is it normal for new Christians to have doubts?

[heather]

As a baby Christian, after so many years of running away from God, being angry at God, and living a wayward life, I find it difficult to fully trust in God's love. It is my natural inclination to run from, not run to God. I have been reading the Word, attending church, but there are still fears and doubts coursing through my mind. Would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

[Messenger]

Heather what exactly is it that you doubt? God is love and that is what he wants from us. It is not a burden to follow God it is a satisfaction that you can't get from anything else a true sence of peace, love, and contentment. This is something that helped me to follow God.

Simplicity of Life

There is much more and much less to this world and life than people think. We think too hard. We need to spend more time listening with our hearts. We too often react in worldly ways. We are all in control of ourselves. We have little control over physical and worldly happenings.

Money seems to take care of everything. Yet, money means nothing. People listen to money. Money speaks. If someone can listen only with money--- They are not fully ready to receive God.

Everything is Black and White. It appears simpler to live thinking there are shades of gray. Wrong appears easier at times and pointing the finger at others wrongs gives us a false sense of security in ourselves. It seems easier to do what we think and not what we know in our hearts. Only through listening to our hearts and doing what is right will we find true joy, love and contentment within ourselves.

Love one another - you don't have to love a persons actions or reactions. We have our own thoughts and beliefs. We have ways in which we are right. Each of us have ways in which we are wrong. Who are we to judge each others actions and beliefs. Neither of us is more or less only different. We are all from God. Be true to your heart. Be true to God. No human being can be right at all times and separate from worldly things totally. Only God is pure and perfect. He is all positive.

Take knowledge, thoughts, beliefs and ideas from others to make you more. Let go of and don't except into your heart negative things or ideas that make you less. Don't let what others do wrong have a negative influence for you to do wrong. Stive to share the positive and let go of the negative.

Let go of any false sense of responsibility you feel towards others which cause you resentment. We don't need to make people feel or act the way we think they should. Don't let go of your responsibility of you. We are each in SOUL CONTROL of ourselves. We can't control all that is around us but if we can find joy, love and contentment within our hearts this is the meaning of life --- this is the point.
People are looking too much in the world for the answers to life. If they would just stop and "smell the roses" the answer to life is so simple.

We don't need to worry about buying things to make our children happy. It's not possible to teach our children every worldly thing and never make mistakes. The #1 thing to teach our children, ourself and help others to understand is how to listen with our hearts to God. People need to feel Right from Wrong. Strive to do right no matter how "wronged" you might feel.

Love yourself and be true to yourself
Be simple
Look at the simple picture of life
Don't think too hard
Listen and you will hear
When it's truly right you will know

God speaks in mysterious ways. He will not put us through more than we can handle. Burdens, troubles, joys, sadness, pain and love are all for reasons. The reasons are not always clear or to be known right now. When it's time to know if we are open and true to our hearts we'll know.
Strive to be right and fair. Don't worry over mistakes you make. We all need to learn. Don't be afraid to say when your wrong or sorry this makes you more -not less.
If one day seems so good. It doesn't mean everyday will seem just as good. If one day seems so bad it doesn't mean tomorrow won't bring happiness.
ONE DAY AT A TIME
--------------------
messenger

[SenseiPiccolo]

Here are a few verses you should read:
1 Thessalonians 5 : 24
Isaih 59 : 1
Romans 4 : 20-21
1 Peter 1 : 23
2 Peter 3 : 9

Ill keep you in my prayers and remember,
We are ALL here for you-- if ya need anything just post a request ;)

God bless you!!
:clap:

[amie]

Hi Heather ,
you are in my prayers! with love and blessings...
Amie :angel:

[JoJoButterfly]

I was too having some doubts recently. For me the problem however are professers and what we are learning in my classes. One is Geologic History to Dinosaurs and the prof is hitting evolution a lot. I know God's love and that Jesus died for me but there is evidence for evoulution too. I must keep reminding my self of what I believe.

Another prof for my history class has been offensive to everyone in the class, esp chistians. He loves to point out the religions of other civilizationas and how similar their ceation story and flood story are similar to ours and that they are hundreds of years older.

I haven't lost my faith, I'm praying that I won't. I have felt God's wonderful power in my life recently at a bible conference and I'm trying not to let these profs push me around and mess w/ my beliefs.

Remember that Satan will use anything he can to make us not believe. A seed of doubt is all it takes for Satan to find a way to help it grow. Pull the weeds now! Before they choke your garden to death!

[heather]

Thanks for your posts. Sensei Piccolo, your verses are awesome. especially 1Thes 5:24, with the idea that God is faithful. I know for sure that the problem is me, not God, but I have work to do.

Messenger, you are right, this should be so simple, but I am fighting layers of things. Believe me, it took over a year of talking with my pastor before I dared say salvation prayer. It was not said lightly, then baptism was truthfully an act of obedience. I am desperately seeking what others seem to find so easily, and for me it is not that easy.

In prayer the other night, tried to imagine opening my heart to God, not that easy. Tried to imagine reaching out to Jesus in trust, couldn't. I would probably be one of his failures in healing if faith is the big requirement. I have faith in Jesus as savior, not faith in him as being all that concerned about me. Again, it is me, not Jesus. Am not trying to be disrespectful or contrary.


Amie, I love your prayers, and I need them so desperately.

Both my parents were alcoholics and in an alcoholic home the rules change constantly. I think that there is still a part of me that thinks (in error albeit) that in God's kindgdom the rules will also change.

It is a problem with my self confidence and trust. The idea of reaching out to anybody, including God in trust, is something that will have to be approached in tiny baby steps, I have been hurt too many times.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts.

[Blessed-one]

i reckon it's normal for everyone to have doubts before coming to Christ - Crisis of belief afterall.
i've been a Christian for all my life... yet it was the last two years that i started having doubts (.. still have it too, but not as strong). Yet, i can see how God keeps pulling me back to Him, through other people and many little things happening in my life. The most important thing is to keep praying and don't let the doubt consume you! and you'll experience Him!
i'll be praying.

[Snor Snor]

We'll have some sort of doubt for the rest of our lives =/ I think it's very hard to live a doubt-free life, and be 100% sure about God forgiving you, being with you, etc. etc.

I'll be praying for you.

Love ya in the Lord and God bless you! :)

[Mandy]

To a certain degree it is normal. The majority of the time it is spiritual warfare.

I will be praying for you.

[StogusMaximus]

Moved to New Christians Forum.

[heather]

I am so gratified by all your loving responses to my questions about doubt!

Jo Jo Butterfly, it is funny, but the first prayer that I felt able to make with my pastor was, "I believe God created the earth." I do not have the cites, but have been reading how Darwin actually doctored his results to meet his premises. But one thing your professor cannot dispute is that, try as hard as they can to create that primordial soup, not one scientist has been able to create life in the laboratory. And, to top it off, if we look at the interconnectedness and diversity of life on earth, there is no way that that can occur by random chance, needs intelligent design. Had to read a book about paradigms, theories that scientists assume so that they can further their researches. Evolution is a paradigm, and scientists find it hard to loose their clutches on a paradigm once it is accepted as truth.

Blessed one and Snor-snor, thanks, it is good (maybe not so good :) ) to know that doubt will follow one on this earth. Sure wish things were black and white, and easy. One thing that came to me last night was that the Israelites had God very, very present with them, pillar of light, pillar of cloud, sitting on mercy seat, booming voice, ten commandments, manna, and they still went to idols. Maybe God is smarter than we think, maybe He hides so we seek, makes us trust, so that we don't treat his manifestations as commonplace. It is quite a challenge for me.

Mandy, you are right on about spiritual warfare, my pastor feels that given my past, satan has lost a powerful ally, and is fighting all the harder to claim back what he has lost.

Thanks for your prayers and support. It is great to know that I am no alone in this battle.

[fieldmouse3]

Heather - You are most definitely not alone! :) We're here to help you if you need it, and we're more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

I've experienced doubts quite often in my past. I'd start out with the best of intentions to try and strengthen my relationship with God, but doubts and worries and just plain not always "feeling" God there with me caused me to slip back multiple times. Early this winter, I tried again, only this time, I didn't let the doubts get the better of me. I prayed through EVERYTHING, even when I didn't feel that God was listening. He always is, and part of being faithful is believing that even when you can't feel Him there. It was difficult and exhausting at times; the devil was very determined to trip me up at times! It was worth the fight, though; nothing can compare to having a close relationship with God!!!

Sorry, I rambled a bit...hope some part of whatI said helps! :)

[Nick_Loves_Abba]

Doubts? Yeah I think so. I think we have some doubts here and there all throug life. Because we have finite minds.

Question shouldn't be confused with doubts though. I believe questioning GOD is a good thing. I don't mean questioning him mockingly or or anything but sincere questioniong. Asking GOD, what you did made no sense to me Lord, could you help me figure it out so I may have peace.

[Blessed-one]

just want to point out one thing, in the old testament times, yeah, God revealed himself in a way that everyone could see with their physical eyes.
but we're priviledged today!! that we're allowed to pray and communicate with Him directly, no need to get a request to God through a prophet! and we see Him with our mind's eyes.

All in all, i think we get the better bargain! :)

[2002 Christian]

What to Do with Doubt

http://www.champs-of-truth.com/books/steps/steps_chp12.htm

[Andrew]

Perhaps you might want to consider the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
It has made a world of diff to me.

Shalom

[heather]

I am so glad that I posted this question as I am getting a lot of things to think about. Fieldmouse3, your kind words mean a lot and I am impressed that you had the faith to pray through even when you were not aware of God's presence. I pray into a void, but I do pray.

Nick loves Abba, I like your idea that it is ok to question God. Boy do I have questions. I was once reamed because I dared say that there were questions that I wanted God to answer. The person said, how dare I even dream of questioning God. That God did so much for me that it was pure audacity that I would call Him to question. That sure set me back a pace. I struggle so much between the concept of a loving God and the concept of the strict, punishing, legalistic God. I know for a fact that I need a loving God, not an abusive God.

Blessed one, you are also right. I was struck with how disobedient the Israelites were, and they were given manna, pillars of light, pillars of clouds, parting of the waters, etc. and they still did not obey God. Maybe the hiddeness of God is so that we seek all the harder. But sometimes I think it can be mean to be so hidden from those who need him.

2002Christian, I will check out this website when I have time to do it justice. Right now I have an extra kid in the house (sleepover) and have to be more there for the kids.

Last night sat in prayer (even do that during times of doubt) and imagined Jesus reaching out his hand to me and saying take my hand, we can work through this stuff together. I was paralized, could not reach out my hand to him. Felt almost like a cornered animal, wanting to find a route of escape. This trust stuff is not easy for me.

[Messenger]

It is easy but it often doesn't appear easy because the world around us often makes it look so odd and difficult. The world shows too much acceptance of thing that God shows us are wrong. To stand up for yourself and God takes practice...but all you got to do is pray. When a bad thought comes to my mind I stop it though prayer and ask God to watch over me and ask that he have me live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Once you give God the control of your heart and you keep watch that you think properly than the actions come. For me it starts from the inside out. I try and let go of negative and look towards possitive. Give your trust to God. The Lords prayer is great. Proverbs chapter 4 speaks of Wisdom. I also like to just open my Bible randomly and read a few verses...I pray before I read and more often than not I open my Bible to a verse that comforts me or helps me to find a simple answer to my problem. Just let go of your doubts and give trust to God...before long you won't have a clue why you ever doubted in the first place. Love and God Bless.

[JoJoButterfly]

Originally posted by heather
I do not have the cites, but have been reading how Darwin actually doctored his results to meet his premises.

What did you mean by this?

[heather]

Dear JoJoButterfly, what I had read was that Darwin was studying the shapes of bird's beaks, trying to find out how they adapted to their environment. Trouble was, the adaptation was supposed to be gradual and over time, with a gradual shifting of the beak shape. What I read, and I wish I could find the site for you, was that there were major holes. He did not find all the beaks that showed the gradual shift, that he just invented some to fill in the gaps. Supposedly he admitted to doctoring the results later in his life. Hope that helps, I cannot pretend to be able to get my hands on the book, but it was a Christian author.

[Friend_In_God]

Hi Heather! God bless you, you are not alone in your feelings. I too have very very similar feelings about God and my faith. What would the challenge be if we didn't doubt, didn't question. In my opinion, this is the only test! Or at the very least, the most important one of few (morally speaking). What we come to learn in our lives affects our position in the Land of the Lord. I can't give all that much advice because I am struggling through my faith every day, but then I realize, the only reason I struggle occasionally is because I have no hard proof, but I have seen the wonders of God, and believe me, we are much better off believing, because in the end, we will all see that it was the truth all along. My heart tells me this every day, even when I doubt. Cheer up, things will get better, just don't quit. Only the weak quit, and the weakest of the weak give up on God. Here's praying for them too. :clap:

[Redeemed1]

Hi Heather. Yes, all that you are experiencing is normal. It is the rare person, if existent at all, that enters into a relationship with Christ with a fully developed faith and love for God. These attributes are developed in us as our relationship with Christ develops. I myself, as a new Christian, wondered why everyone else loved God so much, while I basically felt nothing. But, as I continued to walk with Jesus and experience His faithfulness toward me, His grace and mercy toward me, I did indeed begin to experience a love for Him. As you begin to know Him more, your faith will grow. I also learned that I could not continue to look around and compare my spiritual life with everyone else around me, because I would soon begin to feel guilty and defeated. I had to simply keep my eyes on Jesus and allow Him to do what only He can do...change my heart, grow my faith, and develop a love for Him and for others in me. He will do it Heather, for He is true and faithful, always, without exception! I will be praying for you.

[darkwoof]

Don't worry, it is normal even for 'seasoned' Christians to have doubts! In fact, I believe the more faithful and loyal believer you are of the one true God, the more the devil will try to tempt you, cast doubts in you, and turn you away from Him. As Christians we must always hold fast to our faith, overcome our doubts and stay on track.

When we are weak, seek guidance and strength from the Spirit. And for human help, there's always the fellowship! That's Us! :D

[Mandy]

AMEN!! Thank you very much for sharing that!:)

[heather]

Thanks again, I have so much to learn, being the baby Christian that I am. I think the best thing is the fellowship on these pages. As Friend in God says it is nice not to struggle alone, and even Darkwolf says that fellowship helps. Messenger, so often I pray that God will help me open my heart to Him. My problem is that I tend to grab back the controls, for me as a child I had to be in perfect control, or I was dead. I mean literally dead, as my parents both tried to kill me before I was 5. Sometimes I think the lack of love I had as a child plays in my inability to trust God in the way He seems to want us to trust Him. I still feel like a cornered animal, and ready to run. Even the feelings of love that He is supposed to exude would probably panic me.

[Mandy]

I am so sorry about your childhood. Just keep praying and seeking the Lord and He will help you to trust Him.
I firmly believe that many of the trials we deal with are so that we can minister to others who are going through the same thing. We are told in the Bible to bear one another's burdens and the thing that helps us to do that is because we can relate and because we are filled with God's love.
God bless you Heather.

[ZiSunka]

I have been a Christian for nearly 14 years, and I still sometimes have doubts. But the more I learn about God, and the longer I know Him and see His workings, the fewer doubts I have.

I have many testimonies to God's existence that I can fall back on when I start to doubt. Over time, you will have such testimonies, too.

[Blynn]

Hi Heather,


I also came from an abusive dysfunctional home. I think what happens is that we tend to bring our human experiences into our new relationship with God.

I know that I did this. I too had to be in control. I had a very hard time giving control of my life to God. I was afraid. I had a hard time trusting Him because I did not know how to trust. The people in my life were not trustworthy. I did not even know how to love or be loved. I was also afraid that if I did something wrong God would be mad at me or leave me.

I have been a Christian for 13 years and little by little with God's help I can trust and I can love. He is very trustworthy.

He is wonderful. He will never hurt you or leave you. Sometimes it takes time Heather, but you will get there. God understands. I know that He does.

I continue to pray for you.

With love and blessings,
Roberta

[heather]

Mandy, thanks for your kind words. THe only thing that really helps is the hope that some of this stuff can be turned to good, if not, then I would be desparing more.

Lambslove, I am too new to have experiences to fall back on, and lately have been getting in touch with the fact that right now I am still really angry at God. I keep wanting to lay out a fleece for him and ask him to explain the whys and I know that is not right. But it is tempting.

Blynn, you are so right that our human experience tinges our relationship with God. For me control is a really BIG issue, and the thought of letting an intangible God have control of my life is almost inconceivable. For me, as a child I really had to be in control of emotions, reactions, expressions, words, everything. My life literally depended on it. So that baggage still tags along with me.

I try to believe in God's love, his justice and legalism, no problem. Love is hard for me.

Thanks again for all your help.