Is god real?

[Cayamaka]

I'm in need of some serious advice. I was born into a christian family, and have gone to church almost every sunday my entire life. I've heard it can be monumentally more difficult for a person born into a christian to find god than a convert. Many of my friends stopped going to church upon entering university.

The thing is, I really want to experience the "grace of god" that all Christian's talk about. The feeling that one can find joy through jesus rather than through tangible desires.

I pray, read the bible, have been to many missions, and have even served on the church worship team for the past 8 years, but nothing.

Albeit, Im not denying that I feel absolutely nothing, but the feeling of joy that I receive is just as fleeting as playing games, drinking, doing drugs, having sex, etc.

I've given up many things just so I could get closer to god, but I feel like he doesnt want me, or hes just not there. Sometimes I wonder if happiness is just a social construct designed to keep people ignorant of the harsh reality.

I was born into a comfortable life. Money is not an issue, both my parents support me, and opportunities for advancement are always within arms reach. Yet I wish I was born with nothing so that I could truly experience God grace. Why is it so hard for me to find him?

In church I have always been taught that god keeps an open door, that anyone that searches can find him. I've also been taught that joy on earth is temporary but joy in heaven is eternal. Yet if I cant even experience the grace of god here, how can I expect the words of the bible to be the truth and not some elaborate troll from 2000 years ago designed to keep people in order?

 

[Jesus' Girl]

I’m going through the same thing and I can say that without God you will know a difference. Without God it is impossible to keep afloat. I know God has not left me. Despite my pain. I just know within me. Despite everything you say being the same for me. I’ve not had any “aha!” Moments where everything was enlightened, I’ve not had joy or peace but I know He is there..somehow

 

[JackRT]

Is God Real?

That would depend very much on just how you envision God.

 

[Valetic]

The wind blows and you do not hear where it comes from or where it is going... So it is with the Spirit of God. Unless you are born again, you shall not enter the kingdom of God.

I am pretty sure that the reason the world began and will end the way it is so that the maximum number of souls may enter into the kingdom of God.

I don't want to tell you that you need to open your heart and mind to God because you probably have already heard this. God in fact DOES want you to be born again!

If you truly want to be born again, you need to go to Him with all that you are, willing to cry out to him, and let him know you really do want to know him. Not just some prayer you do, truly look inside yourself, search out the Spirit. Jesus said ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you. How sincere are you? What is the condition of your heart? Are you actually willing to let go and let the Holy Spirit move?

 

[Danielwright2311]

I'm in need of some serious advice. I was born into a christian family, and have gone to church almost every sunday my entire life. I've heard it can be monumentally more difficult for a person born into a christian to find god than a convert. Many of my friends stopped going to church upon entering university.

The thing is, I really want to experience the "grace of god" that all Christian's talk about. The feeling that one can find joy through jesus rather than through tangible desires.

I pray, read the bible, have been to many missions, and have even served on the church worship team for the past 8 years, but nothing.

Albeit, Im not denying that I feel absolutely nothing, but the feeling of joy that I receive is just as fleeting as playing games, drinking, doing drugs, having sex, etc.

I've given up many things just so I could get closer to god, but I feel like he doesnt want me, or hes just not there. Sometimes I wonder if happiness is just a social construct designed to keep people ignorant of the harsh reality.

I was born into a comfortable life. Money is not an issue, both my parents support me, and opportunities for advancement are always within arms reach. Yet I wish I was born with nothing so that I could truly experience God grace. Why is it so hard for me to find him?

In church I have always been taught that god keeps an open door, that anyone that searches can find him. I've also been taught that joy on earth is temporary but joy in heaven is eternal. Yet if I cant even experience the grace of god here, how can I expect the words of the bible to be the truth and not some elaborate troll from 2000 years ago designed to keep people in order?

"I was born into a comfortable life. Money is not an issue, both my parents support me"

How can you know true appreciation of anything if everything is given to you?

Its impossible to fell Much when you never really suffered anything.

Pain and suffering and discomfort and hunger and being poor teaches you A humble heart and a way of life.

How can you know the felling of being rescued and saved and loved if you never have loss or the pain of nothing? My answer is you cant as you dont know.

You will never understand the miracle of being loved or saved till you fall into a life of some discomfort to miss the feeling.

Also, the truth is when you loose someone or even loose a life style or even loose yourself you will start to understand we all are human and need each other, emotion is a God given gift and science still to this day cant explain it.

I you want to see God, then you need to remove your self from the comfortable life you have and fell and start to know pain.

And one day you might just hit that life, a lot of us do from time to time.

Consider the ones in history who where closer to God because of torment or hard trials.
They grew to know God, there is a difference in thinking there is a God and knowing God.
We start to know God through trials and hard times.
And this is why we Praise God in times of real trial and torment, as we start to understand the love and companion and forgiveness of God who is our father.

 

[TuxAme]

This sounds like a "dark night of the soul" to me. When I first came back to my Church, I had endless motivation to learn and felt so very loved by and cared for by God. But as a mother eventually stops breast-feeding her children, so God also stops treating us in this way. Milk and honey give way to solid food. After awhile, I began to burn out and didn't want to learn much anymore. I had the knowledge that God loved me, but I didn't feel it the way I was accustomed to, and that hurt. But God wasn't neglecting me- He was preparing me.

The Apostles were consoled by Jesus while He was with them. They basked in His physical presence most of the time, and He allowed for them to receive Him in a more intimate way at the Last Supper. But after His crucifixion, they despaired. They surely doubted, and at that time, they perhaps considered that Jesus had been a fraud. This man that they spent three years of their lives with had been taken from them, and maybe it all seemed to them like time wasted. They had sacrificed family and property to follow Him, and for what?

Then He returned to them. He gave them His Peace, and they were again consoled- only to have Him "taken away" from them again, forty days later. But this time, they didn't lament. They were surely sad to see Him go, but their hope was restored, their souls strengthened, and they were prepared to fulfill His mission for them "on their own". And today, after completing their duties, they are all in the Kingdom, being with Him in a way that their earthly experiences could only vaguely prepare them for.

Today, I feel that I've struggled but made my way through this Night. Now that I've made it to the Mansion (I'm referring to Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle), my new task is to navigate my way through this place to reach perfection.

My recommendation to you is this: flip through Dark Night of the Soul (by St. John of the Cross). You can read it for free online. I'm not sure what resources protestants (I assume you are one) have available to them, but maybe you can find yourself a spiritual advisor to help you navigate this time. I went through it alone and survived, but I think it was out of pure stubbornness on my end. I wouldn't count on others being as bull-headed as I. Let someone who has gone through this themselves guide you. You'll need all the help you can get.

 

[Valetic]

He demands our love! How do we love someone we do not know? We can't! Don't stop asking. Don't stop seeking. Don't stop knocking. This is THE most important thing you can do in life because when you die, THIS DECISION effects you for eternity.

 

[Kevin Snow]

I threw away all my belongings to take a job in Colombia, South America. The job fell flat and I ended up becoming homeless there. I walked on the streets from outside Medellin halfway to Cartagena and then picked up a bus that would take me for free the rest of the way. I saw what people really do. They make deals with you but if it is not in their favor and they have the power in the situation then they will leave you with nothing and let you die. I got back to the states from Cartagena with the help of my family and remained bedridden sick for 2 years. After this, I left to Denver, Colorado and was homeless there too. I saw the same thing again. People don't care. They do not understand the society they live in. Everyone is selling their soul in some measure to live.

I'm saying this to you because if you want something real, you have to be real yourself. If you want to meet God then stop looking for him through the people. You have to strip all this stuff away to gain clarity as to what real life is and always was created to be. This is what Christ said:

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ~Matthew 10:37-39

So are you prepared to meet God?

 

[SkyWriting]

I'm in need of some serious advice. I was born into a christian family, and have gone to church almost every sunday my entire life. I've heard it can be monumentally more difficult for a person born into a christian to find god than a convert.

In my experience going to many denominations, I'd estimate the difference was minimal.

 

[drjean]

I grew up "in a Christian family" too. We went to church every Sunday (for a family of 8 that is feat!)
But I had this God-shaped void in my life. I think that's what you have too?
Just because I was in a Christian family didn't make me a Christian... just like being in a garage doesn't make you a car.

What you need, my friend, is Jesus. Forget everything else right now.... because I understand this seeking. I learned Bible verses so many and so well in church that I aced that class in Bible College when I got there... ..... ....

It wasn't till someone told me that nothing matters until I accept Jesus as MY personal Savior. That all the Bible verses and church going were nice but that isn't what I needed. I grew up being told that robbers and murderers were the ones who went to hell. Come to find out.. EVERYONE will go to hell unless they accept Jesus.

That's why Jesus came.... and died...and resurrected! To pay for our sin so we don't have to. Man when I was told that I hung up the phone and ran to my room and fell on my needs sobbing and apologizing to God and asking Jesus to please forgive me and save me from hell. Now that's what filled that God-shaped hole in my heart.

Everyone needs to accept Jesus' GIFT of love.... and then all the rest will make sense to you, and add to you and your life. But you must make sure your salvation first.

 

[Valetic]

I grew up "in a Christian family" too. We went to church every Sunday (for a family of 8 that is feat!)
But I had this God-shaped void in my life. I think that's what you have too?
Just because I was in a Christian family didn't make me a Christian... just like being in a garage doesn't make you a car.

What you need, my friend, is Jesus. Forget everything else right now.... because I understand this seeking. I learned Bible verses so many and so well in church that I aced that class in Bible College when I got there... ..... ....

It wasn't till someone told me that nothing matters until I accept Jesus as MY personal Savior. That all the Bible verses and church going were nice but that isn't what I needed. I grew up being told that robbers and murderers were the ones who went to hell. Come to find out.. EVERYONE will go to hell unless they accept Jesus.

That's why Jesus came.... and died...and resurrected! To pay for our sin so we don't have to. Man when I was told that I hung up the phone and ran to my room and fell on my needs sobbing and apologizing to God and asking Jesus to please forgive me and save me from hell. Now that's what filled that God-shaped hole in my heart.

Everyone needs to accept Jesus' GIFT of love.... and then all the rest will make sense to you, and add to you and your life. But you must make sure your salvation first.

YES! Seek first the Kingdom of God and all else shall be added unto you!

 

[hedrick]

I’m sorry that Christians have given you the impression that faith is a matter of feelings. It’s not. Christian love (agape) isn’t primarily a feeling; it’s caring about others. About half the American population reports they’ve had something that they think is an experience of God. But half haven’t. Remember, Jesus said that how you treat others is how you treat him. I think the reverse is true as well, that primarily we meet Jesus through others.

The church should certainly worship God. Well done worship services should help you feel that you’re in God’s presence. Unfortunately there are many that don’t do this. But aside from worshipping God, Christians should focus on serving others.

There are lots of churches that try to motivate people by guilt and fear, and focus on rules. That’s going to kill both real worship and a real focus on others.

Also consider the kind of devotional life you have. Prayer and prayerful Bible reading should be part of our Christian lives. However they won’t necessarily cause anything dramatic to happen.

 

[Strathos]

To answer the question posed in the OP, yes.

But perhaps you are trying too hard to contact Him. He will come to you if you are sincere.

 

[SkyWriting]

In church I have always been taught that god keeps an open door, that anyone that searches can find him.

See Answered Prayer - Steps 1, 2, 3 | Christian Forums

 

[joshua 1 9]

I really want to experience the "grace of god"

Then seek the God of Grace: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (and all your soul) Jeremiah 29:14 "I will be found by you, declares the LORD".

 

[Ron Gurley]

Jeremiah 29:13 (all NASB)
You will seek Me and find Me
when you search for Me with all your heart.

1 Chronicles 28:9
“As for you, my son Solomon,
know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind;
for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.
If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; BUT
if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Matthew 7:7 [Prayer and the Golden Rule ]
“Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.

LOVE NEIGHBOR AS SELF

Psalm 16:11
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

John 16:24
Until now you have asked for nothing in My name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.