Losing Faith

[Christian_Andy]

Hi brothers I would just like to start by praising all you great people who seek to help and use the glory of god to make people understand the word the lord teaches! Personally for me right now though, I have been a christian for about a year and a half to 2 years and have never doubted that he is there.

But lately with unbelievers continually telling me he is not true and saying things like "go on then if he is true tell me why there is all this suffering in the world" and i had no answer to him because i dont really understand it myself I did answer by saying "you haven't read the bible have you, it says it will be like this before jesus comes back from heaven"

but as you can tell he was having none of it! and wanted an answer as to why god would let people suffer across the world. With me not being able to give him a good answer i felt as though i had let the lord down and i should have came up with a proper answer to make him think twice about his unbelief but i couldnt

That is just a bit of what is getting me down, also lately i have just started to doubt things in life, like i will think about all the other religions and think well maybe in the end all the religions are false??

I know i should not think that but because i am struggling at the moment in life i sometimes doubt god is in me and still has me in the book of eternal life Sometimes i get depressed about things, not suicidal! no way, but just really sad and upset and thinking i'm doomed, i dont know why my faith is going but it is and i keep trying to resurrect it and it just goes downhill again.


Also when i do get depressed and feeling low, i ask the lord to help me, and i believe he does help me, but i ask for my depression to be taken away and it never seems to be taken away and i dont know why and its hard for me to take sometimes! i mean by heart im an optimistic happy person but when i get weighed down by all the evil in this world it just depresses me!

I need help and guidance and i know you guys can answer my questions, for you know more about it better than i do! i still sometimes find it hard to understand what the bible is telling me, therefor i struggle to know what the answers to these questions are

Thank you for reading this its very much appreciated and i hope you will be able to help me in some way! take care brothers, god bless.

 

[Christian_Andy]

Also there is a line in the bible which says "the lord will forgive sins against man but if you blaspheme against the lord you will never be forgiven" that tells me that if you did that and wanted forgiveness for it you wouldnt get it?

 

[Franlewis]

Dear Christian_Andy,

My heart goes out to you. I hear what you are saying and you are not alone. I think that every Christian has to wonder why suffering occurs and quite a few of us suffer from depression from time to time. Famous Christian preachers and song writers have been through bouts of depression. It's not the fact that it happens to you, it's what you do with it that counts. Jesus talks about the person who has been forgiven the most being the most grateful. In the same way, isn't the person who God has rescued from the pit of depression, more grateful than the person who has never know that deep darkness?

You do well to pray to Him and trust in Him for your relief. I pray He will provide you with all you need. Perhaps that might be more Christian fellowship? The best thing for a depressed person is to hear the truth of the Word of God because God, and therefore His Word, doesn't change. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So trust in His promises, because I'm sorry to say that you cannot trust yourself. We are much too changeable for that!

As for the problem of suffering, I think that should probably be a whole new thread in and of itself!

Love in Christ...

 

[Amen!]

Hi, Christian_Andy. My prayers are with you.

I don't have the answers you seek, but I would like to suggest one very important thing that will make a lot of difference. Avoid surrounding yourself or interacting with doubters and unbelievers. Instead, immerse yourself in Him and His Word. Ask God to strengthen your faith through prayerful, contemplative study and meditation. Don't go into battle without training and weaponry or you will be in danger of being "run through"?

Also, I don't know very much about blasphemy, but I don't believe you CAN change your mind and desire forgivness afterward. Once your spirit totally denies God (which is what I think blasphemy is), there's no return. God, I believe, gives those who cross this line up to a reprobate mind. I think that if you posess a desire to know the Truth and be obedient, God has not given up on you. Why, afterall, would He continue to draw you unto Himself if you had no hope of salvation? I don't believe you can be guilty of blasphemy and desire God at the same time.

I probably should not speak this much of something I know so little about. If I've gotten it even partially wrong, I pray God will admonish and correct me through someone more mature in the Spirit. I suggest you study this topic more closely and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding. He has more accurate answers than I could possibly offer.

Bless and be blessed.
Amen!

 

[stephen]

Hello Christian Andy

Do not lose heart brother. With Jesus you are on the winning side. You are on the Victory side with Jesus.

Jesus said "Ask and it shall be given......Seek and ye shall find......Knock and it shall be opened unto you". Luke 11 v 9 - 10

Wait for Him. You will not be disappointed. Keep true to Jesus.

I have just made a post in the Bible Study section, entitled Faith and Works. Read it brother, live it, and you will be a winner.

God Bless You

 

[Repentance]

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[lindadc]

Dear brother (Repentance )

You have creatively and beautifully placed your words very well and I like this the most .
We are all sinners and we don't deserve good things to happen to us, thank God that He loves us enough to let good things happen, and even give us a chance to save our sins by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ

I know there is a wonderful person inside you .
I enjoy reading your posting .See you around .
GBU always .

 

[Repentance]

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[Christian_Andy]

Thank you very much for your help on this matter everyone was heart warming to know people care, I don't usually tell anyone about my bouts of depression than my parents and thats about it! tried telling 1 mate and he thought i was joking and laughed and said you havn't got depression! I mean i would say 60% of the time i'm happy but some days if im feeling tired and fed up then depression will come back But i have faith in the lord that he hears my cry and will help me, it is very true what you have said in reply to my post, about if you tend to spend time with unbelievers they will tend to drag you down into their unbelief and doubt but spending time with fellow christians will give you more faith and happiness

I think being 18 and with most people i know my age just being unbelievers it does get very hard to stay strong minded towards God at times which upsets me and i beat myself up about it (not literally, but in my mind) and it just makes me think of myself of a horrible person!

Thank you for the answers to the questions too! Repentence that was a very true post you posted there and one which helped, i shall remember those helpful paragraphs

Another thing which gives me bigger faith in the lord is the things he predicted in the bible for when the time is near and that is wars, rumours of wars, false prophets fooling people and bad things like that. You just have to look whats happening now in the middle east to realise all the predictions are coming true! I just hope when all is said and done i am in the book of life

I have prayed many prayers to the lord and sometimes i'm not sure if they have been answered but maybe that is because of the doubt i sometimes have? and if i do not believe 100% he is going to answer it then maybe he won't.

 

[Repentance]

..................... =)

 

[Capt. Mac]

Depression

Brother Andy, I think we have all faced the very same things you are facing, I know I have. But I can say the because of God and some very good doctors my depression has been taken care of, every day when I open my eyes after a wonderful restful sleep I just gaze at my surroundings and glory in God and all the wonderful things He has created. I've learned through the years to turn to our Lord for most everything, the Lord has the answer for everthing that may bother you. You know, there was a time when I could not sleep, even with sleep aids (I still at times have to take some sleep aid) but, have you ever fallen asleep in the arms of God? Well, I do it every time I sleep, when ever I lay this old body down, I just relax and start talking to my Lord, I thank Him for everything He has done for me and believe me, He has done alot. I thank Him for the wonderful family he has given unto me to care for and to look after with His help. I now look at life in a different way, I put the Lord first and I depend upon Him to lead and guide me and my family. Just as the song says; Trust and Obey, Jesus is the way, all you have to do is Trust Him and Obey Him, Seek His face and put your faith in Him, you will never go wrong. I do hope you find the answer you are looking for, May God Bless You and Yours.
YBIC Jesus; Ronnie

 

[On the Path]

Dear Christian Andy,

As a "baby" Christian, you are not expected to have all the answers. Even those who have been in the ministry for years don't have all the answers.

Imagine yourself walking on a path. At the other end of the path is Jesus. You can see him. Keep your eyes on him. Anything that the devil throws your way, hold up your "shielf of faith" and keep walking.

 

[fallen_angela]

instead of making a new thread..i'll make-do with a new post instead..ok here's what it is>>

I turned towards Lord, in July last year. Though im a Hindu by birth.In this One Year I have been continuosly striving to follow His statutes. But i failed to have a two-sided communication with Him, i feel its always me talking and He never replies (i have heard Lord talks thru Verses/Vision/People) My pal said that if i go to fellowship, this problem will be solved..but due to my cruel Hindu parents i couldnt work the fellowship thing out..but no! i couldnt go to Church more than twice-thrice. I still didnt lose my faith and i thought, i'll fast to make Him talk to me..so i fasted one day..w/o food and water, still no avail..but i kept my calm. Im still waiting for him to talk.

From few days..im facing lots and lots of torment, my career has gone down the drain, my nephew has been diagnosed with 2 holes in his heart..its all Hell!! im losing my faith..havent read Bible or prayed since a week.

Instead of growing in Faith, Im losing it! God has done a lot for me..but with so many troubles, i cant get myself to trust Him now, it seems suddenly he's stopped granting me favours..i didnt do anything! :embarasse
Is there anything missing..what should i do?Plz Help