Living Meaningfully

[InnocenceCannon]

I'll try not to make a generic depression topic, but move to what is more important to me; correcting everything.


I've been feeling that my existence is meaningless, which it has become lately. I just started on my Christian journey, and now I have no idea where to start. I know God wants me to do more with my life, and find him, but I have no idea how.

All I do currently Christian-wise is go to youth group and show up at church every Sunday. This hardly qualifies as being a strong Christian though. But I know going gung-ho and doing lots of charity and stuff like that isn't what I've been called to do, at least not yet.


Do you have any suggestions on this?

 

[Demure]

I had the same problem and what I did was pray. I prayed for God to make me useful to him.
Pray that God builds up your faith and uses you for His glory. He will answer you.

 

[whatdoesitmatter]

My guess is that a good thing is to come here a lot. Apparently its supposed to help you much and is filled w/ a great bunch of wise ppl who never create any stupid threads at all. In fact, its supposed to be even better than any Christian you could find who cared about you and your life more than theirs, if such a foolish person could exist. So just listen to these ppl and try to follow them and no doubt you'll turn out a bright sparkling Christian. No need to be depressed.

 

[InnocenceCannon]

I've thought about starting to pray.

I always thought though, God isn't some bellhopper though, so I wouldn't get my blessing right away, but it would take a good amount of time and prayer.

So what do I do while I'm waiting to recieve my blessing?

 

[Jondra]

Look for God to use you where and how you are right now. He uses the weak things to confound the wise. That makes me very useful sometimes. hahaha You would be utterly surprised at how many people are watching what you do and how you react to things. You can just walk through your life and be the only Jesus they ever see.

 

[junezephyr]

I'll try not to make a generic depression topic, but move to what is more important to me; correcting everything.


I've been feeling that my existence is meaningless, which it has become lately. I just started on my Christian journey, and now I have no idea where to start. I know God wants me to do more with my life, and find him, but I have no idea how.

All I do currently Christian-wise is go to youth group and show up at church every Sunday. This hardly qualifies as being a strong Christian though. But I know going gung-ho and doing lots of charity and stuff like that isn't what I've been called to do, at least not yet.


Do you have any suggestions on this?

Heya InnocenceCannon

I've struggled with similar feelings (meaninglessness, not being good enough, etc). However, I've realized that to be a real Christian really means to live out Christ's example to others. Don't focus on works too much, because it's God's grace to you that matters. Don't measure yourself against other people. There is a place for every kind of person in God's family, and we aren't all going to be called to be gung-ho with everything all the time.

My suggestion is just to use your daily life to be Christ-like to other people around you.. meaning, show love to others. This is the best thing you can do as a Christian. Remember that it is your relationship with Christ that makes you a Christian- not how much you go to church or go to youth group (although these things are great I'm sure!).

So take this time to relax, to open your heart to God, ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and to show you what you can do for Him in the here and now. Your existence is never meaningless, no matter what your feelings try to convince you of.

 

[cardfan1]

I've thought about starting to pray.

I always thought though, God isn't some bellhopper though, so I wouldn't get my blessing right away, but it would take a good amount of time and prayer.

So what do I do while I'm waiting to recieve my blessing?

Try not to think of your christian life as just waiting for God to answer prayers. Yes. we are supposed to pray, and yes, God will answer your prayers. But not always how you think. So if you are spending time looking for some expected result you have in your mind, you may overlook the answer that has been there all along.

Just remember this: In your life there is one decision that is above everything else. It is by far the one and only most important thing you will ever choose in your life - the decision to ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Saviour. So if you think about it, even if every decision you make for the rest of your life is wrong, ultimately, you still made the right decision.

And don't get into thinking that you need to earn anything or climb some spiritual ladder in order to achieve some standing in the Christian family. If you've accepted Christ, you're already there brother. Sometimes I fall into thinking I need to pray more or read my bible more in order for God to answer my prayers or for me to be a better Christian. Doing these things are definitely good and God sees them, but never think you are going to earn some answer or bonus points from God. it aint gonna happen. and that's the wonderful thing about Christ. All that ever needed to be done for us has been done already by Jesus. it is finished. Live your life. Stop thinking you need to be someone for God. He accepts you as you are, and will change you at His will, not yours. You will never do enough in this lifetime to gain favor with God. You can't. Only through Jesus Christ.

It sounds like you want to do more though, and that alone is more than most Christians can say. If you truly want to follow the Lord, you will. Just live your life, trust in Christ, and enjoy the ride.