Struggles

I think you're doing fine. You're just over thinking it. I know I do it all the time

I think you're doing fine. You're just over thinking it. I know I do it all the time

brightfuture2172 said:

So, recently I have been struggling. For the most part, and especially from people at church because I don't really know any one super well yet, I have kept quiet. Well, last week, I had a panic attack at church and ended up confiding in someone afterwards. She encouraged me to attend their prayer time that night. I did and confided in a handful of ladies about my struggles and what it was specifically about. I received a lot of encouragement and prayer.

THIS Sunday a couple of other people asked how I was just to be nice. I think I was too honest and said I'd been struggling. It was only two people but now I wish I hadn't of said anything. Mind you, one of the people I spoke with has been through the same thing I have so that was kind of neat. I guess I am not used to being "real" or maybe I just wanted sympathy!!!

I think the anxiety is starting to pass a little but it is a bit scary when people know your personal struggles - even though the church is there to share each other's burdens.

Should I feel embarrassed about telling my struggles to additional people? I'm not going to share it with anyone else!!

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It's funny you mentioned this because recently I felt the same way at my last youth group meeting this past Sunday! lol. I'm like you in a way I'm a bit shy. I'll also admit I'm a bit awkward, all my friends have told me that, my parents told me that, even my siblings have lol. I felt a bit shame when I left because I knew I sounded lame and confusing when I was talking to people. Plus, after I left the church I yelled at one of my friends as a joke "ay ugly looking n*&&^ !" and I think everyone heard me so that sucked lol. I felt bad and I still do. Just keep going and force yourself to grow. Most people at church are nice and they're there to love anyways. so don't feel discouraged. Everyone makes mistakes, just don't be hard on yourself.

I have never shared my personal struggles with anyone at church, but if you feel comfortable sharing your struggles I don't see anything wrong with that.

The Old Testament cities had walls and gates. The gates were closed to keep the city protected at night and when it was under attack. And the gates were opened during safe hours so that people could come and go to do commerce, communicate with the outside world and enrich their lives.

We have to do the same thing. There is a time to share, and a time to keep your own counsel. The trick is discerning the time for each. From the fruit of your sharing, the encouragement and peace, it sounds like you did the right thing. After all, this is what the church is for, as you say. But if you begin to feel uneasy, it's probably best to be a little cautious until you get more clarity. Be in prayer about it and listen for the sense of Holy Spirit in the matter. He'll confirm with peace, clarity and conviction.

Ah…so much hypocrisy in church.

Not you brightfuture but that is the evil in religion.

We are supposed to be able to be free enough to live 'real'.
We ALL have gone astray.
Every one of us as gone our own way.
All of us have hang-up, private sins, fears, and things we rather not talk about.

All of us.

And its a healthy place, when we can all share our troubles and problems without
feeling like we were the odd ball and everyone else has it so together!! that is plain wrong and
plain hypocrisy.

I am not saying the lady who had a similar struggle did wrong or you did wrong - NO!
But we should all feel safe, and realize that we are all hurting and suffering and nobody (but JESUS) has it all together.

Carry one-anothers burdens. Galatians 6:2
We can do that when we love one-another and not judge one-another.

-eric

Being in a church environment does make you experience peace and respect with others. Socially, it can feel very limited as if there is a missing essential part of the brain where communication, listening, remembering are under a time-limit individual responsibility, such as: your communicating with one church member becomes a "I need to go now, I want to speak to my friend" excuse, since church activities like information notices, kitchen duties, book and CD music sales duties, band or choir duties have their individual church responsibilities:.
Careful not to jump to conclusions that there is no comparison-judging where you can feel negatively self-conscious if you are not doing any church responsibility at all, and for good reason too, because our physical presence of our not-yet perfect minds and bodies are not actually our true-potential minds and bodies of Christ because Jesus has to return in his Second Coming future victory return, and once Satan is defeated and sin removed completely from our lives like pressure taking off of our shoulders, only then will we experience social success with our future-then new genius-intelligent minds and measure-perfect bodies of Christ without negative personal criticism and discrimination, like your race, hygiene level such as "good breath as opposed to bad breath" and so on.:
Although Jesus is capable to spiritually live in one's heart for spiritual union-ship, whether or not we will have this heart-dwelling spiritual relationship in our brothers and sisters of Christ for another level of communication that is supernatural, where it's almost like having an in-built mobile phone in your head with advanced internet image and information features *?* is another story.;'*';.