How do you overcome bitterness toward God?

[hhodgson]

Harry and Now Faith

I apologize

Hmmm..! I'm going to have a little fun with this, if I may. Troy... This is all that I brought up from your response because the next word was an "if" and that word can be as scary as "but"...

God loves us all in spite of us doesn't he..? I have told Him many times that He has to love me since He created me in His image...

Now we know you are very busy "but" stick around and be a permanent fixture. At times, I may tell you to drop down and give me 25... (push ups) that is... I still do it at my age, ahh, I mean that I think about it...

Welcome back Troy... Maybe we can get Pastor Zzub to sneak back in here more often also...


Greater works...
_____________
Harry

 

[victoryword]

Hmmm..! I'm going to have a little fun with this, if I may. Troy... This is all that I brought up from your response because the next word was an "if" and that word can be as scary as "but"...

God loves us all in spite of us doesn't he..? I have told Him many times that He has to love me since He created me in His image...

Now we know you are very busy "but" stick around and be a permanent fixture. At times, I may tell you to drop down and give me 25... (push ups) that is... I still do it at my age, ahh, I mean that I think about it...

Welcome back Troy... Maybe we can get Pastor Zzub to sneak back in here more often also...


Greater works...
_____________
Harry

The Zzub man and I e-mail each other. Sometimes to share our victories as pastors and other times to cry on each other's shoulders.

But actually, Zzub is doing great. His church has grown vastly, and when you have that much growth you are going to be busy.

 

[Shepherd1]

The Zzub man and I e-mail each other. Sometimes to share our victories as pastors and other times to cry on each other's shoulders.

But actually, Zzub is doing great. His church has grown vastly, and when you have that much growth you are going to be busy.

OK great - thanks for the update - give him our regards...

 

[simply christian]

Many make a god as a derivative of God. And worship their god they have made. Then when they return to reality and realize life does not fit their scheme they become upset saying that's not what my god would do.

Life is not easy. I always return to the North Koreans and pray for them when I'm disappointed. They have it tough. But many in the past have had it tough. We just live in good times now.

Not saying God does not answer prayer. But contentment is the key to peace. Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

Written from a 1st century dungeon!

Well what I'm hearing, then, is: "Just don't ask for anything then. Just be content with nothing (or what little you may have)."

My life isn't a cake walk either. I feel bad when others suffer, and thinking about how bad others have it does not in any way make me feel better. It actually makes me feel worse. Perhaps God doesn't care about any of us?

 

[simply christian]

Well I apologize for some of my colleagues here. I think some of us need to put away the prosperity, faith, and authority over the devil books and revisit Kenneth Hagin's "Walking in love" teachings. We sometimes forget Paul's admonition to "speak the truth in love".

On the other hand, keep in mind that many detractors of the faith movement come in here just to argue and try to set traps for people. It is not an excuse for some of the lack of compassion shown you, but it can wary a person.

Now, are you willing to listen to sound Biblical reasons (compassionately given of course)? For example, I showed you some of your misunderstandings about Job. You did not acknowledge it. Do you want the truth that will help you overcome bitterness towards God? If so, I want to help you. However, if you have a mindset about God and Job and you are going to stick to that and argue about it then nothing more can be said here by me.

So let me know what you want.

I have studied Job for years. In many ways, he is the biblical character that I relate to the most. As far as I understand it, God brags up Job and recommends him to Satan. Satan challenges God by saying Job is only using God for blessings and if God takes them all away (note: God, not Satan), then Job will walk away from God. God obliges Satan and does so. Job retains his faith. This happens again, then Satan says the same thing. Again, Job retains his faith in God and even acknowledges God as the one who sends both good and evil.

Then Job starts to feel sorry for himself (who wouldn't at this point?) and his 3 friends come to "comfort" him, while all they really do is accuse him of evil. He defends his innocence, though he does come across as somewhat prideful and he repeatedly blames God for bringing this upon him. Eventually, God shows up and essentially tells Job to be silent and that he knows nothing. Job acknowledges he knows nothing and repents.

If I am mistaken, I am open to hearing how. That is a summary of the book of Job in two paragraphs.

 

[simply christian]

First off you come to realized that whatever has happened to you to cause this bitterness, God did not do it to you. Once there... it is pretty much finished.

That's true, but I believe God did do it.

If God is in control of all, and can answer all prayer and doesn't, then only he can be to blame. Satan, as far as Job goes, simply works for God and does whatever God tells him. God has no equal, so the devil is even under his control. At least as far as the Bible goes.

I don't see how not to hold God as responsible in this situation.

 

[simply christian]

Time and learning the truth about the situation. For example, if you had been taught all your life that 'God takes so and so because he needed another angel,' then you might need to take that 'teaching' and compare it to the Word. The Word of God brings light and life and can deflate that balloon of bitterness quickly. It takes knowing the truth, then you are set free.

I've tried that, but the Word has Job in it, and that pretty much sums everything up for why bad things happen to anyone. God authorizes Satan to attack people and ruin their lives. God could stop it but for some divine purpose, chooses not to. It's kind of disempowering, to be caught in the middle of their discussions.

I don't question God, but it does stink though.

 

[simply christian]

God loves you sc... Remember the story... two footprints in the sand and one disappears. My God, my God, why did you leave me and forsake me you may say... You have probably heard this before sc but God did not leave or forsake you, even during your times of anger and bitterness toward him. The one lone foot print was..... Him carrying you...

The first step to resolve your anger (your quote), is to humbly bow before Him and say... Lord, I acknowledge my error in being angry and bitter at you. Lord, I change my heart and receive your forgiveness and thank you for carrying me through my trials when I thought you walked away. I remember the song, "He was there all the time, waiting patiently in line... He was there all the time.."

As I said to one other poster which is for you as well... God loves you, He really does...


Greater works... for such a time as this...
_____________
Harry

I guess God's love means different things than our love. If I think about a parent, especially one who is all-powerful and claims to love me, then when I had a problem or asked for something that they could do, I would expect that parent to respond and presumably give me what I asked for. However, God does not do this.

Why, I can't say because I don't know. So, we can see that God's love is very different than our love. I don't think God has entirely left me. I full well admit I don't understand him, his ways or anything to do with him, to be honest. He is in heaven. We are here. No one can know the mind of God.

Which is why I said for all practical purposes, we may as well live as atheists since God is a complete enigma to us all. God does what he wants and we have no say. I still pray and talk to God. But I'd be lying if I said I had any clue what he expected, other than obeying a few commands of the bible, worshipping him and spreading the message of the cross.

When it comes to knowing God's "personal" will for my life (if there even is such a thing), I wouldn't have the foggiest what it might be?

 

[morethanenough06]

God's will for you? I would say it's to know Him. From your posts, it appears to me that you fall short of knowing who God truly is. You don't understand His intense love for you. I would put aside everything else right now and get to know the amazing God who loves you. Allow yourself to just fall into His presence, worship Him, and allow Him to pour His healing spirit on you. Ask Him to show you that love. He will. His love for you is more intense than any love you've ever felt for another human being; it is entirely beyond our human comprehension. Until you can get a glimpse of this love, you may not ever be able to let go of this bitterness that is crippling you. I pray that God will reveal Himself and His love to you.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

That's true, but I believe God did do it.

If God is in control of all, and can answer all prayer and doesn't, then only he can be to blame. Satan, as far as Job goes, simply works for God and does whatever God tells him. God has no equal, so the devil is even under his control. At least as far as the Bible goes.

I don't see how not to hold God as responsible in this situation.

What can we say? If you insist that God did it to you when God did not... then you are misplacing the responsibility. As long as you insist that God did it to you.. nobody here can help you.
You are in a snare of your own making, and I am not at all surprised that you are in this situation.
Garbage in garbage out.
Be it unto you according to your faith. I cannot put it any smoother than that.

 

[mandelduke]

How do you overcome bitterness toward God that is easy get to know God! Once you get to know God, all you will have is love and admiration for him.

 

[mandelduke]

With all due respect,this is not a Catholic forum.
We do not subscribe to the Pope nor any ceremonies of the Catholic Church.
But if you are seeking to learn about our Faith we welcome you.

You mean our faith and the Catholic’s faith are not the same?

 

[Scottmcc1]

Well what I'm hearing, then, is: "Just don't ask for anything then. Just be content with nothing (or what little you may have)."

My life isn't a cake walk either. I feel bad when others suffer, and thinking about how bad others have it does not in any way make me feel better. It actually makes me feel worse. Perhaps God doesn't care about any of us?

The issue of contentment is not that we don't have hope of improvement. The issue is that as we serve Christ our hope is in Him and we are not worried that our situation has not changed. Because our efforts of our life is to further the gospel.

 

[Scottmcc1]

That's true, but I believe God did do it.

If God is in control of all, and can answer all prayer and doesn't, then only he can be to blame. Satan, as far as Job goes, simply works for God and does whatever God tells him. God has no equal, so the devil is even under his control. At least as far as the Bible goes.

I don't see how not to hold God as responsible in this situation.

This is the key point of this thread.

This is one of the key points of difference between most of Christianity and Word of Faith. WOF teaches and I agree, that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy and Jesus came to give us life abundantly. John 10:10

God is not in control of everything. He gave it to man who by default gave it to the devil. Jesus regained control Matt 28:18 and it is available to us if we will take it. Satan continues to steal control of the world because of mans ignorance, fear and laziness and worship of self.

 

[Scottmcc1]

Jesus paid it all. All provision for our deliverance has been already provided. It is our move not God's. The ball is in our court not God's. It is up to us not God. God will support anyone who believes Him with all their heart.
2 Chron 16:9

 

[Scottmcc1]

Another thing, a soldier that is down needs help. Now it would be good if he had the faith to rise up on his own. Sometimes if he doesn't have faith he won't be helped. But it would be good if others would go and help the brother that is down and raise him up themselves.

If he is not healed of course he did not have faith. If he had faith he would not be sick. But others that are able should go and help. It is the fault of other people of faith if the sick person is not raised up.

 

[simply christian]

The issue of contentment is not that we don't have hope of improvement. The issue is that as we serve Christ our hope is in Him and we are not worried that our situation has not changed. Because our efforts of our life is to further the gospel.

Then why do you preach prosperity, health and wealth if your only goal is to preach the cross and resurrection? The cross and resurrection, i.e. the gospel, have nothing to do with people being rich or healthy. It is all about Jesus and what HE did, not about what you want. So why preach those things, when you've just said they are irrelevant?

 

[simply christian]

What can we say? If you insist that God did it to you when God did not... then you are misplacing the responsibility. As long as you insist that God did it to you.. nobody here can help you.
You are in a snare of your own making, and I am not at all surprised that you are in this situation.
Garbage in garbage out.
Be it unto you according to your faith. I cannot put it any smoother than that.

I've just shown you in the Bible how God is, in fact, the one responsible for all our suffering. The book of Job makes that clear. I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just going by what the Bible says. If you have a different point of view, I'm open to hearing it. But let's stick with the Bible.

 

[simply christian]

God's will for you? I would say it's to know Him. From your posts, it appears to me that you fall short of knowing who God truly is. You don't understand His intense love for you. I would put aside everything else right now and get to know the amazing God who loves you. Allow yourself to just fall into His presence, worship Him, and allow Him to pour His healing spirit on you. Ask Him to show you that love. He will. His love for you is more intense than any love you've ever felt for another human being; it is entirely beyond our human comprehension. Until you can get a glimpse of this love, you may not ever be able to let go of this bitterness that is crippling you. I pray that God will reveal Himself and His love to you.

I used to have some ideas about who God was. But reality kind of blew those out of the water.

I'm not saying God is exactly like this, but let's use an example. Let's say you have a man who has a wife. Now, he loves his wife (so he says) but he repeatedly beats her. But I loves her.

Now I'm not saying God's like that, but my point is that just because someone says they love you means nothing. Love is demonstrated through action. If I am dealing with something and pray and nothing happens, then that shows how much God cares, doesn't it? If he cared, he would respond. Just as any normal human parent would do. Since he doesn't, it's hard to believe he cares. That's really the bottom line for me. Love is action and inaction, or indifference, to suffering, to me, can only reflect someone who doesn't care. Or cares little.

I don't think I can deal with the bitterness, or hurt, unless God dealt with (or somehow) the situation happened to change for the better. Unless, or until, that happens, I don't think I'll just somehow "get over it". Too much time has passed and he has ignored me for far too long for me to just sweep this under the rug, sadly.

 

[simply christian]

This is the key point of this thread.

This is one of the key points of difference between most of Christianity and Word of Faith. WOF teaches and I agree, that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy and Jesus came to give us life abundantly. John 10:10

God is not in control of everything. He gave it to man who by default gave it to the devil. Jesus regained control Matt 28:18 and it is available to us if we will take it. Satan continues to steal control of the world because of mans ignorance, fear and laziness and worship of self.

And so, what do you do with the book of Job, and other portions of scripture that disagree with some of your tenets of faith? Just ignore them?

I have done the same myself, but the problem is that I'm finding all the bad parts of scripture are true. So that creates a problem for me. It's hard to deny what reality is.