Does Anyone Here Feel Punished?

[Aquatic Waves]

There are times I do

 

[salt-n-light]

There are times I do

I get that too. That's what we get living in this life.

I remind myself that even Jesus felt punished, forsaken even. Just remember that He empathize with us and left us His spirit so that even in hardest times He is here to comfort, empower, and guide. For that my pain turns into gratitude.

 

[Not David]

Sometimes but then I remember God seeks my salvation and hell is a worse punishment.

 

[createdtoworship]

There are times I do

YES, yes, YES!

After Christ our sin brings no more wrath, as Jesus took our wrath upon himself. However sin does bring death. Sin itself brings death, God is not bringing death anymore, since Christ, death has been swallowed up in victory (Corinthians), See I believe God created the universe to react to both sin and righteousness. When we sin, the universe around us attacks us. It's way more than a simple demon, taunting you, but the universe actually bends to your destruction. The force is as if it's embedded into creation itself. It's not angelic or demonic, it's not Satan doing it. It's the universe itself that curses your sin. Likewise, when we do righteousness, the opposite happens, the wave of blessing turns tides and you are blessed. I was just talking to a mechanic today and we were talking about working night shift next week, and he said "well whatever the worse situation is, that will be what happens." See that is a cursed life. A life of sin is always cursed, in nearly every way. It has to be. But a life of righteousness will yield blessing. See a year ago before I rededicated my life, we were coming out of bankruptcy, two credit cards in collections, we were two months behind in mortgage, I was unhealthy and overweight. We were starting foreclosure. It was not one thing, it was everything. Then after I rededicated my life to the Lord, I started praying every day, obeying Jesus even in the small things. I mean I was obeying in everything, I was following the speed limit exactly. I was taking exactly 30 minute lunches and exactly 15 minute breaks, not a minute more. I was doing everything as unto the Lord. Then a tidal wave of blessing happened, I lost 60 pounds! A lady came up a month ago and offered double for our house. It was only worth 270,000 but she offered over 500,000 for it. That is enough to get completely out of debt, pay off our house, and pay off a new house, and have extra to buy a car, and pay off two credit cards. It would completely set us free. So this month sometime we are expecting that to happen. God picked out a house for us in another town, and we are ready to make an offer soon and pay cash for it. All this in one year's time. I had four or five curses behind me a year ago, then it all turned into one huge blessing. The only thing that changes was my heart toward sin. God allows the universe to curse our sin. See when we do righteousness, we are not only the only one's blessed, all creation is blessed. That is why when a nation sins, the whole country physically, spiritually, financially, is all cursed. And when a nation humbles itself and prays for God's forgiveness, He starts blessing that nation again.

 

[Greengardener]

There are times I do

I'm curious in what way do you feel punished, and what do you think it's coming from?

 

[Aquatic Waves]

I'm curious in what way do you feel punished, and what do you think it's coming from?

I really can't get into much detail of what's been happening with me lately. But here's what I can say. By having no job, no friends, a very small family that doesn't give you enough support, and random things that aren't going right for me, I feel that is being a punishment for me. Honestly all this had happened after my mom died over 10 years ago. If she never died, I wouldn't be in this mess now.

 

[Greengardener]

I can understand what it's like to have that empty spot after your mom passed. Mine also passed over 10 years ago and the spot is still there. Even though it is an expectation that adults make their own way, moms are certainly a safety net. And mine was, both emotionally and sometimes financially. And having other family and friends is also an important safety net.

It might be good to find someone you can share the details with, since nobody here can help much except by guesswork. Gradyll's comments do address one aspect that I would have mentioned, and they got quite the blessing! (I'm happy for their situation!)

What comes to mind when I consider your post is based on situations where the person saying something much like you are saying was right there where I could sufficiently see the details, and your situation could be very different than those. But here are my thoughts, so feel free to pick and choose. It's also based on what I was recently reading in the Bible. I kept coming across verses that are indeed written like a contract from God. He says "If you do this, then I'll do (or you'll get) that." It starts in Genesis with Cain: God say, if you do well, will you not be accepted? But if you do not, sin crouches at your door and desires dominion over you.

In the same way, when God led His people out of slavery to Egypt, He offered, If you do what I suggest, you'll find blessings overtaking you. If you don't, you'll find curses overtaking you. Gladyll's situation looks like that contract with God is still valid because they started doing things as God said would work, and it did - and thank God for His goodness to them.

Jesus said if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. He also said if we follow Him, we are to expect persecution and expect discipline (correction, even if painful) from our Father to bear even better fruit. We are indeed to pick up the expectation of painful death just as Jesus did as we follow Jesus. That's the offer from God for something even better than this life. Jesus, for the joy before Him, endured His cross, despising the shame, and overcame - and is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father, with the expectation that all His enemies will be placed in submission.

(I don't often write the references to Bible verses, but you can easily find them on an internet search, or I'll go back and look them up for you if you get stumped. I take the Bible as a source because I have found we can trust what God intended for us to find in that Book and in the life of Jesus - that's a way of life that works.)

I would point out that life isn't necessarily easy for many in the world. We in the USA are for the most part sheltered from how bad life can be, with or without Jesus, and are therefore a little weaker in our determination to live and succeed. Most of us in the USA eat daily, are clothed, are sufficiently warm in our more-than-sufficient shelters, and many are completely ungrateful for those blessings. I don't know you from anyone, but I do know many people who have completely unreasonable expectations of life and aren't particularly interested in anything other than ease while they participate only as a spectator. From what I see in the Bible, life takes real effort. We are required to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, required to look out for the good of those around us, required to keep correct standards like not stealing, not killing, not coveting, not committing sexual sin or defrauding, required to do our work diligently, and we are required to work for our own bread and enough extra to help someone who actually can't work for their own. Again, I don't know what your situation is, so I can only address what I've seen in others who might write a similar post as you wrote. My guesses could be way off base. I can tell you that I offer them as suggestions to consider and that I offer them in kindness. I've had to struggle with my own heart along these lines, but I can tell you it's worth the effort!

And I hope things go well for you as you journey. I highly recommend that you study the good words of the Bible, chapter after chapter, book by book, comparing the events that happened with the prophecies that were being given, seeking to find the answers that will make life make better sense to you.

 

[createdtoworship]

I really can't get into much detail of what's been happening with me lately. But here's what I can say. By having no job, no friends, a very small family that doesn't give you enough support, and random things that aren't going right for me, I feel that is being a punishment for me. Honestly all this had happened after my mom died over 10 years ago. If she never died, I wouldn't be in this mess now.

My mom and dad both passed in the last few decades. They both died younger than they should have. My dad was an alcoholic. He was a wonderful person, police officer of the year, marine reservist of the year, buried in arlington cemetary with military honors. But He didn't know the Lord, and had an addiction to alcohol. Now his grandchildren (my kids), never knew him. He missed out on his golden years. And no achievement, no honor no anything can take away from time you missed with your grandchildren. My mother smoked when she was younger, she was addicted to smoking. She became a christian later, and tried quiting but ultimately fell into it again. she eventually stopped trying. We also stopped pushing her to quit. She eventually died of lung cancer. She lived longer and did see the early parts of her grandchildrens life. No doubt because she had God in her life. But see if she simply addressed that addiction, took classes, bought books, attended seminars you name it, dealt with that addiction. God may have blessed her with years more of life, and she could have seen her grandchildren graduate highschool or college. That is exactly what I mean. God blesses us in His mercy, but He allows our sin to come upon us. So that in seeing our error we will be more Christ like. Just because we struggle with sin, doesn't mean we are not saved. It just means that we are living a defeated christian life. And God has so much more for us. We should not expect blessings all the time from God, but living according to His precepts will ultimately lead to a more blessed life than not obeying them. I read this online today and I liked it:

 

[brinny]

Hugs and prayers, dear heart. (((hug)))

 

[Aquatic Waves]

Thank you all for your support. However I'm getting worse and worse every day. I've been crying a lot and I'm also always nervous or worried. I have nobody to talk to besides my therapist but her hands are getting tied now. I'm trying to get more of a higher care however it's not working out. I just feel so lost and stuck

 

[brinny]

Thank you all for your support. However I'm getting worse and worse every day. I've been crying a lot and I'm also always nervous or worried. I have nobody to talk to besides my therapist but her hands are getting tied now. I'm trying to get more of a higher care however it's not working out. I just fell so lost and stuck

Praying to the living God, Who IS able to intervene when all may seem hopeless. Asking Him to intervene as only He can. Father may it be so, in Jesus' name, amen (((hug)))

 

[Aquatic Waves]

Praying to the living God, Who IS able to intervene when all may seem hopeless. Asking Him to intervene as only He can. Father may it be so, in Jesus' name, amen (((hug)))

Thank you. God bless

 

[createdtoworship]

Thank you all for your support. However I'm getting worse and worse every day. I've been crying a lot and I'm also always nervous or worried. I have nobody to talk to besides my therapist but her hands are getting tied now. I'm trying to get more of a higher care however it's not working out. I just fell so lost and stuck

sometimes if a certain doctor does not work, try another doctor. My kids have a psychiatrist and I even have one, but there was a doctor that my kids used that was horrible. He had the best degree and best schooling out of everyone, but He was a horrible psychiatrist. Sometimes, getting a second opinion may help. Praying.

 

[Gottservant]

Crying consistently is a strength.

Sometimes I feel like I'm being ostracized, because I don't believe what the world believes.

But then I think "would I cry about it?" and it comes to me, there are lots of things worth crying about, but the world's opinion, is not one of them.