I'm not happy as a Christian

[Anonymous0210]

I have been struggling with my walk with God. I just dont find happiness or satisfaction in him. I only follow or try to follow his commandants because I'm told to. Following God has just given me frustration and anxiety from what feels like doing a bunch of rules and regulations. Were told to find our satisfaction in Christ not things in the world but I cant and since his word is true that the world will never be able to satisfy us where does that leave me? I know its not good for me but I dont seem to be getting any help. I dont have that much of a happy life. I don't want to have this type of relationship with God but I do right now.

 

[Frank Robert]

I have been struggling with my walk with God. I just dont find happiness or satisfaction in him. I only follow or try to follow his commandants because I'm told to. Following God has just given me frustration and anxiety from what feels like doing a bunch of rules and regulations. Were told to find our satisfaction in Christ not things in the world but I cant and since his word is true that the world will never be able to satisfy us where does that leave me? I know its not good for me but I dont seem to be getting any help. I dont have that much of a happy life. I don't want to have this type of relationship with God but I do right now.

I don't know if this will help you or not.

Jesus told us to love our neighbor so perhaps volunteering with a local charity that helps less fortunate people will provide a bit of the meaning that we seek.

 

[trophy33]

Following God has just given me frustration and anxiety from what feels like doing a bunch of rules and regulations.

If you are not talking about basic Christian moral values and the rule of love towards others, then it would seem to me you may be a part of some strict legalistic cult/sect which is focused on the OT rules or something like that? If this is the case, you can try to find more freedom elsewhere.

As Jesus said - His yoke is not heavy. If you feel it is, its probably not His.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I have been struggling with my walk with God. I just dont find happiness or satisfaction in him. I only follow or try to follow his commandants because I'm told to. Following God has just given me frustration and anxiety from what feels like doing a bunch of rules and regulations. Were told to find our satisfaction in Christ not things in the world but I cant and since his word is true that the world will never be able to satisfy us where does that leave me? I know its not good for me but I dont seem to be getting any help. I dont have that much of a happy life. I don't want to have this type of relationship with God but I do right now.

How about just relaxing for a bit. Practice feeling the love. It is there. Yes, life is difficult. It has all kinds of turbulence here on the surface. Ask him to come dwell within you with his peace. And keep asking.

 

[Anonymous0210]

I don't know if this will help you or not.

Jesus told us to love our neighbor so perhaps volunteering with a local charity that helps less fortunate people will provide a bit of the meaning that we seek.

Idk. I'm more of a donation person. The Last time I did go out of my way to help someone all I did was remind myself that it didn't save me. And I think thinking about the verse of the sheep and goats. And doing things for Christ among other things.

 

[Anonymous0210]

If you are not talking about basic Christian moral values and the rule of love towards others, then it would seem to me you may be a part of some strict legalistic cult/sect which is focused on the OT rules or something like that? If this is the case, you can try to find more freedom elsewhere.

As Jesus said - His yoke is not heavy. If you feel it is, its probably not His.

I just am a letter of the law person. My biggest one is romans 13 and how we have to obey our government which is really annoying especially when you feel like you need to do every little thing your aware of. It makes me just stop looking for information that will possibly make it worse. I wish I could just turn my brain off and forget things.

 

[trophy33]

I just am a letter of the law person. My biggest one is romans 13 and how we have to obey our government which is really annoying especially when you feel like you need to do every little thing your aware of. It makes me just stop looking for information that will possibly make it worse. I wish I could just turn my brain off and forget things.

Yeah, I was in the similar position until few years ago. Anxious, perfectionist. It then transformed to OCD and panic attacks.

Interestingly, it went away when I changed my diet to a very low carb, animal-based. I think there is some gut-brain connection regarding this.

It also helps to realize that the human society is a mess, including many laws and rules. It comes with age, mostly. Trying to know and obey every secular detail is bordering with idolatry - idolizing the society.

Another helpful thing is minimalism - minimizing our involvement in complex life affairs.

 

[Anonymous0210]

Yeah, I was in the similar position few years ago. Anxious, perfectionist. It then transformed to OCD and panic attacks.

Interestingly, it went away when I changed my diet to a very low carb, animal-based. I think there is some gut-brain connection regarding this.

It also helps to realize that the human society is a mess, including many laws and rules. It comes with age, mostly. Trying to know and obey every secular detail is bordering with idolatry - idolizing the society.

I don't think I would be able to stick to a low carb diet again until I have a good motivation to do so. The only thing that comes to mind for that good of a motivation for eating right and staying in shape is looking good for a gf or wife. I did low carb to help lose a lot of weight and have thankfully kept it off.

 

[trophy33]

I don't think I would be able to stick to a low carb diet again until I have a good motivation to do so. The only thing that comes to mind for that good of a motivation for eating right and staying in shape is looking good for a gf or wife. I did low carb to help lose a lot of weight and have thankfully kept it off.

My motivation is to stay both mentally and physically healthy. When I add some more plants, sugar, stimulants like cocoa, even just bread, I quite quickly see that my anxiety, bad sleep etc. are slowly returning. There is something very calming in a high fat diet, while something quite mentally disturbing in most other foods.

BTW, girlfriends or wife can be another stressors. I stopped dating and life is much simpler and more peaceful.

 

[Anonymous0210]

My motivation is to stay both mentally and physically healthy. When I add some more plants, sugar, stimulants like cocoa, even just bread, I quite quickly see that my anxiety, bad sleep etc. are slowly returning. There is something very calming in a high fat diet, while something quite mentally disturbing in most other foods.

BTW, girlfriends or wife can be another stressors. I stopped dating and life is much simpler and more peaceful.

Imagine having to deal with lust every single day then not being allowed to act on it. You know how annoying that is?

 

[trophy33]

Imagine having to deal with lust every single day then not being allowed to act on it. You know how annoying that is?

Well, if you are not in puberty (in which its really hardly manageable for most people), you should not have such huge problem with it "every single day". Did you test your blood if your hormones are all OK? Which could lead us to a better diet again. I like holistic views of things and I think that they are frequently interconnected, nothing is an isolated issue.

 

[Frank Robert]

Idk. I'm more of a donation person. The Last time I did go out of my way to help someone all I did was remind myself that it didn't save me.

You seem to be looking for a "feeling" of being saved. Whether we feel it or not, we can only do what Christ asks of us.

Over the past couple of year I have had similar feelings as you and every night I prayed to find a solution and over time I did. What I learned was that I am not the person I thought I was or who I wanted to be. That self-revelation set me on a productive path. I still have a long way to go but now I feel I have divine help.

 

[Anonymous0210]

You seem to be looking for a "feeling" of being saved. Whether we feel it or not, we can only do what Christ asks of us.

Over the past couple of year I have had similar feelings as you and every night I prayed to find a solution and over time I did. What I learned was that I am not the person I thought I was or who I wanted to be. That self-revelation set me on a productive path. I still have a long way to go but now I feel I have divine help.

No I don't have joy in my life and feel I need to follow rules I don't want to follow.

 

[trophy33]

No I don't have joy in my life and feel I need to follow rules I don't want to follow.

What would bring you joy, specifically?

But joy is rather a short-term emotional reaction, some general feeling of satisfaction is more achievable.

 

[Anonymous0210]

Well, if you are not in puberty (in which its really hardly manageable for most people), you should not have such huge problem with it "every single day". Did you test your blood if your hormones are all OK? Which could lead us to a better diet again. I like holistic views of things and I think that they are frequently interconnected, nothing is an isolated issue.

I'm not getting a blood test figure out why I want sex. I know that relationships are way more than that but since I can't relieve myself since that's a sin it's on my mind a lot. And after a while I've gotten tired of fighting it. I still try but it's just a struggle.

 

[Anonymous0210]

What would bring you joy, specifically?

But joy is rather a short-term emotional reaction, some general feeling of satisfaction is more achievable.

The 3 things I desire are a wife, house, and job. But the issue is were told the world can't satisfy us. The problem is I seem to be incapable of finding satisfaction in God.

 

[trophy33]

I'm not getting a blood test figure out why I want sex. I know that relationships are way more than that but since I can't relieve myself since that's a sin it's on my mind a lot. And after a while I've gotten tired of fighting it. I still try but it's just a struggle.

If you are literally suffering from such hormonal disbalance/desire, I see no point fearing such irrelevant little sin which takes a minute and nobody gets hurt and instead sinning all day long in your mind.

Let us apply some wisdom, here.

 

[trophy33]

The 3 things I desire are a wife, house, and job. But the issue is were told the world can't satisfy us. The problem is I seem to be incapable of finding satisfaction in God.

Depends on the definition of the world and of the satisfaction. This life contains both good and bad things, events and experiences. If we are satisfied with what we have, is mainly in our own head, but some "worldly" things like health or financial security can help, of course.

 

[Anonymous0210]

If you are literally suffering from such hormonal disbalance/desire, I see no point fearing such irrelevant little sin which takes a minute and nobody gets hurt and instead sinning all day long in your mind.

Because then I would be willfully sinning. I don't want to sin in my mind with lust but giving in would just make me feel worse.

 

[trophy33]

Because then I would be willfully sinning. I don't want to sin in my mind with lust but giving in would just make me feel worse.

Well, we need to apply some practical wisdom here and minimize the harm. I think you are too anxious about too small things, which may be the root of your problems and of feeling "depressed", burdened.

It may be a kind of cognitive distortion - an irrational thought pattern that can lead to misinterpretations of reality.
Its similar to "catastrophizing," where a person views a situation as far worse than it is. For example, something minor a state official passes with a wave of the hand or some bureaucratic detail can lay heavily on the conscience of such person, distorting his sleep for days etc. People with melancholic nature and introverts are more prone to it.

In a religious environment, it may take the form of believing that "all sins are equal" or that "all sins deserve death" or that "God will hate me if I tell to my wife she is pretty today when she is not" and similar.