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But what happens when you've already done this, and the bad stuff keeps piling up? What then???
We're always quick to suggest that people with problems are at fault because they must not be giving everything to God, but so slow to understand that it's not always the people with problems that are the problem.
For example, what about all of those innocent people that get raped, murdered, abused, malested, and beat up..., do these things happen to them because they haven't given everything to God?
Careful Woob. Notice the trap here? They want to drag you back to the land of muzzling yourself for their convenience. Do NOT be deceived, doing THEIR work for them, to shame and invalidate yourself out of your OWN feelings, will NOT bring you the relief they promise. I learned that lesson at the age of six when I was told to deal with bullies by "ignoring them". How long do you think the attention span of a six year old lasts, Woob? Fifteen minutes maybe? Then they'd likely move on, yeah? WRONG. I would "ignore them" for HOURS on end and it never mattered, they just KEPT at it and KEPT at it until they wore me down.Woob,
I don't know if this is helpful, but, have you ever noticed that the people who take things the hardest are the ones the obnoxious people in this world love to torment most? The more injured you act, the more they want to injure you, to make sport of you and enjoy your discomfiture. But people who take things in stride, who let insults pass like water off a duck's back, they leave alone. Why? Because tormenting those people is no fun. In fact, it only makes the tormentor feel worse about themselves-
Originally Posted by Telaquapacky
Woob,
I don't know if this is helpful, but, have you ever noticed that the people who take things the hardest are the ones the obnoxious people in this world love to torment most? The more injured you act, the more they want to injure you, to make sport of you and enjoy your discomfiture. But people who take things in stride, who let insults pass like water off a duck's back, they leave alone. Why? Because tormenting those people is no fun. In fact, it only makes the tormentor feel worse about themselves-
Careful Woob. Notice the trap here? They want to drag you back to the land of muzzling yourself for their convenience. Do NOT be deceived, doing THEIR work for them, to shame and invalidate yourself out of your OWN feelings, will NOT bring you the relief they promise. I learned that lesson at the age of six when I was told to deal with bullies by "ignoring them". How long do you think the attention span of a six year old lasts, Woob? Fifteen minutes maybe? Then they'd likely move on, yeah? WRONG. I would "ignore them" for HOURS on end and it never mattered, they just KEPT at it and KEPT at it until they wore me down.
Do NOT let them drag you back down to where you were hiding before, in fear. I am with you and I will defend you as long as you remain in My Realm.
My color is black to the blind, but the blue and the gold are seen of the Seeing.Now if good people band together and tell the bullies "Knock it off!" they'd be less likely (they'll never muzzle themselves 'cause their not that smart.) to keep dishing it out.
Woob,
I don't know if this is helpful, but, have you ever noticed that the people who take things the hardest are the ones the obnoxious people in this world love to torment most? The more injured you act, the more they want to injure you, to make sport of you and enjoy your discomfiture. But people who take things in stride, who let insults pass like water off a duck's back, they leave alone. Why? Because tormenting those people is no fun. In fact, it only makes the tormentor feel worse about themselves- You know the verse about pouring hot coals over someone by returning evil with kindness?
Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Now I'm not saying don't take legal action against these bad actors. Do what you can to recover what is lost and take advantage as far as possible of whatever legal means, however inadequate, to ameliorate your loss.
But I think Satan hits us more when we grouse and complain, and when he sees that he can ruin our joy in life and make us question God. On the other hand, when we react in grace and faith, and it shows that material things are not so important to us, Satan leaves us alone- he doesn't want to give us an opportunity for a good witness!
Faith doesn't always mean trusting that God will dig you out of your ditch. Sometimes Faith means trusting that God is with you in that ditch, and being thankful for His company.
A story I like by Corrie Ten Boom, is when she and her sister were in the concentration camp (I think it was Ravensbruch), and the fleas in the barracks were driving them crazy. They read in the Bible to give thanks for all things, in all circumstances. They had a Bible, which was a miracle and a blessing in itself, because if the guards found it, they would confiscate it, and the women in that barracks would have no Bible. So the women knelt one evening and praised God and thanked Him for the fleas!
Later someone overheard the guards talking. They learned that the guards hated to inspect that barracks because every time they went in, they were attacked by fleas, so they only did cursory and inadequate searches. The women realized that it was because of the fleas that they were able to have the Bible.
Faith counts it that everything that comes into our lives is allowed by God for a purpose- not caused by Him, but allowed. It's only through these discomforts that He is able to bless us with the greatest spiritual blessings. And the greatest blessing any Christian would ever want is the opportunity to glorify God by trusting Him in spite of circumstances.
Your floor will burn some day. But the testimony of your faith, by the way you react to things with grace and faith will last forever. How long will bad actors rip you off and torment you? How long do you want to do you want your life witness to glorify Him by you praising Him in all circumstances? When you give these things a purpose, it makes them easier to take. This isn't a problem. This is an opportunity!
Maybe it is time for you to realize that the theology you hold on to is the primary reason why all these awful things continue to exist in this world. You can't have your cake and eat it as well.For example, what about all of those innocent people that get raped, murdered, abused, malested, and beat up..., do these things happen to them because they haven't given everything to God?
He's going through a tough time right now and you want to tell him that it's because his theology is wrong. That is a horrible thing to say to another Christian.
Bad things happen to good people.
He loves the same God you do, but you're telling him that he's doing it wrong, which I guess implies that you know how to do it right.
This is inexcusable. You should be very ashamed of yourself.
I guess you would also be opposed to the physician informing the cancer patient that his cigarettes have something to do with his cancer. I suggest you read the entire thread and read my other posts in this thread.He's going through a tough time right now and you want to tell him that it's because his theology is wrong. That is a horrible thing to say to another Christian.
Bad things happen to good people.
Bad analogy. Cigarettes are scientifically linked to cancer. Your theological contentions are subjective, as are his, as are mine, as are anyone's.I guess you would also be opposed to the physician informing the cancer patient that his cigarettes have something to do with his cancer. I suggest you read the entire thread and read my other posts in this thread.
There is little risk of that happening. My overall perception thereof is based entirely upon my own experiences therewith.Moriah, I see you've met Sentipente.
Please do not let his views influence your overall perception of the Adventist church or the people in it.
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