Help! Anything that will help me get my faith back!

[Mr.Cheese]

Well let's see what the problem is first.

 

[Sketcher]

What specifically are you doubting?

Don't be afraid to confess and ask God for help. "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." - John 6:37

Jesus invites you to come to Him with whatever this is that you are carrying. Whether it is lies, pain or shame that has "killed" your faith, God does not want it to separate you from Him anymore.

 

[Blessed2003]

Hi Creation,
As has been said this is kind of difficult without knowing whats wrong. I only partly agree with an earlier post that this is an individual journey we are on. It is also a corprate faith and communal journey. SO, here is my plan. Why don't we have faith for you today? I'll believe extra hard on your behalf. In the mean time (in the words of David Wilcox) get some sleep, eat some broccoli, run a mile and take a shower.


(Yeah I know it doesn't really work like that.)


(Or does it?)


Kind of need more information. I have felt like I lost my faith several times. There are no simple answers.

hmm. I like this post. Reminds me that WE are ONE body. Yes, Pondering, it DOES work like that. We NEED each other. We are brothers and sisters.
Imagine a big circle. You are in that circle, and so am I. It has no beginning and no end. We are all dependant upon each other, when one suffers, all suffer, when one is happy, all can rejoyce. Now, I know it is really not like that, but I believe that God revealed to me that it is supposed to be, so even though it is an individual journey, we all have different experiences and lives, but I have things that the WHOLE body needs, so do all of the other members, and we are all to share what we have it brings completeness. (I had a dream that I borrowed a liver in a jar from my neighbor!!!)
Sorry, I know this is off topic, I could not resist when I read this post.

 

[Bonhoffer]

Ive even had to change my symbol to Agnostic.
I am not sure whether thats a bit extreame, but i don't know what else to do.
Please can somebody help me get my faith back!!

Why dont you attend a local Alpha course?

 

[KleinerApfel]

Ive even had to change my symbol to Agnostic.
I am not sure whether thats a bit extreame, but i don't know what else to do.
Please can somebody help me get my faith back!!

Hello Creationist2004,

Don't be afraid of doubt.
It is a normal part of Christian experience, often a sign of maturing faith.

If you never questioned anything, just took on board everything you were told, you wouldn't be able to develop deeper understanding and faith.

You are asking questions, maybe you're not even entirely sure what questions, but you are asking God something.
Don't hide from the questions and pretend to yourself they don't matter.
God knows how much they trouble you, and He wants to help.

He will answer, but it can take time and real heart-felt searching.

"You will seek me and will find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Can you remember a time when you knew you belonged to Jesus?
If so, choose to honour Him by deciding to put the Christian icon back on your profile, even while you feel confused. Cling to that decision you once made.

You are still allowed to have doubts and unanswered questions. It's what you do with those that matters.

God bless you, Susana

 

[HomeBound]

Ive even had to change my symbol to Agnostic.
I am not sure whether thats a bit extreame, but i don't know what else to do.
Please can somebody help me get my faith back!!

I'm going to assume, reading your name, in huge letters, that your doubts are based on Creationist theology being a little weak when it comes to comparing it to Scientific discovery.

If not STOP HERE.

If this is the situation, or part of it, read on.

May I suggest looking into "Gap theory". I've just recently been introduced to this form of Creationist view, and it's answered a lot of questions for me. It can even validate the appearance of evolution.

 

[Creationist2004]

A lot of people have been trying to help me since i last posted.
I am sorry i took so long to come back, ive been doing my GCSE tests.
Although this is the worst possible time for tests. I think i might fail some of them.

I changed my symbol back to Christian, like was suggested but i am confused and i am really not sure whether i still count.

I would really like to go to an Alpha course, but i don't know whether there is one that is near to home. Does anyone know where they are in the UK in England?

It's not just Creation/evolution that is hurting.
I know i didn't really tell you my actual problems. I should have.
Ive been having doubts, and ive had them for a while now.
They don't go, and no matter what i do they stay, and nothing i have tried will get my faith back the way it was.

I have forgotten the things that originally brought me to the faith, and everything causes doubts. My hobbies, the TV, the sky, music.
I can't enjoy anything i like or even look at the sky without being filled with doubts. I can't concentrate on my revision either, and iam worried about my exam grades.

Sometimes i wake up in the morning and just burst into tears because i can't feel His presense like i used to. I feel all alone, and i can't face going to church anymore.
My only Christian family member is my cousin and i rarely get to see her.
She was also having a few problems, but we can't support each other when we don't see each other very often.

Ive never been very good at communication, and i have a hard time trusting people. I never know who i can talk to about my problems because some people are just the right people to talk to and some are just the wrong people.
My family aren't Christians so i can't tell them anything and it hurts that i can't let it out and tell them why i am not happy. It's so painful having to lie to them or make up an excuse why i am upset.
And i can't tell them the truth because they'll blame Christianity for it and then they'll never be saved.

I have no support except here, and ive lost not only the feeling that He is with me, but almost everything that gave me faith.

 

[Serapha]

Ive never been very good at communication, and i have a hard time trusting people. I never know who i can talk to about my problems because some people are just the right people to talk to and some are just the wrong people.
My family aren't Christians so i can't tell them anything and it hurts that i can't let it out and tell them why i am not happy. It's so painful having to lie to them or make up an excuse why i am upset.
And i can't tell them the truth because they'll blame Christianity for it and then they'll never be saved.

I have no support except here, and ive lost not only the feeling that He is with me, but almost everything that gave me faith.

Hi there!



All Christian believers are in the famly of God... and you are my sister in Christ.... when you need to talk.... find a "family member"...



"ive lost not only the feeling that He is with me, but almost everything that gave me faith"


Your salvation isn't about a "feeling" but about a "fact". If you accepted Christ as your personal Savior, that's the "fact" that remains unchanged. Sometime you "feel" closer to God than others, but it is never God that moves, but us. If you want to move closer to God, then talk to Him about it (prayer) and read His instruction book (the Bible)... and you will find yourself closer and closer to God in "feeling and fact".


~serapha~

 

[Creationist2004]

Thats very nice of you.

I just wish i still had the faith i did have.
I don't just doubt occassionally, it's one long constant doubt and it ruins my relationship with God.
It's like a battle going on inside of me, between the part of me that still has faith and the part thats full of doubts.
And the doubts are winning.

I try to cling to my faith and i keep refusing to let go, but my "grip" is loosening and pretty soon i won't have any faith left.

I really don't know what to do. I am afraid to talk to anyone in my life because they won't understand or worse. But i can't handle it all on my own.

 

[Serapha]

Thats very nice of you.

I just wish i still had the faith i did have.
I don't just doubt occassionally, it's one long constant doubt and it ruins my relationship with God.
It's like a battle going on inside of me, between the part of me that still has faith and the part thats full of doubts.
And the doubts are winning.

I try to cling to my faith and i keep refusing to let go, but my "grip" is loosening and pretty soon i won't have any faith left.

I really don't know what to do. I am afraid to talk to anyone in my life because they won't understand or worse. But i can't handle it all on my own.

Hi there!


I'm backkkkk!


And, here's your answer....


2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.


Hebrews 4: 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It's like a battle going on inside of me, between the part of me that still has faith and the part thats full of doubts.
And the doubts are winning.

Welcome to spiritual warfare. Satan is "going after" your thoughts, and planting doubts in your mind. You have the "authority" to take those thoughts "captive" just by saying "in the name of Jesus"....


God gave you a sound mind, and you are allowing satan to try and place bad thoughts in that sound mind.

In short... when those thoughts come to mind... or any thoughts concerning sin or transgressions against God's truth, just say, "in the name of Jesus I won't allow you, satan, to use my mind for evil thoughts such as doubt or fear..."

You might want to do some reading on spiritual warfare.... we, as Christians, battle satan in the spiritual realm.... therefore, we need all the armour of God identified in Ephesians to battle satan effectively.


What you are experiencing is so normal .... but you have the power and authority to take any of those negative thoughts "captive".... and rejected them from your mind.


And again...

Hebrews 4: 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.


That same "boldness" that allows you to go to the throne of grace, gives you power over satan.


It's called authority... and God gives it to you through the indwelling and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.


Let's keep talking until you know how to defeat the "oppression" that satan is putting on your mind through those doubts.

BTW... try listening to some praise and worship music.... and I think you will find that when you are praising and worshiping God... you will move closer to God and away from the doubts.


~serapha~

 

[Serapha]

BTW.... faltered faith is not failed faith. You still have the faith, you just need to get it back into perspective in your christian walk.


~serapha~

 

[Neeter]

The Lord can keep us, but a constant stream of garbage in has to effect the soul of a person. We have to renew our minds daily and make sure we build up our faith in God. Otherwise we become weak in faith and unbelief creeps in and we become susceptible to the world's lies.

Colossians 2:6 As, then, you took Christ Jesus the Lord, so go on in him,
7 Rooted and based together in him, strong in the faith which the teaching gave you, giving praise to God at all times.
8 Take care that no one takes you away by force, through man’s wisdom and deceit, going after the beliefs of men and the theories of the world, and not after Christ:

Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Excellent post Raphe, Praise the Lord for your wisdom.

The verse that keeps coming to my mind,

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

We need to read and hear His Word daily.

Love in Christ,
Nita

 

[Lynn73]

I struggle with my faith also. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just give up since I can't seem to live up to it plus I'm unhappy most of the time. But where else is there to go but God? I know the Bible is true and is His word so I keep going on. I think I want things in my life to be just like I want them to be and they're not. Who's life is everything they want it to be? Regardless of how we may feel or whatever struggles we're having in our physical or spiritual lives, God is real. Even if He never manifests Himself to me, He's still real.

 

[Key]

Wow, Great questions and posts to everyone, all of them.

Creationist2004.



Please let my words bring comfort to you, and your struggle in life, I hope and I pray that what I am trying to say, will make sense to you, and in the end give you the strength you need to carry on.



Jesus says "My Yoke is easy and my burden is light" and Paul says "Do not worry yourself with the affairs of Men"



I think the first thing you must do, is realize that Jesus is here to help you, to carry you, not burden you down with guilt and pain. Paul says "By the Law we are condemned" and there is "No Salvation though the Law" but only though the Grace of Jesus.




Now, I can understand your conflict in life, because you do not have your family to turn to for moral support, but Jesus says he will send a comforter to you, and that comforter is the Holy Spirit. Tough the relationship of each of us combined together, we all share the common bond that we are saved by the blood of Christ Jesus. How we view the details of Christianity, comes only from what the Holy Spirit tells us.



I know there will be some that will disagree with what I have said, and posted here on this topic, that is their right, but do not let them set you off or let them shake your faith.



My Suggestion to you is read First Corinthians, and then Romans. Do not study the words like scholars and such. Just read them, like the letter that they are, to people who had questions of faith, Paul tells them, what they need to know, as funny as this sounds, after two thousand years, what Paul said, still holds true.



If I can help you in any way, I will do my best.



Key

 

[KleinerApfel]

You asked about the Alpha course.

This site gives you all the courses currently being run.

Just type in your country ( England/Scotland/Wales/Ireland, not UK - took me ages to realise why the UK didn't seem to be on the list!)

http://alphacourse.org/findacourse/default.asp

There are youth versions in some places too, but you'd be welcome at any of them.

Go for it if you can possible get to one.

God bless, Susana

 

[Creationist2004]

Thank you for your support Serapha and Key.
I have a hard time finding any Christian music, but i do have one CD so i'll see if it helps. I hope so, because i would hate to not be able to enjoy even being with the Lord.
Sometimes it feels as though everything is being taken away from me.
Not by God, but by something else. Satan, doubts, sin?
I never know what it is exactly, and it confuses me.

It's like being in a fog, it seems like ive lost contact with God and i am wandering without any way of knowing where i am going.
I want to read the bible often and go to church, but something tells me not to and it hurts, so i stopped going to church.
Then it hurts even more because i am letting God down.

I am going to try to read those passages you suggested Key.
It hurts but i'll try my best. Thank you.

And thanks for the link The Lord is my banner. I really appreciate it.
I'll see whether there are any that are near to where i live.
I would really like to go to one of them, because i am hoping it might help.

 

[Key]

Umm, I hate to sound, unknowing.

But what do you mean by "it hurts" when you read the bible?
Key

 

[Serapha]

Thank you for your support Serapha and Key.
I have a hard time finding any Christian music, but i do have one CD so i'll see if it helps. I hope so, because i would hate to not be able to enjoy even being with the Lord.

Hi there!



While you are online, look up a Christian radio station that is broadcasting over the internet....

I want to read the bible often and go to church, but something tells me not to and it hurts, so i stopped going to church.

my friend, I believe that satan has isolated you... you know, divide and conquer.... you need to keep looking for a church that teaches/preaches from that Bible you should be reading. There is a need that is only filled with the fellowship with like believers....


~serapha~

 

[Rafael]

A lot of people have been trying to help me since i last posted.
I am sorry i took so long to come back, ive been doing my GCSE tests.
Although this is the worst possible time for tests. I think i might fail some of them.

I changed my symbol back to Christian, like was suggested but i am confused and i am really not sure whether i still count.

I would really like to go to an Alpha course, but i don't know whether there is one that is near to home. Does anyone know where they are in the UK in England?

It's not just Creation/evolution that is hurting.
I know i didn't really tell you my actual problems. I should have.
Ive been having doubts, and ive had them for a while now.
They don't go, and no matter what i do they stay, and nothing i have tried will get my faith back the way it was.

I have forgotten the things that originally brought me to the faith, and everything causes doubts. My hobbies, the TV, the sky, music.
I can't enjoy anything i like or even look at the sky without being filled with doubts. I can't concentrate on my revision either, and iam worried about my exam grades.

Sometimes i wake up in the morning and just burst into tears because i can't feel His presense like i used to. I feel all alone, and i can't face going to church anymore.
My only Christian family member is my cousin and i rarely get to see her.
She was also having a few problems, but we can't support each other when we don't see each other very often.

Ive never been very good at communication, and i have a hard time trusting people. I never know who i can talk to about my problems because some people are just the right people to talk to and some are just the wrong people.
My family aren't Christians so i can't tell them anything and it hurts that i can't let it out and tell them why i am not happy. It's so painful having to lie to them or make up an excuse why i am upset.
And i can't tell them the truth because they'll blame Christianity for it and then they'll never be saved.

I have no support except here, and ive lost not only the feeling that He is with me, but almost everything that gave me faith.

If science and evolution are what robs you of faith, just remember that man doesn't really have it together, at all, when it comes to really knowing much about anything. If we believe in God, whose creation surrounds us as evidence, then surely He is able to communicate and preserve His truth for us. Well, He has, and reading that Bible will impart life right to your spirit. Don't let it starve, and don't listen to man and his proud dillusions about self in science. Man still can't make a so-called simple single celled life form live. As Adam put names on the animals God created for Him in the garden, so we still are attaching names to life already given.
There is a scientist who goes through the Bible step by step in Genesis that has MP3s you can listen to. If you have that kind of time, which may be difficult if your a student, here is the link for Chuck Misslar. I actually like transcripts better, myself, so I can outline, but if you like to listen, here is the link. It may help you overcome some doubts. Just scroll down a little till you see his name and window.
God bless....
http://www.firefighters.org/

 

[UnhandledException]

Ive even had to change my symbol to Agnostic.
I am not sure whether thats a bit extreame, but i don't know what else to do.
Please can somebody help me get my faith back!!

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you never had it.