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I interpreted it as a warning from God to stop.But why does the sad, but common, occurrence of an animal being run over, stop you from doing something you enjoyed?
Someone else drives a car which hits an animal, and you stop drawing; what's the connection?
That's sad - I doubt that it was.I interpreted it as a warning from God to stop.
Well, if I can, I'll try again. Right now, I'm trying to recover.That's sad - I doubt that it was.
I don't draw but I like doing arts and crafts, cross stitch, writing, playing music and so on. God was never warned me to stop - why should he? He made me in his image, and he is Creator, and gave me the ability to do these things.
In the Bible, God gave Bezalel gifts and artistic skills so that he could make the tabernacle, Exodus 31:2. He needed to work in wood, with silver, precious stones and all kinds of crafts. God chose people to play musical instruments in worship, at the opening of the temple, and elsewhere. David wrote poetry; the Psalms.
They were chosen and called by God to do these things - not warned to stop them.
Christians have drawn, painted pictures and been involved in other crafts for years; why would you be singled out for warning or punishment?
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
2 Cor 4: 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
Matt 10:24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them...28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2 Thess 1:. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling
John 16:“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
2 Tim 2: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Rev 12:
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Things have not improved at all. I'm actually worse.
I know it doesn't feel like it, but you're not being punished.I completely gave up writing, art, and bicycling (my 3 favorite hobbies) just to make the punishments stop, but they didn't stop completely.
I'm sorry. But all of us find that material things wear out - it's what happens.I had to replace my tires again in December because they got skunked again.
That sounds tough.And then I contracted COVID and had to spend Christmas alone.
It's tough about the tyres on your bike, but it doesn't sound as though there's any reason why you can't still do those things.Then I went through a serious depression about not being able to write, draw, or bicycle, and realized how Nathanael from The Chosen felt when he was sitting by the fig tree, grieving his shattered dream of being an architect.
Have you talked to anyone about being depressed? There are treatments that can help.Job 12:18 reminded me of my reduction from an aspiring writer who enjoys life to a loser who wants to die.
The trouble is that you see any bad things that happen, or problems, as punishments from God. They're not.After some encouragement from the church's founding pastor, I tried to doing art again while begging God not to punish me for it, and was planning on resuming my writing and bicycling, and was starting to think my life was getting better, but then the punishments started happening rapidly.
No, he won't.I'm feeling obligated to let other people take advantage of me whenever they feel like it or else God will punish me if I refuse.
That "Mental picture" is not from God.Every time I ask God why all this is happening to me, why I can't have peace, why he hurts me, why he doesn't love me, and why he hates me, I get a mental picture of him saying, "YOU KNOW!!!"
The ONLY sin that's "too terrible to forgive", is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And if you'd committed that, there is no way you would be praying to God, wanting to serve him and posting on a Christian forum to ask for help and advice.The only reason I can think of is that my sins are too terrible to forgive.
It's all these mental pictures that are wrong.Sometimes, I get mental pictures of God singing to me, "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to punish and not forgive you, plans to destroy your hopes and your future."
That's completely illogical - there were millions of people in the world before you were even born.Sometimes, I also feel like God is telling me that I'm part of what Jesus died to protect humanity from.
No, it applies to you, too.I hear people talk about God's mercy and love, and think about how it applies to everyone but me.
The tires replaced in December were not worn out. They were new. They were replaced because of odor. The car is a 2022 and already on its fourth set of tires.
I know it doesn't feel like it, but you're not being punished.
It's either the devil/depression/low self esteem that is telling you that you are.
I'm sorry. But all of us find that material things wear out - it's what happens.
That sounds tough.
It's tough about the tyres on your bike, but it doesn't sound as though there's any reason why you can't still do those things.
Have you talked to anyone about being depressed? There are treatments that can help.
The trouble is that you see any bad things that happen, or problems, as punishments from God. They're not.
In the OT people built an ark, the Tabernacle, rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem etc. I'm sure it wasn't all plain sailing - they got mocked, for example; Nehemiah faced some real opposition. There were also women who couldn't have children and faced disappointment month after month. None of these people let the problems stop them - and the book of Hebrews commends them for their faith and perseverance.
No, he won't.
I would say you're more likely to have problems if you let people take advantage of you than if you stand up for yourself. Doing what others want could make you stressed and resentful.
That "Mental picture" is not from God.
Try replacing your mental picture with Scripture - "this is my blood of the new covenant shed for the forgiveness of sins", Matthew 26:28.
Does it say "shed for everyone's sins except David's"?
Is Jesus a liar?
The ONLY sin that's "too terrible to forgive", is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And if you'd committed that, there is no way you would be praying to God, wanting to serve him and posting on a Christian forum to ask for help and advice.
Again, that's either the devil trying to tell you you can't be forgiven, or your depression/low self esteem saying the same thing.
It is NOT from God.
It's all these mental pictures that are wrong.
Do you trust them, or God's Holy word?
That's completely illogical - there were millions of people in the world before you were even born.
But depression affects our ability to reason.
No, it applies to you, too.
What is it that's preventing you from seeing, and accepting, that?
Ask God to reveal to you where He's saying 'yes'. If you wait, in faith, He will be delighted to reveal it to you. As you begin to find joy in focusing on the promises you CAN see being fulfilled, you will develop your heart of thanks, and your faith will grow - until the day you can stand up and claim that He will keep ALL of His promises. Declare that long enough, and get strapped in...The tires replaced in December were not worn out. They were new. They were replaced because of odor. The car is a 2022 and already on its fourth set of tires.
I try not to believe these mental pictures I have, but it's hard not to when God keeps saying no to my prayers and all this stuff is happening to me.
I've talked to the church's founding pastor, the current lead pastor, his wife, and today I talked to a guy there who is an outpatient therapist about making an appointment sometime.
I don't consider Jesus a liar.
Said a prayer in agreement with you. That calm is from Him. You're on the right path!Sometimes, at my most calm and most lucid, I do get the feeling that the mental pictures I've been having of God hating me are messages from the devil.
I remember seeing videos on YouTube of Emilio Gonzalez Jr. (channel name is Grow In Faith Grow In Christ) saying comforting things about lies the devil tells and about God's salvation and mercy.
I just got home from work without smelling the tires. Please pray that I don't relapse into that routine again nor have any more odors, and for my mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Thank you everyone for your help.
Sometimes, at my most calm and most lucid, I do get the feeling that the mental pictures I've been having of God hating me are messages from the devil.
Is that the stuff Calvinists believe in?Naaaah , Heaven is like " invite only " gaming lobby , you need to be chosen.
We're not allowed to debate in a thread that is asking for advice, but you're wrong.Afterlife is like after-party , not everyone is invited !
Many are invited, but few are chosen:Afterlife is like after-party , not everyone is invited !
Naaaah , Heaven is like " invite only " gaming lobby , you need to be chosen.
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