Is This Normal?

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I have been a Christian for almost 20 years, but have not always lived as one or acted as one. When I became a Christian, I was 10 years old. I was a child, young and didn't know much about anything. You told me it was true and I believed it. 20 years later, I've seen and done things thathave worldized me.

The past few years, I have been more and more a follower of Christ. Reading, learning, studying, searching for answers, leading my family in the right directions.

My question is this. Is it normal to have doubts or questions? Will these go away when I mature more or become more involved? Does God understand this "phase" if it is a phase? Am I the only one that has this issue?

I read something and study it and then go to church and listen to a good sermon. Monday or Tuesday comes along and I start to think, well maybe that isn't really real or could it be that those were just folk tales in the Bible, not literal events? Sometimes even more than that, I just question things. Unfortunately, I cannot think of specific examples right now. Well, maybe I can. The Trinity. Wrap your brain around that!! Wow!! God made himself a man and that man was Jesus Christ. Wow again!! Some things your brain doesn't comprehend and mine tries to by questioning things.

I'm just worried that I call myself a Christian, I believe in God, Jesus Christ as my saviour and God incarnate, and the Holy Spirit, Heaven and Hell, that God created all things, etc., but then if I question or doubt something, is God not going to let me go to Heaven? How can I call myself this and say I believe these things and then have a doubt or a question and really be what I say I am?

Thanks all and God Bless!

 

[steepfall]

Yes I believe this is normal you cannot possibly hope to grow in your faith if you are not willing to question, if you dont question what is going to drive you to find out the truth. The bible has all the answers, we may not be able to comprehend or fully understand them all, we just have to look for them. Just put your faith in God he will give you the answers to the questions that are plaguing you and ask for the wisdom to see them when he shows them to you.

 

[novcncy]

Thanks all and God Bless!

Man, I have been in your shoes.

Some things, you cannot understand. For instance, God's love. We know God loves us, because He says He does, and because He died for us, but the thing we can't understand is WHY. So there will definitely be things that you have to decide to accept by faith, whether you understand them or not. It's really not that difficult, actually. Think about your car. (unless you're a mechanic, in which case, this may not be the best example. ) How many things on your car, your brakes, your airbags, your transmission, your AC system, the keyless entry, etc. etc., do you understand in intimate detail? But you don't obsess about WHY or HOW the AC works, you just expect that it WILL work as advertised. So if Honda can have your faith, how much more can God?

I sometimes have this same thought pattern, and I believe that it is often an attack of Satan. In the armor of God, in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The most important element of our daily lives and battle against Satan is faith, and just as we know that from the Bible, Satan knows it too. If he can undermine your faith, then you no longer have that defensive barrier against his attacks, and you are susceptible. Don't forget that walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Susceptible is not a good place to be spiritually, so hit your knees and pray for God's help.

A lack of faith is not uncommon. In fact, remember the man who wanted Jesus to heal his son who was possessed by a demon. Jesus said to him that he had to believe, and his answer to the Lord, with tears, was, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." Mark 9:24 This man's statement was an admission of humanity, and Christ did not fault him for it, but honored the faith that he did have.

One thing I noticed lately, that I would like to share with you, is 1 Corinthians 2:5. "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." What I realized about this verse, and I think it may be of help to you, is that our faith shouldn't be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Not in a fancy pants sermon (although God undoubtably uses those), not in intimate knowledge of the Bible (God definitely uses that too), but ultimately in the power of God. Those things I mentioned, sermons, spiritual knowledge, those are manifestations of God's power, but they are not the sum of God's power. It's a key distinction, and if you meditate on that for a while, you may find that it has part of the answer for you.

I wish you well, and urge you, like that desperate father did, to confess your unbelief to God, and ask Him to strengthen your faith. He will do it, and you will find that this reliance on Him will strengthen you more than you can imagine. Take care, brother.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Without doubt, there wouldn't be faith.