Hardened heart

[FaithNGod]

What does a person need to do whose heart has become very hardened? I still want to be a Christian, and I still love God, but I seem to have absolutely no love or compassion for people anymore-I have become very hardened.

I have not jumped off the bandwagon backsliding. I just have no emotion for people anymore.

And yeah, I still pray constantly, and read my Bible every day, every chance I get, and yeah, I still go to church every week, still tithe, etc., etc.

Not sure what to do now.

 

[LilLamb219]

You love no one? Not one person?

It seems as if maybe you've dealt with so many worldly people that you are now put off and disgusted by all our sin? Try to find Christ in others...you'll see the love then that you have for God.

 

[clairabelle0509]

Well, I am not sure if this is the same difference, but I recently came back to God and the biggest thing I struggled with was having an attitude towards everyone and basically being a huge grump. I couldn't understand why, other than the fact that during the time away from God I had tried to become tough and be able to handle the world. So it was a hard thing for me to shake and it took a few weeks before I really got my attitude under control.

I think though that a lot of times even though we have God on our sides, we feel like we have to be "hard" as you say. I know for me, I often struggled with not standing up to people who may have been trying to bully or push me around. So I developed the tough attitude and have become more able to speak my feelings and thoughts because of it. All I can say is that maybe you need to bring this issue to God or talk to someone at your church about it. It may feel good just to talk to a pastor and break down the hard walls you have built up towards people. Hope this helps!

 

[drich0150]

If you truly wish this, then ask God to break you. Ask God to do what ever it is you need for your Heart to be "soften" towards others.. Just be ready for what may come.

 

[FaithNGod]

If you truly wish this, then ask God to break you. Ask God to do what ever it is you need for your Heart to be "soften" towards others.. Just be ready for what may come.

Yes, I've already done that, plenty of times, every day. When I first became a Christian, I had such LOVE, such JOY in my heart all the time. I wanted to give everything I had to everyone. All I thought about was God, and how much I loved Him and how I can't wait to be with Him.

All those "feelings" faded though. And yes, I know that salvation is not about "feelings". I know this. I seek God with all my heart. I beg Him to conform my heart to His every day. I beg Him to soften my heart to how it was when I first became a Christian.

But everything just irritates me now. People irritate me. I'm so tired all the time! I feel like I am putting on an "act" of being a Christian, rather than BEING one, if that makes sense. Every other Christian I know is so HAPPY all the time, and I walk around just miserable and depressed.

I had my pastor and everyone at church pray for my depression, but nothing happened I don't think. Maybe it will later?

No, it has nothing to do with other people's worldy sins and being put off by them. I pray for people all the time.

IDK-for instance, I watched a video on the devestation of that cyclone in Myanmar (sp?). A couple of months ago I would have cried and cried over the fate of those people. But this time, I just watched the video. I felt sorry for them....but I did not CRY like I would have before.

I sincerely want everyone in the world to know Jesus. I want to TELL them all about Him, but I just don't have the words to say...no big outpouring of the Holy Spirit to guide me with the words. I want to pray for people who are hurting, but I never pray with them, because I just don't know the words to pray, other than "Please help them God!" and that's it. It makes me feel useless as a Christian.

I want to feel like I did when I first became a Christian. I'm absolutely terrified of being part of the "falling away" that is talked about in 2 Thessalonians 2!

 

[dead2self]

Please do not take offense as I do not know you or your beliefs, but are you absolutely sure of your salvation? I was a Christian for over 10 years before I realised I was not saved. With many western churches, the gospel has been softened to the point where we produce false converts as often as not. Some of what you post sounds like a person struggling to come to faith. Some of it sounds like what I went through.

 

[FaithNGod]

Please do not take offense as I do not know you or your beliefs, but are you absolutely sure of your salvation? I was a Christian for over 10 years before I realised I was not saved. With many western churches, the gospel has been softened to the point where we produce false converts as often as not. Some of what you post sounds like a person struggling to come to faith. Some of it sounds like what I went through.

Well, I certainly hope I am. I did not "get saved" in church. I was in my bedroom. I cried like a baby, and fell to my knees, begging God to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I got this "rush" of warm feelings, and I literally "heard" God tell me that He loved me and that I would be with Him in Heaven, and that He had great plans for me. I heard this in my heart! Everything changed about me after that. I had this hunger to read the Bible constantly. I still have that.
I all of a sudden had no urge to do anything that I used to do, like drugs, drinking, partying. I literally hate sin, and I wish everyone could feel the joy that I had at the beginning. I am now totally unable to be around people who cuss-it's like it hurts me somehow. I used to cry and cry over every hurt I saw in a person. All I want to do is read my Bible. I long for the day that Jesus comes back! I want to kneel at His feet and worship Him face to face!

But the thing is, I have not grown as a Christian. I am still unable to pray for people, and I still don't know the words to say to witness to people who don't know Jesus. I'm severely depressed, and Satan attacks my mind constantly, telling me that I'm not a Christian because I don't have the words to say in prayer. Like if someone said to me "I'm sick-will you pray for me right here?" I'd want to do it, but I'd find some way to get out of it, because I just don't have the words to say without sounding like an idiot. I have never been a speaker at all, and would pay someone to make a speech for me, rather than going up in front of a group of people and doing it myself. lol

I'm severely depressed, and have been my whole life. This is a lot of my problem.

So after reading this, does it still sound like I'm not saved? If it does, then how can I get saved, if I have already begged Jesus to come into my heart and forgive me of my sins, and I truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God, came in human form and died for our sins on the cross? What else do I need to do, if you believe I'm not really saved?

 

[dead2self]

Well, that certainly sounds like biblical salvation to me. Your depression sounds liek the issue then. Problems like that are big open doors for Satan to come and attack. I'd suspect your problems are caused by attacks from the enemy. Perhaps you could seek some couselling and prayer from your pastor?

 

[FaithNGod]

Well, that certainly sounds like biblical salvation to me. Your depression sounds liek the issue then. Problems like that are big open doors for Satan to come and attack. I'd suspect your problems are caused by attacks from the enemy. Perhaps you could seek some couselling and prayer from your pastor?

Well, he's already laid hands on me and rebuked Satan. I do the same every day. My pastor said that God "spoke" through him to me. He said that Satan has been attacking me very hard...he said that Satan has been "sifting me as wheat", and that I am not to listen to his lies.

Yeah, he's very decieving, and finds all kinds of ways to get to me!

 

[brinny]

WE have the 'human' factor, all of us. We are but flesh, dust. God is aware of this. Compassion and grace come from His working through us. Do not despair that you are human. He knows this. It's not easy being as Christ. As a matter of fact, it's impossible without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Get quiet with God somewhere. Take all of what you are burdened with and place it at His feet. Sit at His feet or crawl up into His lap and just lay your weary head on His chest. Just stay there and take in His rest, His peace, His quietness, and remember Who He is...your Father, your Abba...and remember who you are...HIs child, His beloved one who He rejoices over with singing. He reminds us to "Be still and know that He is God". Be still before Him and just know Who He is. His joy will be yours. "The joy of the Lord is your strength".

 

[LilLamb219]

Are you seeing someone to get treatment for your depression??? This is huge! You need to see a psychiatrist to get medication! God gave us doctors as a gift to us to help us in our medical needs!

You don't see growth in your walk...but who are you to look at that? Don't look to yourself! Faith grasps onto what GOD does for you in your salvation! Look instead to Christ and the cross and you will definitely grow!!!

Being saved isn't something WE DO. It's 100% God's doing in us! He gives us faith to believe that at the cross our sins are forgiven and that we will have eternal life. Don't let go of this and don't muddy it with added on things you think you must do to determine whether or not you're saved. Stick with the truth of the purity of the Gospel! There will be your comfort!

 

[BigNorsk]

It sure sounds to me like you are saved. It's really the depression that seems to be issue here.

I'm a little wondering though with your statement you've been severely depressed your whole life. It really didn't sound like it reading your story, sounds like you are at times but there have been times when you weren't.

Depression really affects our relationships even our relationship with God, yet take a look at the depressed prophet, Elijah. If he wasn't depressed, he sure did a good imitation of it, and yet his faith was so great that he didn't experience death. Don't pick on a depressed prophet or he will get a bear to attack you. He just wasn't a hippy, hoppy, happy guy. Yet great was his faith.

Marv

 

[reda]

I don't believe salvation is an emotional response. Salvation is based on truth and that truth is Jesus Christ. I have to agree with lillamb and bignorsk, from your statements, It sounds as though your suffering from depression and that can be a physical thing. Not always but sometimes. Maybe this is an avenue you could look into with dealig with the depression. You'll be alright you just need some guidance. It's not always about demons hiding around every corner as some may suggest. This is a fallen world and an evil one and as Christians we are the light of the world. I know you are feeling like you don't see yourself as being a part of this at the present time. So check to make sure your depression may not be physical and remember this, that we are all sinners. Because of the fall, sin runs in our veins the moment we're born. Christ came to save us from this.

 

[FaithNGod]

Thank you. I know He is my Abba...but my imagination is not good enough to "crawl into His lap" yet. Hopefully one day I can imagine this.

 

[reda]

I'm sorry. It sounds like I was diagnosing. I guess what I was trying to say is that sometimes the evil acts that people do can sometimes cause a hardening, sort of like a depression. especially on those that try to give all that they have to help others. It can sometimes take a toll when their help is unappreciated and abused. I don't know if this could be what is happening in your situation.

 

[DerSchweik]

What does a person need to do whose heart has become very hardened? I still want to be a Christian, and I still love God, but I seem to have absolutely no love or compassion for people anymore-I have become very hardened.

I have not jumped off the bandwagon backsliding. I just have no emotion for people anymore.

And yeah, I still pray constantly, and read my Bible every day, every chance I get, and yeah, I still go to church every week, still tithe, etc., etc.

Not sure what to do now.

One thing you might consider is to start praying for people - especially those people for whom you feel no love or compassion. I'm not sure if you have specific people in mind or if you're talking in general, but assuming you are speaking about certain people - when you pray, start praying for them - for their welfare, their salvation, their hearts, their good fortune, anything positive you can imagine for them - don't pray for your heart to love them or feel compassion for them, rather pray with a focus strictly on them. In due course, I believe the Lord will change your heart and give you the compassion and love you seek.

 

[reda]

One thing you might consider is to start praying for people - especially those people for whom you feel no love or compassion. I'm not sure if you have specific people in mind or if you're talking in general, but assuming you are speaking about certain people - when you pray, start praying for them - for their welfare, their salvation, their hearts, their good fortune, anything positive you can imagine for them - don't pray for your heart to love them or feel compassion for them, rather pray with a focus strictly on them. In due course, I believe the Lord will change your heart and give you the compassion and love you seek.

I couldn't have said this better. This is a very good idea and it's biblical too. "pray for those who curse you". Thanks DerSchweik.

 

[FaithNGod]

One thing you might consider is to start praying for people - especially those people for whom you feel no love or compassion. I'm not sure if you have specific people in mind or if you're talking in general, but assuming you are speaking about certain people - when you pray, start praying for them - for their welfare, their salvation, their hearts, their good fortune, anything positive you can imagine for them - don't pray for your heart to love them or feel compassion for them, rather pray with a focus strictly on them. In due course, I believe the Lord will change your heart and give you the compassion and love you seek.

Oh yes, I already do that a lot.

 

[FaithNGod]

Are you seeing someone to get treatment for your depression??? This is huge! You need to see a psychiatrist to get medication! God gave us doctors as a gift to us to help us in our medical needs!

You don't see growth in your walk...but who are you to look at that? Don't look to yourself! Faith grasps onto what GOD does for you in your salvation! Look instead to Christ and the cross and you will definitely grow!!!

Being saved isn't something WE DO. It's 100% God's doing in us! He gives us faith to believe that at the cross our sins are forgiven and that we will have eternal life. Don't let go of this and don't muddy it with added on things you think you must do to determine whether or not you're saved. Stick with the truth of the purity of the Gospel! There will be your comfort!

Unfortunatly, I'm one of the 10% of the population that antidepressants makes WORSE, not better. I get suicidal on them, and very violent. I take a lot of vitamins and herbal supplements, and really watch what I put in my body as far as food. It helps quite a lot, but sometimes I can't afford them, and that's when the problems start.