why have I been sentenced to this?I don't want to be here and faith doesn't help me.

I have to admit that I haven't read all the answers given to your post and I'm sure that there is some really good advice given.... however, I shall also give you my thoughts for what they are worth -

Firstly, you need to know that God loves you much more than you love yourself. The evidence is clearly demonstrated in the Bible. It demonstrates His love for all mankind and "all" includes you! However, for you to know this for yourself, personally, you need to be in relationship with God. Such a relationship brings direction for your life, an awareness of God's love for you (no matter where you are) and the assurance that you will never be alone.

Developing any relationship means the willingness to spend time with the other party and to enter into a two-way dialogue. Most Christians are happy to spend time in the presence of God, to read His word and to pray, but this usually is not enough - it ends up being a oneway dialogue from you to God. You should also spend time listening to God to hear what He says about you and your life (and He is constantly saying good things about you). In those times of listening, you will "hear" His words of love to you and His heart for you - and there is nothing as encouraging as that.

Listening to God needs to be practiced, for, just as you cannot speak any language when you are first born, so you will probably find it difficult to hear God when you become born again (although I haseten to add that this is not true in every case). You learn to speak over time and you also learn to hear God speak over time.

My suggestion is that you settle yourself down, tell God that you want to hear what He has to say to you and then expect Hime to speak.

How does He speak to you? Well. thius is different for different people, but most commonly it is through spontaneous thought - those thoughts that you didn't think for yourself. In those times, I suggest that you write down everything and sort the chaff from the wheat afterwards.

Secondly. God is good - indeed, He is the only one who is good (Jesus made this point). As such, He never wants you to suffer but to relive you of suffering. If that was not the case, then Jesus (who said "if you have seen me than you have seen the Father") was doing the wrong things. He healed all who came to Him (if it was God's will for you to suffer don't you think He would have left some to suffer). He never brought any kind of suffering on anyone - He never said to anyone "I am going to make you suffer because that is the will of the Father for you". In fact, (as Jesus said) if we being evil (fathers - my word) know how to give good gifts to our children, then how much more does our Father who is in heaven".

We may suffer (for the sake of the gospel, etc), but thsi suffering is not brought on us by God, but by others....
Be encouraged - God love you !!!

Blessings,

Martin

[The Lord is my banner]

Cool name-change Little Brother! :thumbsup:

I've been away a week, and it seems you are moving forward a little more.

I am just wondering if any of the churches near you are doing an Alpha course you could get to?

They'd be welcoming and the leaders will encourage you to ask questions, and you'd be with a small group of people who also are asking, so you wouldn't feel awkward about it.

God bless, love Sue

[linssue55]

I can honestly say that I have believed in God all of my life.Through the hard times and good but having faith doesn't help me with anything.Sometimes I honestly believe that God has put me here to suffer.How can I have faith in something like that?What does that say about me?What have I done to hate this life so much and why have I been sentenced to this?I don't want to be here and faith doesn't help me.

Faith doesn't help you because you don't believe in it. To truly trust in the Lord, you cast (throw) your troubles on Him, but if you do, you HAVE to relax (for the Lord will not help those that are in sin....to get back into fellowship, one needs to use 1 John 1:9 each time we sin) that He will handle it, then go about your life. Faith comes with growth, if your faith is weak then then the bible doctrine in your soul may be limited.

One grow's through knowledge in knowing the word of God, and claiming His promises. Only you can make the choice to trust in the Lord, for He is waiting, but first you have to trust in Him.......remember He is NOT a Genie, He's the Lord. Get your eyes off of yourself, and KEEP them on the Lord. Many times we create our own misery.

[Little Brother]

Faith doesn't help you because you don't believe in it. To truly trust in the Lord, you cast (throw) your troubles on Him, but if you do, you HAVE to relax (for the Lord will not help those that are in sin....to get back into fellowship, one needs to use 1 John 1:9 each time we sin) that He will handle it, then go about your life. Faith comes with growth, if your faith is weak then then the bible doctrine in your soul may be limited.

One grow's through knowledge in knowing the word of God, and claiming His promises. Only you can make the choice to trust in the Lord, for He is waiting, but first you have to trust in Him.......remember He is NOT a Genie, He's the Lord. Get your eyes off of yourself, and KEEP them on the Lord. Many times we create our own misery.


I fail to see how I created my own suffering by being alive.I can understand the fact that I have to grow etc. but when is God gonna step in and say "I"ll help".I've just had enough of believing without results.I"m a heathen fine.I JUSt can't bring myselfg to care anymore.A Scary kind of emmmmptiness.

ps keyborads on the fritz so sorry

[Little Brother]

sorry but I don"T feel bad for feeling like the lord has rejected me.I CAN Cope with knowing that I AM merely a ppawn in an unimportant future

ps my keyboard is completely screwed so forgiveness for grammar etc

[The Lord is my banner]

sorry but I don"T feel bad for feeling like the lord has rejected me.I CAN Cope with knowing that I AM merely a ppawn in an unimportant future


I think you do feel bad; that's why you're here.
I'm glad you're still talking to us anyway. :)

You know you're not a pawn, you know the truth - God has not rejected you and will not reject you.

You know the character of God, and you are still hoping. Don't give up seeking with all your heart.

God bles you, love Sue

[Little Brother]

I think you do feel bad; that's why you're here.
I'm glad you're still talking to us anyway. :)

You know you're not a pawn, you know the truth - God has not rejected you and will not reject you.

You know the character of God, and you are still hoping. Don't give up seeking with all your heart.

God bles you, love Sue

I enjoy talking with you but I don't think that God wants me in his flock.I really am sorry but I really don't believe that God wants me.Thats fine.I can't change anything I can't control.god doesn't want me, I feel like I don't need him.FINE.

[Little Brother]

Ok I just realized how stupid I am and absolutely foolish I am as well.