Looking for guidance.

[Dave Anderson]

My name is David Scott Anderson, I am 18 years of age. I claim to be agnostic though I do believe in God, and what the Bible says to be true. I do follow Christian morals for the most part and do want to get baptized sooner or later.

For the past five years or so of my life I have been suffering from severe Acne. I have tried every over-the-counter product under the sun, but I do not believe in going to a dermatologist. So why does this bring me here?

I have been praying for several years now everyday, off and on, here and there, for God to help me with my Acne problem. I have been praying for it to heal, for God to take it away, for him to simply help me heal, anything to make it go away and allow me the dignity of having a clear face once again.

I don't know what to do to be honest, praying is the only thing that I can see having any effect because its strongly genetic in my case. I suppose because I'm not saved and I'm only praying for myself that my prayers may not be enough. I don't know.

I'm just seeking guidance, and maybe some helpful prayers I guess. Acne is extremely painful both physically and mentally and has caused me several problems in both those areas in the last five years. It has effected me strongly and I am looking to the Lord for my last hope even though I've been trying to do so this entire time.

I don't understand a lot yet as I am still young. I have a beautiful girlfriend who loves me, and it keeps me going. Other than that my happiness is slim. I pray about it a lot because I'm scared of what the future holds.

I am exhausted from suffering from this Acne. My face is extremely scarred from it and the facial tissue is damaged quite a bit. I don't know what to do besides keep praying, hoping, and suffering. I don't mean to seem bleak, but I'm tired of suffering from this Acne. Its tearing me apart and I don't know what to do about it besides seek help from the Lord, in whom I seem to have had no success with.

- David

 

[~Jo~]

Hello and welcome to CF. I hope you like it here and enjoy the forums. Also my advise to you is, if you have tried everything there is in the chemist shop, then you only have one other options regarding your Acne and that is put your pride in your pocket and go see a doctor, you never know what you can achive and you never know you might even get better,and not be in pain nobody likes doctors that much but they do have a place in life to.

 

[RedTulipMom]

hi Dave,
why don't you believe in going to a dermatologist? They are there to help you! If you needed surgery you would see a surgeon. if you needed a new Roof on your house you would call a roofer. If your sink stopped working you would call a plumber. Why not see a dermatologist?

As far as prayer goes, sometimes God leaves us a thorn in our side in order to bring us closer to him, even Paul had a thorn in the flesh of some sort. Also, why not give your life to Jesus and follow him??? He loves you and wants fellowship back with you! I will be praying for you!!

 

[DarcyWillow]

Welcome to the forums! I am praying for you. God heals through doctors. I would recommend going for an appointment

 

[suzybeezy]

Welcome to the forums. Two suggetions: There's a product Proactive that you may want to look into, its said to be really good at fighting acne; or go to the dermotologist. My son had acne issues and went to the dermotologist. He gave him a prescription for a medication he put on his face and that helped get his acne under control.

There's alot to see and do here at CF, and you can find alot of support in the young adults and teen sections. Let me know if you need any help navigating the site.

 

[dead2self]

Welcome friend. I'd agree that you should try a dermatologist. Praying is always good, but as you say you are unsaved, unfortunately God will not listen to the prayers of the unsaved. He would not listen to any of our prayers were it not for us being washed by the blood of Jesus. Being in Christ is the only reason we are allowed to come to God's throne in prayer. Also, for a believer, there is no promise to heal. Sometimes God heals, sometimes He does not. But whatever He does, He does for our good. If we are left unhealed, it may be that we place too much confidence in our flesh and need to rely on God more.

 

[Dave Anderson]

I want to get baptized because I truly do believe that Jesus Christ is my savior and he died for our sins. I truly do believe that God is the real deal. However, I don't follow a Christian lifestyle according to my parents. They hold it against me because I stay up at late hours of the day, come home at like 1-3am from my Girlfriends house, etc. I'm paranoid as to how I will be looked upon and judged when I go back to my church and say I would like to be saved, and how my parents will view and judge me there after. I am not a good example of what a Christian should be, at all. I don't claim to believe in a particular religion, just that I believe that what the Bible says to be true.

 

[RestoreTheRiver]

Dave,

A hearty welcome, first of all! I respect your honesty and openness.

True Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. So many people get caught up in trying to change themselves before they come to Jesus. Instead, He came for us. Jesus Christ, Who is fully God and fully human, came, lived, died and rose again for us, to heal all of our humanity, and to defeat the three enemies about which we could do nothing: sin, death, and the devil.

Open your heart to Jesus as your Lord and Savior, right where you are, and as who you are, today! He will transform you, from the root up! And, it is only this transformation, this new heart, and new life, that matters.

Every Christian will agree that God will hear this prayer. I would also say that God is already active in your life, that He knows your needs, and that He loves you. God is active in our lives from the moment of our conception, working to draw us to Himself. This is the overall message of scripture. God's search for us. God's desire to restore relationship with us.

As to healing, all true healing is from God. Continue to pray; and, see your doctor.

God's Love and Peace to you.

Michael

 

[Orchids]

Before you try pharmaceuticals, you can try taking vitamin A - the water soluble kind. Get some sunshine. Vitamin A reduced a friend of mine's acne tremendously. Ultra violet light would be recommended by a dermatologist, anyway, and my sister went to one of those... that's what he told her to do. Try eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and stay away from oily/greasy foods. This was another recommendation made to my sister. One of my friends also had the attitude that if anyone was bothered by her acne, "it's their problem, not mine" and I agree with that. But I hope you find a way to ask Christ into your life.

 

[suzybeezy]

I want to get baptized because I truly do believe that Jesus Christ is my savior and he died for our sins. I truly do believe that God is the real deal. However, I don't follow a Christian lifestyle according to my parents. They hold it against me because I stay up at late hours of the day, come home at like 1-3am from my Girlfriends house, etc. I'm paranoid as to how I will be looked upon and judged when I go back to my church and say I would like to be saved, and how my parents will view and judge me there after. I am not a good example of what a Christian should be, at all. I don't claim to believe in a particular religion, just that I believe that what the Bible says to be true.

Don't beat yourself, we all fall short. God will work with you and you will grow over time. Of course, you'll stumble at times, but you pick yourself up and try to learn from it. If I were judge solely on my behavior and lifestyle from when I was a young adult, I'd never measure up. But God was faith and patient with me, and lovingly taught me to be a better example. That said, I still have alot of work that needs done, I'm far from perfect. But I have faith that God will continue to develop me as he will you.

 

[Scrat]

welcome, dave! sorry, i don't have any new advice on your acne other than what the other people have said, but i will say that you shouldn't be afraid of how your church will judge you. if you really do want to be saved, they'll have no reason at all to judge you! they wouldn't anyways, since the church itself isn't perfect... but i will pray for you.