For those who have or do doubt God exists

[kodadog1024]

On 23 November 1654, between 10:30 and 12:30 at night, Pascal had an intense
religious vision and immediately recorded the experience in a brief note to himself which began: “Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and the scholars...” and concluded by quoting Psalm 119:16: “I will not forget thy word. Amen.” He seems to have carefully sewn this document into his coat and always transferred it when he changed clothes; a servant discovered it only by chance after his death. This piece is now known as the Memorial.

In 1662, Pascal’s illness became more violent, and his emotional condition had severely worsened since his sister´s death, which happened the previous year. Aware that his health was fading quickly, he sought a move to the hospital for incurable diseases, but his doctors declared that he was too unstable to be carried. In Paris on 18 August 1662, Pascal went into convulsions and received extreme unction. He died the next morning, his last words being “May God never abandon me,” and was buried in the cemetery of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont.

 

[raven1]

I am refering to Pascal because said it is better to believe and find there is not than vice versa which is what I feel like AU is saying by choosing to trust while still doubting.

 

[kodadog1024]

I use to have that mentality.... really, I did. What can you loose by believing? Of course that is all wrong....

 

[raven1]

Then what is she saying?

 

[kodadog1024]

Does it matter? Does it matter what I say? It doesn't. You are looking for answers that will NEVER fulfill your doubt Raven. Maybe you face your fear Raven... maybe that is the only way you will ever be able to control it, instead of it controlling you...

 

[raven1]

Face what?

 

[kodadog1024]

your fear and doubt.

 

[raven1]

U mean exposure therapy?

 

[kodadog1024]

what do you think you should do....

 

[raven1]

I haven't the slighest idea. Now I am scaref of going to hell cause a friend of mine was scaring me about 2012.

 

[kodadog1024]

why, what is going on in 2012?

 

[raven1]

Lol the end of the world my friend said many cultures have predicted it and I am scared and scared God will send me to hell for believing it.

 

[kodadog1024]

Yea, kinda of like Harold Camping spent millions upon millions of dollars on billboard ads stating Judgement Day (the return of Christ) was May 21, 2011. Harold Camping may want a refund.... Every nation, every person could agree that 2012 is the end of the world. You and I could go into our own little corner, curl up into a ball, and rock ourselves into a deep sleep over our worry OR ...or we could know and trust in God's word, that has been written and has been in use much longer than we can comprehend and know that only God knows the date, and not even His only Son, Jesus Christ, His Right Hand Man, the Lord who rules everything in Heaven and on Earth knows the date. You have a choice. Believe in God, or believe in what culture has falsified and tried to predict forever and has yet to EVER get it right.

 

[kodadog1024]

I know, that still doesn't help the fact that you think your going to Hell. I'm way ahead of you.

So maybe you should just stay scared the rest of your life, (knowing a God who is TOTAL LOVE, who made you, wants a relationship with you, wants you to be part of His family and love you for eternity,) ... wants nothing more than to send a girl like yourself to Hell, .... just because He has nothing else better to do. That makes total sense now. Yup.

 

[raven1]

I just feel if there is doubt about 2012 doubt if God exists doubt etc. we can't really trust those are opposing feelings. I think Psychology wise that we might suppress our doubt to make us feel we wont go to hell and doubt doesn't cause us to doubt God exists I am not trying to be mean but what if I am right.

 

[kodadog1024]

then your right. now lets go get some lunch.....

 

[mathetes123]

Do you REALLY doubt he exists? Or deep down you know he does. If God choose you to be saved when he created you, you would not doubt.

God gives us all a measure of faith. It is when we suppress the truth for fear that our deeds will be exposed, that he removes even that measure of faith and gives us over to the delusions of our own making.

 

[raven1]

Kodadog I am not saying I am right just I can't KNOW you are or others on here are. Mathetes I think faith may be a gift.

 

[kodadog1024]

I know. I wasn't trying to bring you down, by all means. It's like saying, how do I know I am NOT a killer deep down inside? I can get all the reassurance I want, from friends, family, even my memories of "I never did this when I was a kid, I was always nice, etc"... it still doesn't change the fact that I have doubt about because it scares the crap out of me. My intrusive thoughts / urges still have the means to make me cry, want to give up sometimes. I have to believe though. I have to do something other than focus on what scares me, my obsession. If I didn't, I would be right back where I was a year ago. And that was a point where I could barely get out of bed, I would cry constantly during the day, lost 30 pounds from not eating (although that may have been a good thing) and just focused on my thoughts and never really did anything about it. You need solutions, rather than focusing on your obsession about your doubt. Start loving God and Christ. Every morning before your feet hit the floor, ask God to give you what you need for the day and tell Him you know you can do this with His help. You'll get through it. You will. I will check back on you in a few days (weeks). Me reassuring you everyday isn't helping you, BUT, I will be praying for you every day. This you can count on! God Bless.

 

[gracealone]

BINGO!! This is exactly how to treat these obsessions. It's what I do when an obsession tries to take over.
Mitzi

then your right. now lets go get some lunch.....