apathy.

[Sammy-San]

Basically, i attend a youth group and two different churches, but other than when I go for prayer sometimes on thursday, I get no contact from Christians who are willing to sit down and give me advice and help me with my feelings, especially during the days when I don't have church and youth group. I feel very alone because of my circumstances. The people in my family aren't believers.

i feel like my life has no purpose-nothing to be happy about-other than my usual boring routine of get up, listen to music on youtube for hours, and other things like bike riding or school. that's why im miserable. my life doesn't seem interesting, but more than that, I have apathy and depression. The thing is, i didn't even feel this way earlier in the year.

for years I've attended church but never had a relationship with God. if I had made that decision earlier to not be lukewarm, perhaps that would have made me a happy person. i am jealous of other people in my church who have peace and joy, and im all bored and miserable.

Also, at church, and with my mom, i talk about what my purpose is, about how if i knew what God's plan for me was, etc. My mom keeps telling me not to give up, but i feel too apathetic.

 

[1watchman]

The problem may be either physically run-down condition, or spiritually, or both. However, with your heart and mind on God and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, you can be renewed. Make the Lord Jesus your best Friend, then you can even be happy when alone. See John 14 in your Bible, and ask God to teach and lead you.

 

[crossnote]

Basically, i attend a youth group and two different churches, but other than when I go for prayer sometimes on thursday, I get no contact from Christians who are willing to sit down and give me advice and help me with my feelings, especially during the days when I don't have church and youth group. I feel very alone because of my circumstances. The people in my family aren't believers.

i feel like my life has no purpose-nothing to be happy about-other than my usual boring routine of get up, listen to music on youtube for hours, and other things like bike riding or school. that's why im miserable. my life doesn't seem interesting, but more than that, I have apathy and depression. The thing is, i didn't even feel this way earlier in the year.

for years I've attended church but never had a relationship with God. if I had made that decision earlier to not be lukewarm, perhaps that would have made me a happy person. i am jealous of other people in my church who have peace and joy, and im all bored and miserable.

Also, at church, and with my mom, i talk about what my purpose is, about how if i knew what God's plan for me was, etc. My mom keeps telling me not to give up, but i feel too apathetic.

God's Word is food and strength for your soul.
During the times when you are bored, pick up God's Word and read it, it guarantees to build you up in the faith, plus it is the best investment you can make in this life...for the next.

 

[Sammy-San]

God's Word is food and strength for your soul.
During the times when you are bored, pick up God's Word and read it, it guarantees to build you up in the faith, plus it is the best investment you can make in this life...for the next.

People from church have tried helping me. There are times when I want to get their help and like the idea of it, and times when I feel discouraged.

 

[crossnote]

People from church have tried helping me. There are times when I want to get their help and like the idea of it, and times when I feel discouraged.

Have you talked with your pastor?

I get no contact from Christians who are willing to sit down and give me advice and help me with my feelings...i feel like my life has no purpose-... i didn't even feel this way earlier in the year...
but i feel too apathetic.

Feelings are fickle and a terrible guage and guide. This is why God's Word is so important...it instills hope based on the certainty of God's faithfulness, even when people let us down.

 

[Sammy-San]

Have you talked with your pastor?


Feelings are fickle and a terrible guage and guide. This is why God's Word is so important...it instills hope based on the certainty of God's faithfulness, even when people let us down.

Not about this topic. But I wish I talked to a pastor earlier when i was having other struggles.

Feelings are fickle but they have an effect. There are times when I have a positive reaction to what others in youth group tell me, and times where I just feel so discouraged and apathetic to what they say. Others have said I'm under spiritual attack.

There were times of denial of the Bible, depression, and lukewarmness, but never discouragement like this.

 

[crossnote]

Not about this topic. But I wish I talked to a pastor earlier when i was having other struggles.

Feelings are fickle but they have an effect. There are times when I have a positive reaction to what others in youth group tell me, and times where I just feel so discouraged and apathetic to what they say. Others have said I'm under spiritual attack.

There were times of denial of the Bible, depression, and lukewarmness, but never discouragement like this.

Christ dies for us, gives us the free gift of His Holy Spirit with the promise we will live eternally with Him, all a free gift...and we are bummed. I just don't get it sometimes.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
(Rom 5:3-5)

 

[Sammy-San]

Christ dies for us, gives us the free gift of His Holy Spirit with the promise we will live eternally with Him, all a free gift...and we are bummed. I just don't get it sometimes.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
(Rom 5:3-5)

There are times when I do feel positive and encouraged, for example, when others talk to me about things God can do in my life, and times when i feel discouraged.

 

[crossnote]

There are times when I do feel positive and encouraged, for example, when others talk to me about things God can do in my life, and times when i feel discouraged.

Not only what God 'can do' but what 'He has already done', 'is doing' and 'promises to do'. It sounds it would do you a world of good to be built up on those types of promises and stand on them especially when 'feelings' dictate the opposite.

 

[1watchman]

There are times when I do feel positive and encouraged, for example, when others talk to me about things God can do in my life, and times when i feel discouraged.

It sounds like you are not hearing what people are telling you here. If you truly want to have the peace of God and be blessed, then stop talking about your misery and do what you have been advised to do. One needs to be "born again" to have the new life in Christ. Please read again my earlier post here and start trusting God. Look up always, for God cares always!

 

[Sammy-San]

Not only what God 'can do' but what 'He has already done', 'is doing' and 'promises to do'. It sounds it would do you a world of good to be built up on those types of promises and stand on them especially when 'feelings' dictate the opposite.

It's not just feelings-it's bad habit. I remember one day I was talking during youth group and they were talking about the different purposes God has for different people, and I apply that to myself, and I realize how I've made an idol out of being on the computer all the time, like I've been doing since middle school. There were times I prayed to God when I felt sad or worried but that's about it. I wish i wasn't so lukewarm, treating God like the person you call to fix things in your house but otherwise ignore.

 

[aiki]

i feel like my life has no purpose-nothing to be happy about-other than my usual boring routine of get up, listen to music on youtube for hours, and other things like bike riding or school. that's why im miserable. my life doesn't seem interesting, but more than that, I have apathy and depression. The thing is, i didn't even feel this way earlier in the year.

for years I've attended church but never had a relationship with God. if I had made that decision earlier to not be lukewarm, perhaps that would have made me a happy person. i am jealous of other people in my church who have peace and joy, and im all bored and miserable.

Also, at church, and with my mom, i talk about what my purpose is, about how if i knew what God's plan for me was, etc. My mom keeps telling me not to give up, but i feel too apathetic.

As you've realized, the root of your problem is your relationship with God. Do you have one with Him? Do you know how to have a relationship with Him? God made you to know Him and to live to honor and glorify Him. That's your fundamental reason for being. So, when you don't live in a way that honors and glorifies Him, well, you end up feeling like you do. Most people try to find satisfaction and meaning in other ways: sports, music, entertainment, sex, drugs, relationships, money - you name it. None of these things can truly satisfy and fulfill like living for God will fulfill you. God made you to love and serve Him and until you do, you'll just keep trying to stuff things in the God-shaped hole inside you that only God can fill. The problem is, for a time anyway, these things can distract you from the emptiness and futility of living apart from God. They are gratifying -- for a while -- and this keeps many people from turning their lives over to their Maker. But, damaged and despairing after a life of ignoring God, they stand at death's door and realize how badly they have mistaken what life was all about. Will this be you? Or will you turn to God and yield control of your life to Him?

Selah.

 

[Sammy-San]

As you've realized, the root of your problem is your relationship with God. Do you have one with Him? Do you know how to have a relationship with Him? God made you to know Him and to live to honor and glorify Him. That's your fundamental reason for being. So, when you don't live in a way that honors and glorifies Him, well, you end up feeling like you do. Most people try to find satisfaction and meaning in other ways: sports, music, entertainment, sex, drugs, relationships, money - you name it. None of these things can truly satisfy and fulfill like living for God will fulfill you. God made you to love and serve Him and until you do, you'll just keep trying to stuff things in the God-shaped hole inside you that only God can fill. The problem is, for a time anyway, these things can distract you from the emptiness and futility of living apart from God. They are gratifying -- for a w2hile -- and this keeps many people from turning their lives over to their Maker. But, damaged and despairing after a life of ignoring God, they stand at death's door and realize how badly they have mistaken what life was all about. Will this be you? Or will you turn to God and yield control of your life to Him?

Selah.

My emotions arent stable. There are times when i do feel enthusiastic about having a relationship with God, other times when I have apathy, a "whatever" type attitude.

 

[aiki]

Walking with God does not depend upon your emotions. Being a disciple of Christ isn't something you feel, it is something you are. The apathy you describe is one of the many negative consequences of living as you have been living. The Good News is that God is not at the mercy of your apathy. He is bigger and stronger than your feelings. Ask Him to change your heart, to give you a deep desire to know and walk with Him. He will.

Selah.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Not about this topic. But I wish I talked to a pastor earlier when i was having other struggles.

Feelings are fickle but they have an effect. There are times when I have a positive reaction to what others in youth group tell me, and times where I just feel so discouraged and apathetic to what they say. Others have said I'm under spiritual attack.

There were times of denial of the Bible, depression, and lukewarmness, but never discouragement like this.

King David went through a lot. Some think if anyone in the Bible ever had some kind of depression it may have been David. Read some of the Psalm's he wrote. They have helped me. Sometimes we think that the people of the Bible are perfect or very devoted and they are, but many did not always start out that way.

1. Paul, before he came Paul, killed and persecuted Christians as a Pharisee.
2. Moses told God no, that he was not the one to lead the Israelite's out of Egypt. God helped him understand otherwise.
3. Peter denied Christ three times the day before Christ's death.

Sometimes it's better to look at the changes God has brought about and be happy for that. God works in different people in different ways.