Doubts and Fears

[Calla]

Over the past several months:
I used to never miss church, and I loved going and worshiping, and learning from the preaching. Then it started to become easier to miss and didn't seem as important. And when I did go, my heart wasn't in it. I would lift my hands and pray but it's like I didn't mean it. I would be focusing on the message. My heart didn't find it as important anymore, and I can tell it's affecting my personal life. I've found myself in many situations that I wouldn't have been in before. I say stuff and do stuff that's not me.
I want to get back to where I was but if I try to, a lot of times I find myself thinking "well what's the point" or "well now you're just faking it".
It took me so long to get to where I was, then in just a short period, I back tracked so much. Almost seems like it was all for nothing. Like all the time I spent worshipping, praying, and reading my Bible doesn't matter because I'm back in the same spot I was in several years ago. I know Satan wants to steal my joy and knock me down, and I know he's behind the thoughts that "I'll never be where I was before" and "I'm not moving forward so what's the point of trying". Since I know it's the devil, I try not to listen to them. But if I'm not moving forward then I'm moving backwards right? God will spit out those who are lukewarm..but that's what I'm like right now. I obviously don't enjoy being this way. I'd give anything to get back to where I was in June. I've been trying and trying and it's like I've gotten no where.

Current Situation:
So I've been waiting to come out of this rough patch^^^ and trying to keep hope. I've been trying to do good, but I've been noticeably backtracking even more. And I'm scared I'll never get back. I'm scared I'll never feel God again, and I'm scared that after a while, I'm just going to stop caring and stop longing to be in the presence of God. Along with these fears, I've had a numerous amount of doubts as well. Not just the doubts that I'll never get out of this season or doubts about my salvation, but sometimes I find myself doubting Christianity in it's entirety. Doubting my faith and Christ, and who He is, and who God is. I've been trying to keep hope and faith but it's hard to have hope with all these fears, and it's hard to have faith when my faith is the very thing that I'm doubting. I just don't know what to do anymore.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Honestly, I see different types of faith. First there's faith based in understanding. This is the type of faith that can't be lost. It's as easy to lose faith in this, as it is to lose faith in gravity or math. It can't be done because once the understanding is there, in its practicality, it becomes expected. You punch 2+2 into a calculator, your faith is assured that 4 is going to come up when you hit the = button.

Then there's emotional faith. It's not really based on anything, it's got no real root; but it's a hot seller. It's just a kind of an emotional state; and everyone likes to feel good. But if that state gets old, so does the faith. When and if that state disappears, the faith goes with it. And lastly there's traditional faith. It's based on tradition. Parents did, kids follow in it. It's learned behavior faith. It's got a root in tradition; but if one gets tired of tradition; there goes the faith with it. Now, emotional faith and traditional faith can endure, they can mix (all three can) but they can also fail; because without understanding, there's not much there except motions.

There's really only one way to get knowledge and understanding. By seeking. So if you want the treasure that never fades; have to seek for it. Have to put on the night-goggles, get out the compass and pick-ax, and seek. But in the end, God wills what He wills, according to His purpose; there's no, anything, without God first giving it. But in its simplicity I would cite this: 1 John 4:7-8 and then leave it in God's hands to direct you where He wills.

 

[AvgJoe]

Over the past several months:
I used to never miss church, and I loved going and worshiping, and learning from the preaching. Then it started to become easier to miss and didn't seem as important. And when I did go, my heart wasn't in it. I would lift my hands and pray but it's like I didn't mean it. I would be focusing on the message. My heart didn't find it as important anymore, and I can tell it's affecting my personal life. I've found myself in many situations that I wouldn't have been in before. I say stuff and do stuff that's not me.
I want to get back to where I was but if I try to, a lot of times I find myself thinking "well what's the point" or "well now you're just faking it".
It took me so long to get to where I was, then in just a short period, I back tracked so much. Almost seems like it was all for nothing. Like all the time I spent worshipping, praying, and reading my Bible doesn't matter because I'm back in the same spot I was in several years ago. I know Satan wants to steal my joy and knock me down, and I know he's behind the thoughts that "I'll never be where I was before" and "I'm not moving forward so what's the point of trying". Since I know it's the devil, I try not to listen to them. But if I'm not moving forward then I'm moving backwards right? God will spit out those who are lukewarm..but that's what I'm like right now. I obviously don't enjoy being this way. I'd give anything to get back to where I was in June. I've been trying and trying and it's like I've gotten no where.

Current Situation:
So I've been waiting to come out of this rough patch^^^ and trying to keep hope. I've been trying to do good, but I've been noticeably backtracking even more. And I'm scared I'll never get back. I'm scared I'll never feel God again, and I'm scared that after a while, I'm just going to stop caring and stop longing to be in the presence of God. Along with these fears, I've had a numerous amount of doubts as well. Not just the doubts that I'll never get out of this season or doubts about my salvation, but sometimes I find myself doubting Christianity in it's entirety. Doubting my faith and Christ, and who He is, and who God is. I've been trying to keep hope and faith but it's hard to have hope with all these fears, and it's hard to have faith when my faith is the very thing that I'm doubting. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Hi Calla & welcome to CF!

I imagine all Christians go through these rough patches at one time or another. I used to doubt my salvation all the time. Probably said the sinner's pray a 100 times. It wasn't until my pastor preached about how he used to worry about his own salvation, and what finally took the worry away, that I did the same and became confident in my own salvation. As he preached, you've changed your mind about Jesus (repented), believed the Gospel and made a public confession of your faith, now, you have to trust Jesus to do what He said He will do, save you. End of story, end of worry, I'm trusting Jesus to do what He said He will do and have never doubted my salvation since, because I know Jesus will do what He says He will do.

And concerning "doubting Christianity in it's entirety", you know that the Bible is Christianity's holy book, it is the Word of God. If the Bible is true, then Christianity is true and the God described within it's pages, is Who He says He is and can be trusted. Have you looked into the validity of the Bible?

There are many testaments to the validity of the Scriptures. The unity of the Scriptures is one such testament. The Bible was written over a period of 1,600 years, by 40 God chosen men, who lived on multiple continents and they all wrote about the same thing, man's sin and his need for a savior, Jesus Christ. There were no mail delivery trucks, no drop ship planes, no Federal Express, no UPS and no email, yet when all of the writings were put together they present one unified message. The Bible is truly the Word of God.

Following are many other areas that attest to the validity of the Scriptures.

An excellent ebook on the subject: http://www.apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/idobi.pdf

Proof of Textual Evidence
Old Testament: The Dead Sea Scrolls and Biblical Integrity
New Testament: Manuscript evidence for superior New Testament reliability | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
More on the Bible: The Bible | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

Proof of People Living at the Time of Christ
Non biblical accounts of New Testament events and/or people | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
The writings of Josephus mention many biblical people and places | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

Proof of Archaeology
Archaeology and the Bible • ChristianAnswers.Net
Biblical Archeology
Archaeological evidence verifying biblical cities | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

Proof of Science
Statements Consistent With Paleontology, Astronomy, Meteorology, Biology, Anthropology, Hydrology & Geology, that were made 1,000s of years before science discovered them.
Science and the Bible
Scientific Accuracies of the Bible | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
Eternal Productions - 101 Scientific Facts and Foreknowledge

Proof of Prophecy (Messanic & dealing with nations)
Messianic Prophecies
Fulfilled Bible Prophecy Dealing With Nations
Prophecy, the Bible and Jesus | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
http://shoreshdavidbrandon.org/pdf/I-Have-A-Friend-Whose-Jewish.pdf (pages 11 & 12 - awesome eBook)
How Do You Know The Bible Is True?

If the Bible is true, then Christianity is true and the God described within it's pages, is Who He says He is and can be trusted.

 

[Ash8676]

Praying for you, that God help you through what you are going through, that he be with you always through this rough patch. Have a blessed day.

 

[insurchoftruth]

God loves us, because of who he is, because he is Love, and not because of who we are, what we do, or because we are very lovable. Why did he love us, before we were saved or born again – Ephessians 2:4,5, John 3:16



You are worth the blood of Jesus Christ – John 3:16



Love is looking for a relationship and fellowship, in order to express itself. Fellowship does not exist without love, because fellowship is the purpose of love.



Love your neighbour as yourself, has two parts. One is to not do evil to your neighbour. The other part is to do good to your neighbour.


God will not compromise his holiness and righteousness, only because he loves you, because for him to deal with you and discipline you, in holiness and righteousness is as important for him, as for loving you. It hirts God, when he is punishing you, and he does not want to punish you, but he has to, because his holiness and righteousness must be displayed in your life.


Loving God with all heart and mind and strenght, is like an drug addiction.


God's first wish is to love you, and his second wish, is to discipline you. He created you in order to love you, and not to discipline you. God does not want to send people, which he loves, to hell, but he has to, for the sake of his righteousness and holiness, and because people deny him. Mercy triumphs over judgement.


Conditional love says – 'If you scratch my back, I will scratch yours.'

Unconditional love says - 'I will scratch your back, even if you do not scratch my.'



God never gives you anything, in order to get back from you. That is his unconditional love.



Love never demands, but gives you free choice to obey it or not.


If somebody gives you a hug, you also have to open your arms, and give them a hug.



To trust in God is to trust in Love, because God is Love.



Trust God only. Love everybody. We are commanded to love people, and to trust God, not people.


The purpose of life is love, and the purpose of love is to be shared.

We rise, by lifting others.



1 John 3:1, 4:10,16,19, Psalm 16:3, Psalm 145, John 3:16, 14:21,23, 16:27, 17:23,26, Psalm 103:8,11,13,17,18, Psalm 108:4, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 147, Psalm 52, Psalm 40:5, Psalm 16:3, Psalm 25, Psalm 130, Ephesians 2:4-9, 3:14-19, 5:1, 6:23, Psalm 136, Psalm 73, Psalm 33, Psalm 62:12, Psalm 117:2, Psalm 119:76, Lamentations 3:22,23,25,31,32,33, Titus 3:4,5, Psalm 13, Psalm 32:10, Galatians 6:2, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 31:16,19,21, Psalm 32:10, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 119:124, Psalm 86, Psalm 119:64, Jeremiah 16:5, 29:11, 31:3,14, 32:41,42, 33:9,11,

 

[dhh712]

Over the past several months:
I used to never miss church, and I loved going and worshiping, and learning from the preaching. Then it started to become easier to miss and didn't seem as important. And when I did go, my heart wasn't in it. I would lift my hands and pray but it's like I didn't mean it. I would be focusing on the message. My heart didn't find it as important anymore, and I can tell it's affecting my personal life. I've found myself in many situations that I wouldn't have been in before. I say stuff and do stuff that's not me.
I want to get back to where I was but if I try to, a lot of times I find myself thinking "well what's the point" or "well now you're just faking it".
It took me so long to get to where I was, then in just a short period, I back tracked so much. Almost seems like it was all for nothing. Like all the time I spent worshipping, praying, and reading my Bible doesn't matter because I'm back in the same spot I was in several years ago. I know Satan wants to steal my joy and knock me down, and I know he's behind the thoughts that "I'll never be where I was before" and "I'm not moving forward so what's the point of trying". Since I know it's the devil, I try not to listen to them. But if I'm not moving forward then I'm moving backwards right? God will spit out those who are lukewarm..but that's what I'm like right now. I obviously don't enjoy being this way. I'd give anything to get back to where I was in June. I've been trying and trying and it's like I've gotten no where.

Current Situation:
So I've been waiting to come out of this rough patch^^^ and trying to keep hope. I've been trying to do good, but I've been noticeably backtracking even more. And I'm scared I'll never get back. I'm scared I'll never feel God again, and I'm scared that after a while, I'm just going to stop caring and stop longing to be in the presence of God. Along with these fears, I've had a numerous amount of doubts as well. Not just the doubts that I'll never get out of this season or doubts about my salvation, but sometimes I find myself doubting Christianity in it's entirety. Doubting my faith and Christ, and who He is, and who God is. I've been trying to keep hope and faith but it's hard to have hope with all these fears, and it's hard to have faith when my faith is the very thing that I'm doubting. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Well, what drew you to Christianity in the first place? What forms your beliefs about Christianity?

I'll tell you about my experience and my own struggles with maintaining faith. For about almost 20 years I was an atheist before the Holy Spirit softened my heart and I became converted. During this time and after I learned about the teachings of Scripture (and continue to do so today). I'm not sure if this is your situation or not, but I can tell you that in time I would have fallen away if it had not been for my understanding of biblical doctrine.

I am not saying that that is what maintains my faith as I am aware that God alone is the cause of the perseverance of the Saints. Yet there are means of grace, and this is what God is using to keep me close to him. There are many, many days, many long stretchers of time--I remember a time of several months, it may have been a whole year, when I did not feel close to God, I did not have that feeling like I did when I was first converted.

All I can say is that it takes daily prayer, reading of Scripture and regular attendance at church, even if your "heart" isn't in it. Please, also, do not rely on the feelings of your heart as an indicator of the strength of your relationship with Christ. Satan will use this to your disadvantage. The heart is deceitful above all things. Though God of course gives us new hearts when he converts us, let us not be deceived that there is no remaining corruption left in them.

If you have not already, familiarize yourself with the teachings of God's word. Many people can come to God by an emotional encounter, but lest they learn the full counsel of God (or are undertaking to understand it as it often involve much time and we are always in the process of learning and relearning), often their conversion will be as the seed which was thrown onto poor soil: it sprung up quickly but has no root so when the sun bore down upon it, it withered and faded. I believe that root to be the understanding of Scripture--that is the secondary means by which God keeps many of us to him. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling knowing that it is God working in us" (from Phillippians). We *know* that it is God working in us but we do not leave it all up to him, acting out as if we have the understanding, 'Well God, it's all on you'. We work out our salvation for ourselves. That is how it looks, yet we know ultimately it is the grace of God working in us to have that desire to know him.

I empathize with your weariness of spirit and coldness of faith. As I have said, so many times over the four years since God converted me my faith has grown very cold and very weak; the distance that I've "felt" from God has been very, very far for many long days, weeks, months at a time. Please don't let this make you think that you don't have faith however. Know that nothing, nothing at all can separate us from the love of God. Yet, as our pastor explained in the sermon at our church today, please take as a warning the Parable of the Sower to examine our hearts and make our calling and election sure. Seek assurance of faith; it is not something we can obtain but that is something we are given by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Revelation210Faith]

Praying for you

 

[Boogeyman07]

.

 

[rockytopva]

Father I pray blessings on this request and for help in this Christian walk in Jesus name I pray. Also taking these needs before God in prayer on the 1:15PM bbnradio.org Family Altar program.