A struggle called life

[stippen]

Hi all,

I'm from the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and new to this forum.
I believe that God exists and that Christ died for the sins commited by men.
The reason why I posted this thread in the non christian subforum is because I don't feel that I live a christian life.

I'm 27 yeras old and I feel my life has been nothing but misery.
I've been depressed for a while now which has been the result of my bad childhood, loss of love and all other stuff that could be classified as 'not amusing'.
I even considered suicide but since it's a sin from which I cannot repent I choose not do so.

Because of this I have a few questions.
The first one might be one that has been asked repeatedly:

1: Why does God allow us to have so much suffering? Surely this is not what He intended when he created life.

2: Why does it seem that when I pray to God for a solution or His help, that my prayer has been 'lost' and no help arrives. It also seems that things go worse. (This is also the reason why I kinda gave up on praying since I don't want to make life even worse then it already is.)

The following question might sound a bit blasphemous, but it isn't intedned in such a way. It's just stuff that i need to ask.

3: I wonder why it seems as if God just sits in heaven and just don't care about what I'm going through. The bible tells me otherwise just as Christ's sacrfice. But still it seems like He just doesn't care. I just wonder how a father could leave one of his childeren to suffer. It's like He is somehow enjoying it.

Well thanks for reading and I hope you could answer some of my questions.

Cheers

 

[Dragons87]

Hi all,

I'm from the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and new to this forum.
I believe that God exists and that Christ died for the sins commited by men.
The reason why I posted this thread in the non christian subforum is because I don't feel that I live a christian life.

I'm 27 yeras old and I feel my life has been nothing but misery.
I've been depressed for a while now which has been the result of my bad childhood, loss of love and all other stuff that could be classified as 'not amusing'.
I even considered suicide but since it's a sin from which I cannot repent I choose not do so.

Sir, my heart goes out to you. You are in my prayers. I endeavour to provide some of my views to your questions. They are not answers—just some of my views. I pray to God that these words may provide some comfort to you, but it is the Spirit who gives comfort.

Because of this I have a few questions.
The first one might be one that has been asked repeatedly:

1: Why does God allow us to have so much suffering? Surely this is not what He intended when he created life.

No, suffering is not God's intention. It is, first and foremost, a consequence of humanity's sin, for after Adam first sinned, God cursed the earth (Genesis 3:17).

But I must stress that the suffering someone goes through is not necessarily down to their own sins—it can be a consequence of the sins of others having a ripple effect.

But rest assured that suffering is not the end! It never is! Suffering is often what drives people towards God. John 9 has a wonderful story.

"As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"

Wow! Jesus' disciples thought that a man was blind from birth because of someone's sins, either his parents' or his own. But Jesus said otherwise. No. This person suffered years of blindness so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. Suffering can usher in the mighty work of God!

Yes, suffering is a consequence of sin, whoever's sin. But it is also a way of God calling to you.

This is echoed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 9. He was suffering too, from "a thorn in my flesh". He pleaded with the Lord to take it away from him. But the Lord said to him:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Paul now understood this, and said that he will boast all the more gladly about his weaknesses and suffering, so that Christ's power always rests on him. Suffering reminds one of his flesh, but it is also an invitation for Christ's healing power to enter one's life.

As you may be suffering, my friend, I hope that you will take as your comfort.

2: Why does it seem that when I pray to God for a solution or His help, that my prayer has been 'lost' and no help arrives. It also seems that things go worse. (This is also the reason why I kinda gave up on praying since I don't want to make life even worse then it already is.)

Unheard prayer? Here is what Isaiah says (in chapter 40):

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Friend, those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength!

Psalm 42 is also a fantastic description of the impatience of the psalmist in waiting for God. He says that his soul pants for God the same way a deer pants for water. Can you imagine the thirst? The want? He's panting. He wants it—now! The psalmist alternates between remembering the good times, reviewing his present agonising situation, and rebuking his troubled soul and affirming his hope in God and praising his Name.

You can do that too. Job is a very good example. When he was in the depths of his suffering, he said (in chapter 1):

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised."

And it's true, isn't it? We all came naked, and naked we will depart. The Lord gives, but the Lord also takes away. Let his name be praised! 1 Corinthians 10:31 says:

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

If you can see past your present worries and focus on the glory of God, rest assured God will show it to you, and then you will have peace and blessings more than you need or ever wanted!

Galatians 5 describes the fruit of the Spirit, and one of them is patience. Patience, my friend! The Lord will swoop in to rescue you just at the right time, without a second's delay. But you must be patient, wait for him, and keep calling!

The following question might sound a bit blasphemous, but it isn't intedned in such a way. It's just stuff that i need to ask.

3: I wonder why it seems as if God just sits in heaven and just don't care about what I'm going through. The bible tells me otherwise just as Christ's sacrfice. But still it seems like He just doesn't care. I just wonder how a father could leave one of his childeren to suffer. It's like He is somehow enjoying it.

Well thanks for reading and I hope you could answer some of my questions.

Cheers

John 1:14 says:

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

God dwells among his people! He had been there with the Israelites in their journey through the desert, and so he is with us today.

The author of Hebrews says (in chapter 4):

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Our high priest Jesus is able to sympathise with our weaknesses—he knows what we're going through right now. It will be this knowledge that will enable you to approach the throne of grace with full confidence to ask for mercy and grace. And wait! He will show you his wonders, if only you are willing to wait, but keep calling!

I don't have depression, so unfortunately I am unable to completely understand your current situation. However, I am currently fighting against homosexual temptations and recovering from pornography addiction. You can read my full testimony by clicking the link in my signature. I don't know depression, but I know how it feels to have prayers unanswered. I know what it means to suffer from something that seems uncontrollable. But I have now found my peace and power from God, and if he did it for me, I believe that he will do it for you.

May all glory be to God, and his peace rest on you, my friend.

 

[ephraimanesti]

Because of this I have a few questions.
The first one might be one that has been asked repeatedly:

MY DEAR BROTHER,

After a little bit of prayer that i may not lead you astray, let me take a shot at your questions:

1: Why does God allow us to have so much suffering? Surely this is not what He intended when he created life.

The pain and suffering is the consequence of our living in a fallen world. Mankind has turned its back on God and decided to run things themselves rather than rely on God's wisdom and power to keep life on track. As a result of the Fall, our world has been spinning deeper and deeper into darkness since that first fatal mistaken in the Garden, and all our suffering results from this alienation from God. Most pain and suffering is man-made!

2: Why does it seem that when I pray to God for a solution or His help, that my prayer has been 'lost' and no help arrives. It also seems that things go worse. (This is also the reason why I kinda gave up on praying since I don't want to make life even worse then it already is.)

ALL prayer rendered in faith is answered. Looking back on my life, i see that God has left no loose ends unaddressed. The problem is, God ALWAYS acts according to our best interests, which means that our answers may not come WHEN we want, HOW we want, and IN THE FORM we want. Keep in mind that "No" is an answer.

Our Lord told several parables to the effect that we should continue praying until we are sure we have received God's answers--even if it should be "no". For example, Luke 11:5-9 and Luke 18:1-8.

The following question might sound a bit blasphemous, but it isn't intedned in such a way. It's just stuff that i need to ask.

3: I wonder why it seems as if God just sits in heaven and just don't care about what I'm going through. The bible tells me otherwise just as Christ's sacrfice. But still it seems like He just doesn't care. I just wonder how a father could leave one of his childeren to suffer. It's like He is somehow enjoying it.

My brother, neither i nor our Abba would consider your question blasphemous. God has shown me during my experiences with Him that He Loves us more than we will ever be able to fathom. However, just as is the situation with earthly fathers (i being one 6 times over!), a father's place is often not to jump in and "fix" negative situations, but to guide the child into learning to cope themselves.

Keeping in mind that God has given us the gift of freewill for just this purpose, it is our primary task to trust God and listen for the "still small voice" of His Holy Spirit guiding us from the center of our hearts. Our Lord Jesus walks with us through all the situations in our lives and, when needed, suffers right along side of us, but to wave a magic wand and change negative situations into positive ones would both stunt our growth toward maturity and be an abrogation of our freewill.

i hope the above at least gives you a starting place to re-evaluate your beliefs regarding both the efficacy of prayer and the Love of God.

MAY GOD BLESS, KEEP, AND GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[visionary]

I have learned the depression is another way of saying my world has shrunk to just me. That is truly depressing. Opening up my world to God, and allowing Him to show me His world, has made a world of difference in my life. May He do the same for you.

 

[stippen]

Goodmorning everyone,

Thnx for getting back to me.
I would like to reply to some of the comments that were posted last night.

@Dragons87
First of all I would like to thank you for your views reagrding my question and I really hope things would turn out for the better for you, you probably have a hard time dealing with the temptation and addiction.
Thanks also for praying for me!

I undestand alot of what you've written.
I understand that Adam & Eve's sin drove mankind away from God, which caused sin and death to enter our world.

But what I don't understand is the following:
'Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"

So what you are saying is that this man is blind because God wanted to show people the work that He has done in the blind man's life? I guess the work could only be seen after the blind man is healed from his blindness.
But still, if this is the case, I failed to see the love of God for the blind man.

It seems (but I guess this is just because I don't understand God) that God allows this man to suffer, so everyone could see that when/if this man is healed it is God's work.

Would it be acceptable if I had childeren to ignore one of their needs so that at a later time, I could provide them with it, in order to glorify my name/title as father?

Like I said perhaps i don't understnad this conecpt, but if I'm correct, please tell me where God's love is in this case.

@ephraimanesti
Thank you for your reply.
I would like to reply to one of the things you've written.

"ALL prayer rendered in faith is answered. Looking back on my life, i see that God has left no loose ends unaddressed. The problem is, God ALWAYS acts according to our best interests, which means that our answers may not come WHEN we want, HOW we want, and IN THE FORM we want. Keep in mind that "No" is an answer."

Sure I can take no for an answer and I understand that when asking God for help, help usualy doens't come in the shape or form we hope for.
This is not my problem, my problem is the lack of an answer in any shape or form.
I would be happy to hear a no since it is an answer, instead of asking for help and receiving silence.

@visionary
Thank you for your kind words, I hope He does so for me too.

 

[Dragons87]

@Dragons87
First of all I would like to thank you for your views reagrding my question and I really hope things would turn out for the better for you, you probably have a hard time dealing with the temptation and addiction.
Thanks also for praying for me!

I undestand alot of what you've written.
I understand that Adam & Eve's sin drove mankind away from God, which caused sin and death to enter our world.

But what I don't understand is the following:
'Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"

So what you are saying is that this man is blind because God wanted to show people the work that He has done in the blind man's life? I guess the work could only be seen after the blind man is healed from his blindness.
But still, if this is the case, I failed to see the love of God for the blind man.

It seems (but I guess this is just because I don't understand God) that God allows this man to suffer, so everyone could see that when/if this man is healed it is God's work.

You are absolutely right. I think that the man was allowed to be born blind to wait for the moment when Jesus meets him, "as [Jesus] went along" (John 9:1). John doesn't seem to indicate that Jesus had a purpose in going down that road that particular day to meet this blind beggar. Notice when even the disciples, followers of Jesus, saw this man, he was "just another" blind beggar, and was trying to use him as a "case study" for "the effects of sin".

But I personally believe that Jesus chose to meet the blind beggar on that day, at that place. Up until that point, that man's life was in darkness, not only physical darkness, but spiritual darkness. And when Jesus meets him, he not only opens the beggars physical eyes (verse 7), but his spiritual eyes too (verse 38). Through this, Jesus not only has rescued one person's soul, but the people around him are also shocked into considering their own position (verses 40-41) :o

That should be the same for us. Physical blindness is nothing compared towards spiritual blindness--the inability to see the glory of God. John relies heavily on the theme of "light" and "darkness" (evident throughout the entire gospel), and here he uses this miracle to reflect a deeper spiritual teaching of Christ: without Christ, we are blind, sitting in the dark, clueless like this guy -->

But when Jesus meets a person, he immediately lights up his life.

Notice that the beggar himself didn't blame God, or Jesus, for his blindness. He didn't accuse Jesus of delaying his healing: "Yeah, you healed me, but why didn't you come earlier? Why did I have to suffer?" Maybe the beggar did think of that, and maybe he came to the conclusion that Jesus gave in the beginning: "He was born blind so that the glory of God may be manifested." And what a great honour it is to be used by God to show his glory!

As for whether showing his glory conflicts with his love, it is the opposite--his glory is manifested through his love. Perhaps I can put it this way:

Let's say you were God, and you had the power to both cause the blind to see and those who can see to become blind. To manifest your glory and show your sovereign power, you could do both (e.g. the Lord's power to blind people is shown in Genesis 19).

Jesus had power to do both. We know that many Pharisees thought they could see, when the Lord considered them to be blind (John 9:41). But he chooses to use his power to cause the blind beggar to see, rather than to physically blind the Pharisees. That, to me, is the glory of God manifested through his love for the beggar and the Pharisees, rather than his judgment of Pharisees and leaving the beggar blind.

The same can be said for me. I was born to find males attractive, just as the beggar was born to be blind. Neither of us chose our characteristics; they chose us. But yet, it is the same meeting with Christ that has caused both our spiritual eyes to be healed. Our response was the same: get on our knees to worship Christ.

I have often asked the Lord why I was allowed to be born gay, or why he allowed me to spend 10 long years, the better part of my teenage life, to be spent wallowing in pornography. But what he said to Paul applies to me too: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weaknesses".

Not only am I walking from strength to strength in overcoming my addiction through the power of Christ (even though I still struggle at times), he has also used me to witness to other addicts, showing them that their freedom is possible too. When I shared my testimony to other people, a friend of mine decided that Christ was for him too.

So I'm almost thanking God for allowing my weakness to persist. No longer do I ask him "why?". For truly when I boast my weaknesses, the power and love of God is manifested through me so that others may see it too.

I want to insist that this was all done through a shattering of myself--I had to become nothing, and completely broken before the Lord, before he raised me up. I had to be dead before I could be brought to life again. That, to me, is the single most fundamental principle in coming to the Lord. I had to recognise that his glory was more important than my comfort. And after that, he comforted me. The latter will definitely follow the former. Don't think that if you have been broken by God, he will leave you there to be--he won't! This is the promise of God:

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will befall you." — Job 5:17-19

Friend, if you haven't yet been dashed to pieces on the rock of Christ, as Jesus tells us we should be in Luke 20, I pray that you will seek the Lord's forgiveness, and humble yourself before him, not putting your case before him, but listening to what he says to you.

And have hope. God calls on his people to testify to others about his glory. I believe that God is calling you too, so that when you are healed, you will testify for him to other people who suffer from depression, just as he has called me to testify to homosexuals and pornography addicts that a Christ-centred life is still possible.

Would it be acceptable if I had childeren to ignore one of their needs so that at a later time, I could provide them with it, in order to glorify my name/title as father?

It wouldn't be. Not at all. It wouldn't be acceptable at all if God allowed his children to suffer without trying to provide for their need.

But what need?

You may ask God, "Please take this away from me", as Jesus himself asked on the eve of his crucifixion.

But God's answer is, "No. But I will give you the power to overcome this. But before that, you must return to me, for without me, you are nothing (see John 15)."

Luke 15 contains a triplet of parables: the Lord as a shepherd venturing out to find that one lost sheep, the Lord as a woman combing the house for one lost coin, and the Lord as a father craning his neck to wait for his son's return home.

The Lord is all of that! He's looking for you, knocking on your door (Revelation 3:20). He wants to provide you with all his blessings, more than you can have (Malachi 3:10), but they must be sought in his terms, not yours. So seek his terms!!

Like I said perhaps i don't understnad this conecpt, but if I'm correct, please tell me where God's love is in this case.

I hope that was of more help, but at the end of the day, I can't help you at all! I'm helpless myself! You must return to the Lord. How about starting to read the Bible? Take one chapter, sit down somewhere quiet where you can concentrate, and read. Think about how that chapter may apply to you, or how it demonstrates the character or promises of God. How about John 1, or Luke 1? I love them books.

Sir, you are in my prayers.

May all glory be with God, and peace rest on whom he favours.

 

[stippen]

Thank you again for your reply.
Perhaps I should pick up my bible and start reading it again, it's been a while since I've opened it.
I decided not to ask God for help/guidance regarding my issues anymore, He knows what's going on and if/when He does, I hope He'll make sure I know it was Him who helped me.
I would be happy to testify.

I asked the Lord this morning to forgive me for the way I was thinking about Him, I realize that I cannot blame Him for it.
When things get rough I'll try to keep in mind that suffering isn't what the Lord intended for anyone.

Again thank you very much for taking the time to provide me with such a complete answer and praying for me.

grtz,

 

[Dragons87]

Thank you again for your reply.
Perhaps I should pick up my bible and start reading it again, it's been a while since I've opened it.
I decided not to ask God for help/guidance regarding my issues anymore, He knows what's going on and if/when He does, I hope He'll make sure I know it was Him who helped me.
I would be happy to testify.

I asked the Lord this morning to forgive me for the way I was thinking about Him, I realize that I cannot blame Him for it.
When things get rough I'll try to keep in mind that suffering isn't what the Lord intended for anyone.

Again thank you very much for taking the time to provide me with such a complete answer and praying for me.

grtz,

May God bless you and keep you.

Remember, not only did God intend suffering, he extends his offer of rest in him too!

 

[ephraimanesti]

Sure I can take no for an answer and I understand that when asking God for help, help usualy doens't come in the shape or form we hope for.
This is not my problem, my problem is the lack of an answer in any shape or form.
I would be happy to hear a no since it is an answer, instead of asking for help and receiving silence.

MY BROTHER,

It is hard for strangers to give you meaningful "spot-on" advice in such a personal issue given a lack of knowledge about your relationship with God or God's methods of dealing with you.

All i can say from my experience is that God is faithful and His written Word, the Scriptures, state clearly that ALL of those who ask receive--Matthew 21:22. i have experientially found this to be true in my life.

Even our Lord Jesus had a moment of disconnect when He cried out on the Cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34) Obviously, His Abba had not forsaken Him at all, and Jesus was well aware of this fact in spite of His feelings to the contrary, and He show His ongoing trust of Abba by stating, "Father, into Your Hands I commit my Spirit."(Luke 23:46) Feelings change from moment to moment--God's promises are eternal.

God is there--around and within--trust Him to reveal Himself.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[aiki]

I'm 27 yeras old and I feel my life has been nothing but misery.
I've been depressed for a while now which has been the result of my bad childhood, loss of love and all other stuff that could be classified as 'not amusing'.
I even considered suicide but since it's a sin from which I cannot repent I choose not do so.

Because of this I have a few questions.
The first one might be one that has been asked repeatedly:

1: Why does God allow us to have so much suffering? Surely this is not what He intended when he created life.

"Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward," Job said. (Job 5:7) As some have pointed out, trouble or suffering is the natural consequence of sin. We all sin, therefore we all suffer. Sometimes we suffer as the direct result of our own sin, and sometimes as a casualty of the sin of others.

Ephesians 6:10-13
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Brother, you are in a spiritual battle and your enemy is no less than Satan himself. Every time you let your guard down he strikes with the intent to destroy (Jn. 10:10; 8:44). Every time we step toward God the devil is there to hinder, and distract, and to cause us to stumble - if he can. This warfare isn't a happy, pleasant circumstance, obviously.

The Christian must also struggle against the impulses of the flesh and the pressure from the world to indulge those impulses. In this struggle, too, there is often pain and difficulty.

Suffering and pain isn't always a bad thing, however. Pain shows us that what we are doing or thinking is damaging. When pain isn't operating this way in us the results can be catastrophic. Think of a leper who feels no pain. He doesn't suffer the agony normally accompanying the damage his physical numbness causes, but in the end that lack of feeling, the lack of pain, causes his death. Much as we might like to be free of pain, we need its protective, warning, and unpleasant signal.

Even when we are living obediently to God, we will suffer. Christ explains:

John 15:18-20
18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...."

2: Why does it seem that when I pray to God for a solution or His help, that my prayer has been 'lost' and no help arrives. It also seems that things go worse. (This is also the reason why I kinda gave up on praying since I don't want to make life even worse then it already is.)

Why is what "seems to be" what you have decided actually is? Surely as a Christian you must know that the Bible teaches that God does hear and answer our prayers. What will you trust? What seems to be or what God has said is so?

Often Christians pray for the end of the very thing they most require. Let me explain: How does a man grow strong physically? Through work, and strain, and effort. In the same way, a Christian grows strong, not in the absence of temptation, but in the struggle with it. The work, strain and effort of warring with the world, the flesh and the devil makes the Christian's faith in God more sure, it makes their position in Christ clearer, and it makes their capacity to discern right from wrong sharper. Then again, the struggle with temptation may reveal that a Christian is weak in faith, confused in their spiritual understanding, and dull in their ability to discern good from bad. In the former instance, temptation strengthens; in the latter it exposes weakness. In both instances, however, something positive has occurred. Praying for the alleviation of temptation, then, is to pray for the very thing we often need to see ourselves clearly and by which to grow in our faith.

Christians also often pray for what they already have and then wonder why God hasn't given it. Here's a brief list of the most common things for which Christians ask that they already possess in Christ:

Forgiveness.
Acceptance with God.
Power over sin.

Sometimes, too, we ask for things that are not in keeping with God's will.

James 4:3
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Finally, we do not receive those things we ask of God because sin is in the way.

Isaiah 59:1-2
1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

The following question might sound a bit blasphemous, but it isn't intedned in such a way. It's just stuff that i need to ask.

3: I wonder why it seems as if God just sits in heaven and just don't care about what I'm going through. The bible tells me otherwise just as Christ's sacrfice. But still it seems like He just doesn't care. I just wonder how a father could leave one of his childeren to suffer. It's like He is somehow enjoying it.

Nothing could be farther from the truth! It sounds like you already know this, however, so I won't belabor the point. A word of warning: When you allow these thoughts to remain in your heart and mind they take root and grow. A lie unchallenged soon becomes the "truth." Here're some challenges to the lie that God doesn't care about you:

Psalms 86:15
15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Lamentations 3:31-33
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.

Micah 7:18-19
18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

1 John 4:9-10
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Colossians 1:21-22
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--

Feelings do not always - or even mostly - reflect reality. Trust God and His Word, not what you may feel is true or what may seem to be real.

Peace.

 

[visionary]

Thank you again for your reply.
Perhaps I should pick up my bible and start reading it again, it's been a while since I've opened it.
I decided not to ask God for help/guidance regarding my issues anymore, He knows what's going on and if/when He does, I hope He'll make sure I know it was Him who helped me.
I would be happy to testify.

I asked the Lord this morning to forgive me for the way I was thinking about Him, I realize that I cannot blame Him for it.
When things get rough I'll try to keep in mind that suffering isn't what the Lord intended for anyone.

Again thank you very much for taking the time to provide me with such a complete answer and praying for me.

grtz,

But that is where most of God's answers are... How can you be helped by God when you won't read the manual. The best place to hear the Lord's convicting voice is in His Word. Praying while reading scripture is one of the best avenues to have two witnesses convicting you that it is Him speaking to you. You have the Holy Spirit convicting you that His Words which you hear in your heart are His and true, and the Holy scriptures will be there to verify that those are indeed His Words. Because they both are in harmony.

 

[ephraimanesti]

But that is where most of God's answers are... How can you be helped by God when you won't read the manual. The best place to hear the Lord's convicting voice is in His Word. Praying while reading scripture is one of the best avenues to have two witnesses convicting you that it is Him speaking to you. You have the Holy Spirit convicting you that His Words which you hear in your heart are His and true, and the Holy scriptures will be there to verify that those are indeed His Words. Because they both are in harmony.

AMEN TO WHAT IS WELL-SAID HERE! IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!

ephraim

 

[tavarish]

Hi all,

I'm from the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and new to this forum.
I believe that God exists and that Christ died for the sins commited by men.
The reason why I posted this thread in the non christian subforum is because I don't feel that I live a christian life.

I'm 27 yeras old and I feel my life has been nothing but misery.
I've been depressed for a while now which has been the result of my bad childhood, loss of love and all other stuff that could be classified as 'not amusing'.
I even considered suicide but since it's a sin from which I cannot repent I choose not do so.

Is it clinical depression, or something that was brought on by a sudden event?

Because of this I have a few questions.
The first one might be one that has been asked repeatedly:

1: Why does God allow us to have so much suffering? Surely this is not what He intended when he created life.

Life is a game of chance to a certain degree. There is only as much purpose as you assign to it. If you believe that God allows and intervenes, then we are merely pawns in life, and can never have total control over our lives anyway, since there is a pre-determined plan for all of us. If that is the case, God loves you and will have a reward for your suffering, because just as Job found out in the Bible, the ends justify the means apparently.

However, if you concede to the notion that you, and only you are in control of your life, which is uncertain and unpredictable, many things come into perspective. The idea that bad things happen to good people makes more sense when it's coupled in the "wrong place wrong time" category. You can analyze yourself and better yourself, not for everlasting salvation, but to enhance your life experience and those around you.

2: Why does it seem that when I pray to God for a solution or His help, that my prayer has been 'lost' and no help arrives. It also seems that things go worse. (This is also the reason why I kinda gave up on praying since I don't want to make life even worse then it already is.)

The following question might sound a bit blasphemous, but it isn't intedned in such a way. It's just stuff that i need to ask.

Instead of praying for help, which is akin to writing a letter to Santa Claus for Christmas presents, why not try to see what happened in your life to make you feel the way that you do, and work on those areas? if you need help, go to a psychiatrist or talk to a friend. It helps. Hoping problems go away isn't a viable solution to anything. Working on your ills and misgivings are the only way to retain a sense of normalcy and mirth in life.

3: I wonder why it seems as if God just sits in heaven and just don't care about what I'm going through. The bible tells me otherwise just as Christ's sacrfice. But still it seems like He just doesn't care. I just wonder how a father could leave one of his childeren to suffer. It's like He is somehow enjoying it.

Some may argue "God works in mysterious ways" and not to argue the divine plan. However, that is not an answer to the question, and illustrates that they cannot come up with an explanation for it, therefore they will throw a blanket statement over it and call it a day.

As I've said before. The only person that has control of your life is you. If you believe in a supreme being, that's fine. Just don't put your woes into faith and expect your problems to magically disappear. Life doesn't work like that.

I think you have a lot to talk about. I'd suggest conversing with someone dear to you, or seek professional help. There is a reason they're there. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you find the answers you're looking for.

 

[firefighter1234]

Hi all,

I'm from the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and new to this forum.
I believe that God exists and that Christ died for the sins commited by men.
The reason why I posted this thread in the non christian subforum is because I don't feel that I live a christian life.

I'm 27 yeras old and I feel my life has been nothing but misery.
I've been depressed for a while now which has been the result of my bad childhood, loss of love and all other stuff that could be classified as 'not amusing'.
I even considered suicide but since it's a sin from which I cannot repent I choose not do so.

Because of this I have a few questions.
The first one might be one that has been asked repeatedly:

1: Why does God allow us to have so much suffering? Surely this is not what He intended when he created life.

y to God for a solution or His help, that my prayer has been 'lost' and no help arrives. It also seems that things go worse. (This is also the reason why I kinda gave up on praying since I don't want to make life even worse then it already is.)

The following question might sound a bit blasphemous, but it isn't intedned in such a way. It's just stuff that i need to ask.

3: I wonder why it seems as if God just sits in heaven and just don't care about what I'm going through. The bible tells me otherwise just as Christ's sacrfice. But still it seems like He just doesn't care. I just wonder how a father could leave one of his childeren to suffer. It's like He is somehow enjoying it.

Well thanks for reading and I hope you could answer some of my questions.

Cheers

The whole purpose of God in creating us is that we are destined to do a very great work later, much later, in heaven. What we have been doing since A and E is preparing for this happy event. We must be qualified and that requires much training. We are here on Earth so that we can learn to overcome the things of the Earth. When we do this we acquire courage, wisdom and other abilities which we will need later. God is not a cruel taskmaster. On the contrary he places His children in "school" because of His trust that we are capable. He is very aware of the difficulties of each of us. Be assured that God knows more than we do.

Never think that this is all without a clear purpose. We just don't know about it now.

The singular reason for religions in the world is so that we all may receive guidance and direction which will make attainment that much easier and quicker. This is the reason too that God sends us prophets. To assist us on our path. But remember that our paths are not without reason and it is God's Intelligent Design which is behind it all.

Each of us should hold ourselves in readiness for this responsibility which is to come. Never doubt the wisdom of God.

JamesYaqub

 

[aiki]

Neither Muslims nor atheists are to be responding to the posts in this forum. The caption indicating the purpose of this forum makes this crystal clear:

"An open support forum where Christians can offer support to non-Christians."

Please refrain from posting in this forum if you are not a Christian offering support to those who come here asking for it.

Peace.

 

[seashale76]

Regarding suffering, here is an article that discusses the issue:
Afflictions

Regarding prayer, you should really take a look at these. They've helped me tremendously:
P r a y e r
Let us
Abbreviated Prayerbook
Prayer for the Living

Regarding God:
The Meaning of
The Way into the Kingdom of Heaven

Also, I always find it interesting to read the lives of the saints. It sort of puts things into perspective for me. I think I have it bad and then I read about someone who really did have it much worse and they still maintained a 'Glory to God for all things' attitude right to the end.

Click here if you would like to read about the lives of the saints:
http://www.fatheralexander.org/page12.htm