A friend needs help

[xianlexavier]

I didn't know where to put this, so mods, feel free to put it in the right place.. thank you.

Anyways, I have a friend who is swamped with business work and trying to get a job... he's about to lose his vehicle and is having so much financial troubles that it's bizarre!

He needs your prayers. We'll call him "JR". The big problem is that all his stress causes him to lose faith in the Lord. He tells me many times that he feels that God is ignoring him, has given up on him, and that God is too busy with other people to deal with him.

Can you all give me some bible verses to send to him? Or just any advice on how to deal with it? It makes me sad that he feels this way. I don't want him to give up on God. But I'm afraid that if things don't get better, he may do that.

I hate asking, but the only thing I know to do is to pray for him. And I'd be very happy if you all could do that for him. JR lives in California. Like I told him in y messenger, "I myself dont even have much money, and if I had I would send it to you in a heartbeat! But the only thing I can think of to do is pray."

I thought CF would be the best place to reach out to other Christians all around the world.

Thanks guys! Love you all!

Your friend,
Lex

 

[JPPT1974]

I know how JR feels as I myself am trying to find a job. I also want a job that I love and can go to work and come home happy. As well as with great people and management that I can get along with. I will be praying for JR and that God will provide him with the job that God will bear with him in mind. Amen!

 

[Ann Doupont]

Hi Lex,

A verse did come to mind right away: Mark 4:19. There are 3 things that will choke out the word of God. One of these is the cares of the world. You might want to read the whole passage there.

When Jesus is the Lord of our lives, we will put Him first. He said to draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us. See James 4:8. If we're not as close to the Lord as we once were, we're the one who moved away. JR probably needs to get back to spending some quality time with the Lord. He alone has the answers that JR (and all of us) needs.

Ann

 

[silentpoet]

This then is love, that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. I know some of what your friend is going through, I experience it in varying degrees most days. What has helped me grow in faith, though to be honest I cannot say things have gotten better for me in life, is to grow a deeper commitment to do God's will. I believe God has called me to be a writer, of some sort and on some level. SO what I have been doing is working on that and toward that end. I still have very bad days, but I am growing in grace and wisdom. One thing I do know is that God made your friend the way he is for a reason and that God would not ask him to be different from what He made him. The trick is getting rid of the worldly baggage and being true to your self as the Lord has made you. This will not make life easy, it may indeed get harder. However it is part of what God wants us to do in life.

Also the verse about "Neither sinned, but that this happened so that the Love of God might be shown" I am paraphrasing roughly here. I am not good with exact verses, so i can't tell you exactly where to look.

Ec 3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

Psalm 6 is helpful.
The first chapter of Second Corinthians has some good stuff about the purpose of suffering in God's plan.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

[Tavita]

Yes, this is a really tough time for your friend, JR. Please tell him that God isn't ignoring him, He's in the process of increasing his faith.

(Joh 11:40) Jesus *said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"


These scriptures speak for themselves..


(Jam 1:2) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

(Jam 1:3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

(Jam 1:4) And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.


(1Pe 1:6) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

(1Pe 1:7) so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

(1Pe 1:8) and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

(1Pe 1:9) obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.


Will we believe God will look after us and supply all our needs? Sometimes God allows these trials to come along, not only so that God can see we trust Him, but that WE can see, and know whom we believe.

 

[xianlexavier]

WOW I am totally surprised at the wonderful answers to my original post. I cannot thank you all enough! If you don't mind, I'll send him the answers from you all, with a few more things I've recently come up with by studying the bible with my mum.
Thanks again! God bless you ALL!
Love,
Lex