Plagued with doubting :(

[DamonWV]

I think of doubting Thomas when it comes to my faith. I have been in the church most of my life. Accepted christ back around at the age of 18 ( im 33 now ) Have done your typical backsliding that alot of us do. Get back into the church, and then not go for a while.

What im struggling with is my belief in god. This is kinda silly, but yet frustrating. Because my field of study that i like to do is Creationism.
I am very educated from reading so much litature from ken hams website answersingenesis.org

I try to use reason and logic as R.C. Sproul does from Renewing Your mind website and his radio talk show.
Not to mention I believe every thing that is said in the bible ot be 100 % true .
Yet over the years from hearing people come up with so many ideas to disprove god and creation an all the attacks on christianity to try to prove some type of fallacy, it has gnawed at my belief in God myself.

Why do I feel like this ? Why am I so scared ? I used to have a burning faith in my heart , but for some reason it seems like it has went cold, and I feel all the doubts in my heart. It really scares me.
Especially the situation that Im in. I have a terminal Illness that I have been fortunate to live for 10 years after being diagnosed with it. By the grace of god that I get to live another day, and yet I feel I let him down , by having such disbeliefs.
My pastor says that Doubts are a natural behavior. And the story of Doubting thomas was a good reference to how people can have their doubts.
I am not scared of death, but I have this fear of no longer living. Seems like their the same thing, but actually they are quite different.
I see death and a transition to another stage. But having a fear of nothing being there when death comes is what frightens me.

I guess I need a renewing of my faith, and a re commitment to christ. To get back that burning desire. But having a memory of doubts, and hearing so many peoples attacks and disbeliefs over the years have just devastated my faith.

Any one able to give me some words of encouragement and help ?
Also your prayers . thank you

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Selling out to reason and logic leaves no room for faith.

There are three words that people should start becoming more comfortable with from all points of view: I don't know.

We can eye empiricism and positivism with suspicion without having to believe the earth is flat and the center of the universe. If we really know that there is more to existence than meets the eye then we should be suspicious rather than embracing the very things that say there is nothing more than what we can see and measure and classify.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

You've talked about thomas, but not Jesus' response to Thomas - focus on that.

He appeared to him and gave him physicallll proof of his power over death . . .then thomas was at Pentecost to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit - have you done that Damon ?

 

[tapero]

Dear Damon,

I've come to the point where I don't worry about what people say about how old the earth is etc. We know that God exists and there is no doubt about that. They can't disprove God.

I've been to sites that really challenged my walk with God because of the different beliefs but chose to stay with what I know. It rocked my faith for awhile though.

God says in Rev. Hold on to what you have. He also tells us to return to our first true love and do what we did at first. That's how to return to that burning desire we had at first. He makes the burden light though that simply through prayer, music and reading we have this fellowship with God that can't be explained.

I am sorry you are sick. I will be praying for you. God bless you, and keep writing here so many will see and be an encourgement. I'd like to continue to hear how you are doing.
Love, Tapero

 

[newyorknewyork]

Satan's Garage Sale


Once upon a time, Satan was having a garage sale. There, standing in little groups were all of his bright, shiny trinkets. Here were tools that make it easy to tear others down for use as stepping stones. And over there were some lenses for magnifying ones own importance, which, if you looked through them the other way, you could also use to belittle others, or even one's self. Against the wall was the usual assortment of gardening implements guaranteed to help your pride grow by leaps and bounds: the rake of scorn, the shovel of jealousy for digging a pit for your neighbor, the tools of gossip and backbiting, of selfishness and apathy. All of these were pleasing to the eye and came complete with fabulous promises and guarantees of prosperity. Prices, of course, were steep; but not to worry! Free credit was extended to one and all. "Take it home, use it, and you won't have to pay until later!" old Satan cried, as he hawked his wares.
The visitor, as he browsed, noticed two well worn, non-descript tools standing in one corner. Not being nearly as tempting as the other items, he found it curious that these two tools had price tags higher than any other. When he asked why, Satan just laughed and said, "Well, that's because I use them so much. If they weren't so plain looking, people might see them for what they were." Satan pointed to the two tools, saying, "You see, that one's Doubt and that one's Discouragement -- and those will work when nothing else will."

Someone encouraged me today with that little poem/story. I hope it encourages you too Read Matthew 8:23-27 its really encouraging! I hope you feel better soon! Don't beat up on yourself! It's going to be ok. This too will pass. Jesus loves you no matter how you feel.

 

[DamonWV]

thanks for the words of encouragement

 

[Shane Roach]

The thing about Big Bang theory, evolution and so forth is that, whether they like to admit it or not, those arguing all the evidence in favor of them leave out one fundamental fact -- we as human beings experience our lives as living, active souls day in and day out. To simply assume there is no God, and to believe in the heart that that assumption is rational in the face of the glaring fact that we ourselves are spiritual beings, is NOT logic, not science, not anything but an attempt to assert as foundational something that they themselves have simply concocted out of thin air.

Many of them tend to try to blur the line between things that can be scientifically studied and things that cannot. I can study gravity and its effects by dropping things and timing them. I will find that the exact same thing happens over and over each time I directly observe falling objects. Not so with anything at all that has happened in the past. Even if the theories of this sort were perfect matches for what we observe in the world around us now (and they are not by a long shot) it still could never prove anything to the same level as things that can be demonstrated in real time.

Ultimately the whole issue is a non-issue. God can and I believe did create the world. I have listended to arguments about what a "day" means and so forth -- I no longer even care. The point is that whatever actually did happen happened in the past, and is therefore not the proper subject of science per se, because it simply cannot be studied in the same way that physics and so forth can be.

Those two subjects have become faith affirming to me rather than damaging because as I watch people desperately trying to cling to those beliefs and obviously twisting and turning in the wind with declarations of certitude that simply make no sense, I am reminded of what the Bible tells us of the nature of fallen man, and the depths to which we all might sink without the saving grace of Christ and also the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

Keep running the race to the end, and you WILL get your reward, okay? Don't lose heart this close to the end.

I have prayed for you just now. I hope you will find some relief in either something that I wrote or something God will reveal to you to ease your trial here.

 

[DamonWV]

The thing about Big Bang theory, evolution and so forth is that, whether they like to admit it or not, those arguing all the evidence in favor of them leave out one fundamental fact -- we as human beings experience our lives as living, active souls day in and day out. To simply assume there is no God, and to believe in the heart that that assumption is rational in the face of the glaring fact that we ourselves are spiritual beings, is NOT logic, not science, not anything but an attempt to assert as foundational something that they themselves have simply concocted out of thin air.

Many of them tend to try to blur the line between things that can be scientifically studied and things that cannot. I can study gravity and its effects by dropping things and timing them. I will find that the exact same thing happens over and over each time I directly observe falling objects. Not so with anything at all that has happened in the past. Even if the theories of this sort were perfect matches for what we observe in the world around us now (and they are not by a long shot) it still could never prove anything to the same level as things that can be demonstrated in real time.

Ultimately the whole issue is a non-issue. God can and I believe did create the world. I have listended to arguments about what a "day" means and so forth -- I no longer even care. The point is that whatever actually did happen happened in the past, and is therefore not the proper subject of science per se, because it simply cannot be studied in the same way that physics and so forth can be.

Those two subjects have become faith affirming to me rather than damaging because as I watch people desperately trying to cling to those beliefs and obviously twisting and turning in the wind with declarations of certitude that simply make no sense, I am reminded of what the Bible tells us of the nature of fallen man, and the depths to which we all might sink without the saving grace of Christ and also the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

Keep running the race to the end, and you WILL get your reward, okay? Don't lose heart this close to the end.

I have prayed for you just now. I hope you will find some relief in either something that I wrote or something God will reveal to you to ease your trial here.

Thank you. I guess im too much of an emotional person, i am stubborn in my beliefs, only because i have spent my life searching for what is true to me. I guess it hurts when I see other people who try to tear down my foundation by debating my points of view.
I guess thats expected in a fallen world

 

[Shane Roach]

Thank you. I guess im too much of an emotional person, i am stubborn in my beliefs, only because i have spent my life searching for what is true to me. I guess it hurts when I see other people who try to tear down my foundation by debating my points of view.
I guess thats expected in a fallen world

I just hope you find some easiness for your heart in this matter.

 

[Anti Existance]

ah i had a simular thing happening, luckely there's also motivational boost, this website and the stories it contained restored my faith in God www.near-death.com

 

[OttawaUk]

For someone struggling with Faith, trying to use evidence to create Faith, does not work.

First, take a look at this website. Its a great site to remind us of our condition and why Christ had to die for us. Examine yourself to see if you are in the Faith.

www.livingwaterscanada.com/good

If so, go to God in prayer and explain to Him everything you are feeling. Everything. Do not be afraid to tell Him exactly what you're feeling, because He already knows. Ask Him to help you and guide you during this time.

Next, take a look at your habits in your life. Are you feeding yourself unhealthy sinful things? If Satan has a way into your life, he will use it to create doubts, fears and anything else to keep you from knowing the Lord. Things such as immoral friendships, television shows, movies, internet sites etc. If you're filling your head with sinful things, you are giving Satan domain over your thoughts.

Lastly, remember that feelings can be deceiving. Do not rely on your feelings to provide Faith, rather rely on the Truth of God's Word and His Promises.

I will pray for you, God Bless you!
OU