Need help finding peace + building a relationship

[Rebekah M]

Hi, just a warning this will probably be a long post ahead. I've been seeking some peace in my life, but I don't even know where to begin. I figured a forum for Christians looking to help people like me would be the best place to start. Just some background:

I am 22 years old, just graduated college within the past six months. I've grown up in the church - as a young child I went to a UMC, and as an older kid/teen/now, I go to a Nazarene church. Not sure if this matters or not. Anyway, I've been going to church since I was a toddler. I've always believed in God, but that's about it. I was very involved in the children and youth group when I was in it, but more so for the social aspect - my heart was never fully in it. I truly do believe in God, I always have, but that's it. I've never sought a relationship with him, I've never really felt like He was telling me anything. When I was away at college, I pretty much never went to church.

So here I am now. I'm a recent college graduate, I have moved out on my own (with a roommate) and started my first career job. I'm not particularly happy, though, and I just really feel like I need some peace. Peace in my personal life, my professional life, etc. I know that if I give control over to God, I can have this peace I seek. I think I'd be a lot happier if I led a life for Him. The problem is, I don't know where to start. The first thing I need to do is to find a church in my new city, where I've been for almost a month. But.... what else do I do? Surely just sitting in on a service for an hour a week isn't going to cut it. Are there passages I can read to help me get started, since I'm already a believer? Or maybe, should I be looking for blogs or something online maybe? I feel so lost on how to get from where I am to where I want to be.

 

[Justified Sinner]

It seems to me that God is pulling you to Him. The good news is you can't prevent Him from doing so.

Don't listen to your emotions. You are a fallen, sinful person like the rest of us, and your feelings will deceive you. Your feelings aren't evidence of the presence (or absence) of God.

Forgive the shameless plug. You mentioned reading blog posts. You can begin with mine. I've begun mine recently so I don't have many posts yet. However, I do have a blog post that I think might be helpful: How to Start Being a Christian.

I have another post that may be helpful as well: Struggling with Sin: The Normal Christian Life.

You are part of the family. I don't just mean the Christian Forum family. I mean God's family. It's good to have you with us.

Final comment. This is a life long journey, a marathon. It may take some time for you to be comfortable. In the meantime, learn the basics of Christianity. This is the foundation of your faith and the thing that will give you confidence and bring you comfort.

 

[maintenance man]

But.... what else do I do? Surely just sitting in on a service for an hour a week isn't going to cut it.

Worship is an important part of your walk with the Lord but your are right in saying there is more.

You need to study the Word of God. You need to pray. You need to put your faith into action serving others.

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22 (NASB)

I always like to recommend this book for those trying to move closer to God:

I think this is a great place to start.

 

[com7fy8]

I've grown up in the church - as a young child I went to a UMC, and as an older kid/teen/now, I go to a Nazarene church. Not sure if this matters or not.

God uses church, but church is not what does everything we need and all that God wants with us. If you understand this, this is good But we have Jesus people who can help us live and love the way God desires, and we can find these Jesus example people in churches.

I've always believed in God, but that's about it.

I truly do believe in God, I always have, but that's it.

I've never sought a relationship with him, I've never really felt like He was telling me anything.

All right, so you know there is such a thing. Yes, our Heavenly Father does personally share with each of His children; so in prayer trust God to do this with you. He is committed to this.

my professional life

If I may ask, what do you do? And why, please?

I know that if I give control over to God, I can have this peace I seek. I think I'd be a lot happier if I led a life for Him.

So, you know this. Thank God that you do.

The problem is, I don't know where to start.

Jesus is the start, on Calvary's cross. Jesus has gotten things started. And God knows all He desires to do with you personally.

And we are praying for you > we trust you to God, because God is the One who saves a person and changes us so we are sharing with Him in His love > Romans 5:5 > and so we are submissive to Him in His peace ruling us > Colossians 3:15. We are trusting God to do what He knows He wants to do with you.

The first thing I need to do is to find a church in my new city, where I've been for almost a month. But.... what else do I do?

Pray, and trust God.

"Therefore submit to God." (in James 4:7)

Trust God to have you succeed with Him. And feed on any good example of people you meet in church and elsewhere. Trust God to have you know who is for real in Christ.

Surely just sitting in on a service for an hour a week isn't going to cut it.

One thing that has helped me for all the time is I be quiet and trust God to do what He wants with me, at any moment in any situation. Depend on Him. He is not silent, but He is quiet, and we can share with Him in quietness and rest > Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 9:23.

Are there passages I can read to help me get started, since I'm already a believer?

Any scripture can help you somehow. Trust God to guide you and have you understand and do what He wants with you.

 

[ajcarey]

Hi, just a warning this will probably be a long post ahead. I've been seeking some peace in my life, but I don't even know where to begin. I figured a forum for Christians looking to help people like me would be the best place to start. Just some background:

I am 22 years old, just graduated college within the past six months. I've grown up in the church - as a young child I went to a UMC, and as an older kid/teen/now, I go to a Nazarene church. Not sure if this matters or not. Anyway, I've been going to church since I was a toddler. I've always believed in God, but that's about it. I was very involved in the children and youth group when I was in it, but more so for the social aspect - my heart was never fully in it. I truly do believe in God, I always have, but that's it. I've never sought a relationship with him, I've never really felt like He was telling me anything. When I was away at college, I pretty much never went to church.

So here I am now. I'm a recent college graduate, I have moved out on my own (with a roommate) and started my first career job. I'm not particularly happy, though, and I just really feel like I need some peace. Peace in my personal life, my professional life, etc. I know that if I give control over to God, I can have this peace I seek. I think I'd be a lot happier if I led a life for Him. The problem is, I don't know where to start. The first thing I need to do is to find a church in my new city, where I've been for almost a month. But.... what else do I do? Surely just sitting in on a service for an hour a week isn't going to cut it. Are there passages I can read to help me get started, since I'm already a believer? Or maybe, should I be looking for blogs or something online maybe? I feel so lost on how to get from where I am to where I want to be.

This verse came to mind after reading your post: " Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)

It is important also to get as familiar with the Bible as you can reasonably get. Perhaps following a one or two year Bible reading plan would be good; or reading a few chapters a day in both the OT and NT (you'll probably get through the NT 3 or 4 times before you get through the OT, but hearing from both daily has great benefits as you can see firsthand the consistency of Scripture and better see God's eternal plan of redemption unfolded and understand your place in it from an optimal perspective).

And in doing the above you will surely see a lot of other things you ought to do. Trust God and go forward in them because you were created to worship Him and walk before Him in a living, working faith. You will have to suffer to consistently follow Him, there will be many ups and downs, but keep trusting Him and follow with His Word honestly and faithfully - and day by day, but especially over time, you will see Him make something amazing and excellent out of your life in a way that will last and have value eternally! "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11)
​

 

[bèlla]

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. —Isaiah 26:3

There are a few ways to go about this. Prayer and bible study are obvious choices. You may also enjoy devotionals. They cover different subjects.

If you’re creative, there are many options worth exploring. Daily or gratitude journals are popular. I’ve used Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts book in the past and it ministered to my spirit immensely. You can print a copy of the joy dares and count your blessings every day.

There’s also bible journaling, scrapbooking, mixed media, crafts, photography, etc. All of these things can be an avenue for deepening your relationship with God.

You could knit while playing worship music or listen to an audio bible. There’s no fixed way to go about it. The more time you spend in His presence the greater your peace and contentment.

 

[gym_class_hero]

Hi Rebekah,

I think it's important to listen to Christian music and different preachers on the radio as well as finding a church and s small group to be a part of. Also serving somewhere will help your walk. God bless you!

 

[com7fy8]

you were created to worship Him and walk before Him in a living, working faith.

"faith working through love" > in Galatians 5:6.

So, faith is not only about believing there is God. And God is all-loving; so we get more and more into sharing with God, as we get more into how He has us loving any and all people. So, faith does not have you on your own and alone with God, but we grow in loving and sharing as His family >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

And we are loving as family, like this, in order to please God.

Therefore, we can not have peace by ourselves and only fixing our own circumstances. We have peace, including by submitting to how God rules us in His peace, by the way >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

So, then, a simple reason we do not have peace, is because we are not obeying how God would rule us in His peace. So, whenever I get elsewhere, right away I need to stop and seek God for correction with how He restores me and tunes me, then discover what He pleases to have me doing in sharing with Him. So I need to fully depend on Him > this is part of denying ourselves and trusting in Jesus > instead of depending on ourselves, now we depend on God in us. And this works in His love which is all-loving and unconditional and so generously forgiving; He is kind and personal and unconditional with us, and this is our example also required of us in faith which works in this love. Faith brings us into this loving with Him, more and more, as we grow in Jesus.

And God includes us to help each other. We do this as family. So we need to share with each other and learn how to love and forgive one another . . . so lusts and unforgiveness can not isolate us and eat us alive.

 

[Tolworth John]

Hi, just a warning this will probably be a long post ahead. I've been seeking some peace in my life, but I don't even know where to begin. I figured a forum for Christians looking to help people like me would be the best place to start. Just some background:

I am 22 years old, just graduated college within the past six months. I've grown up in the church - as a young child I went to a UMC, and as an older kid/teen/now, I go to a Nazarene church. Not sure if this matters or not. Anyway, I've been going to church since I was a toddler. I've always believed in God, but that's about it. I was very involved in the children and youth group when I was in it, but more so for the social aspect - my heart was never fully in it. I truly do believe in God, I always have, but that's it. I've never sought a relationship with him, I've never really felt like He was telling me anything. When I was away at college, I pretty much never went to church.

So here I am now. I'm a recent college graduate, I have moved out on my own (with a roommate) and started my first career job. I'm not particularly happy, though, and I just really feel like I need some peace. Peace in my personal life, my professional life, etc. I know that if I give control over to God, I can have this peace I seek. I think I'd be a lot happier if I led a life for Him. The problem is, I don't know where to start. The first thing I need to do is to find a church in my new city, where I've been for almost a month. But.... what else do I do? Surely just sitting in on a service for an hour a week isn't going to cut it. Are there passages I can read to help me get started, since I'm already a believer? Or maybe, should I be looking for blogs or something online maybe? I feel so lost on how to get from where I am to where I want to be.

To find a church check out the christianity explored web site and use google.

Peace with God isll about your relationship with him.
If there is a course running join it, it wiull help you with God, with people in the church.

As for your job, only experience doing your job will give you peace there.
Every new job one has to learn it and its problems, time is the answer there.