questioning my walk

[Godsgurl4ever2006]

Hey,
Guys i am having a really rough time and questioning wether i want to keep being a christian or not, any insight is welcome

 

[psycmajor]

What is it that is bothering you about being a Christian?

 

[OldBadfish]

Hi Whitley, whats wrong? What is it that is making you question your faith?

 

[psycmajor]

I'll be back tomorrow, Whitley and Badfish. See my PM, Whitley!

 

[Godsgurl4ever2006]

I've been a christian for 5 years, before that time i had no trouble, my life was fine but sense that time it seems all i have done is struggle.

 

[psycmajor]

When it comes to struggle, I always recommend to others to read the book of Job.

[edit]: Wait. Do you mean that BECAUSE you've become a Christian, you are now struggling, unlike when you weren't struggling as a non-Christian?

 

[BigEd]

Dear Lord,
I pray that you strengthen Godsgurl's faith.
That you would guide her steps.
that you would shower her with the love that only you have.
Bless her Lord.
I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord of lords, King of Kings

 

[OldBadfish]

Originally posted by Godsgurl4ever2006
I've been a christian for 5 years, before that time i had no trouble, my life was fine but sense that time it seems all i have done is struggle.

As you become older and more knowledgable about God, your faith and because you are approaching the age of accountability, your faith will be tested and challenged by Satan.

It's called spiritual warfare, just keep praying, you are not perfect, there will be times when you wrestle with your faith and Satan will do everything in his power to plant doubt.

Keep the faith Whitley, and make every attempt to stay away from non christian sources, also try to live your life like Christ commanded, you know stay away from people who would compromise your faith and give you doubt, don't go to parties, spend as much time with other Christians as possible.

I know your trying and you will make it, your saved and belong to the Lord, even if it isn't fun or exciting now, don't ever lose your faith! Eternity is a long time.

Spiritual Warfare is tough sometimes, but don't question your faith.

Remember the footsteps story? Well, God will never leave you.

 

[KeepTheFaith15]

you were nine then nothing seems bad to a nine year old i wasnt struggling when i was nine, but i was struggling before i got saved a month ago and when i struggling now i know god's always there pretend your running a race focus your eyes on god and get the gold, god's testing you he does it to me and ive bombed alot of his tests but they have made me come out strong. we love you god's gurl!

 

[OldBadfish]

And yes, I struggle with it too, I think everyone does. Lots of Christians (if not all) go through some kind of Spiritual Warfare.

You are not alone! We are here for you.

You got me, Kristen, psycmajor and other friends right here, that can help.

And if I'm not on CF, you know where to find me. Although, I will check up on you often here.

God Bless!

 

[Godsgurl4ever2006]

thanks yall i still ain't sure what i am going to do, i didn't go to revival this week and havn't been praying hardly at all and not reading my bible. But there are some people who begged me to think about what i am doing and i told them that i would at least think about it.

 

[Susan]

Maybe I'm guessing at the wrong thing or pulling at straws here, but maybe you need to see different expressions of the Christian faith? What I mean by that is that revivals and such are great, but the problem is that you may get your emotions and feelings mixed up with your faith.
May I suggest finding a church that is more focused on doctrinal teaching and less on experience? Who knows: you might find an entirely new reason for your Christian life!

 

[KeepTheFaith15]

every answer you need is in the book of life...the bible

 

[Angelo]

No one knows what your talking about better then I do. I'm not going to lie to anyone at this point, once you become a Christian, your life is going to be filled with struggles. Between friends,bills, music, family, etc., Satan is going to do whatever it takes to bring you down. I can guarantee you this truth though, every time you over come something, God will bless you for being faithful in Him. You must remember that we all go through trials, and the Bible says that we should consider it pure joy. So don't worry or question your faith, for these things are of the Devil. Instead be glad that you have struggles and problems, the only time I would worry is if I didn't have any.

 

[psycmajor]

The reason your struggles have begun is because you are now a Christian. You belong to God. When Satan had you in his grips, he didn't have to put out any effort. But now Satan wants you back, so he's giving you all kinds of trouble.

Jesus will always be your friend as long as you're His friend, and He will always tell you the truth. However, it seems like you're starting to lend an ear to Satan.

When speaking to Pharisees, this is what Jesus had to say about Satan:

John 8:44-45
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

So, isn't it interesting that you are struggling after Satan lost you? If you ask me, this is evidence that Jesus and Satan really exist, and that Jesus is telling us the truth in the Bible about Satan.

Earlier on:
John 8:12
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

If you leave Jesus, you will walk in darkness. It may seem like you're walking in darkness right now, but Jesus is right there with you (see Hebrews 13:5).

 

[Godsgurl4ever2006]

i am in darkness

 

[psycmajor]

How to Handle the Things You Hate But Can't Change [about a woman who lives with polio]

The Most Important Decision of Your Life [Why people need the Lord]

Depression [exactly what it says]

Anxious for Nothing [4 possible causes for a Christian's anxiety.]

The Relevance of Christianity: An Apologetic

The Will of God

What’s the Meaning of Life?

Hope For a World Gone Bad [Jesus is that hope.]

Bible Questions Never Before Answered: http://www.bibleshepherd.com/ [looks like an overall good site, from first glance]

Apathy: http://www.mustardseed.net/html/toapathy.html

I assure you, Godsgurl, that if you leave the Lord, your despair will be infinitely and eternally worse in the long run.

 

[carmen]

Godsgurl4ever Satan is launching an attack to pull you away from God. To make you give up hope. He wants you first distanced from prayer and the bible as this is where your strength will come from. Satan is out to harm you, to steal from you and lead you astray. God uses the trials to refine us .
To draw us closer to him and his precious Love that you will not find anywhere else. Take heart all of your brothers and sisters in Christ are going through trials also you are not alone. We are told to fight the good fight of faith. We have been told it is a fight to believe. but fight to the end.
Are you going to allow the situations in life to make you or break you.
Be bold, strong and take courage you can do it. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Let the weak say I am strong. God is the only person that will be with you to help, guide and love you everyday of your life. Not one single person or item can give you that. Sometime they will let you down.

When faced with problems ask yourself what is Jesus trying to teach me here. Don't look at your problems look at your solution Jesus. and he will guide you through. Trust and lean on him.

Hebrews 12v4


Just think of him who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against himself reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your own blood.

 

[endure]

godsgirl4ever.
hehe, with a name like that im surprised you are thinking about leaving the faith...think back to those times that made you so happy and so excited that you were gods little girl forever and ever, and nothing could stop you, remember that old joy.

think of your struggle as nothing but your walk with god being confirmed, jesus said that when it gets hard, thats when you rejoice! becuase rejoicing makes you happy, and joy will carry you through!
please dont be like the seed that fell on stoney ground, that grew up, but when struggles came, it was plucked up. it was "offended".
people who get saved, and everythings grand, untill they meet a little struggle and pain, and then they dont know if they wont it anymore.
but know this "the struggle came becuase of the word in them"
it was because of the word in them, that the struggle came. satan attacked, trying to to steal the word.
you being attacked becuase of the gift in you. it is becuase satan can see deep inside you, something great is growing, something precious, something terribly powerful!
and he attacks in an attempt to kill it. rejoice in struggles, its only confirmation that you are growing and becoming what god intends for you. dont be deceived, it is a direct word from heavon that you are on the right track! DO NOT BE DECIEVED! YOUR DOING IT! YOUR MAKING IT! DONT GIVE UP WHEN YOUR SUCCEEDING! the word of god says that the lord planted a seed, and as it grew he could not see it growing. but he went to sleep, and when he awoke and it was fully grown then he plucked it.
but dont be discouraged when you dont see anything happening for you, you cant see a plant grow, but if you leave and come back tommorow, youll see the diffrence. you may not feel like youve grown any in the lord, but if you look back to a year ago, i know youll see youve grown. dont be decieved.

sorry so long, but another thing is that you need these struggles. a body builder never gets stronger or bigger if he works out with no weight. it is resistance that tears down his muscle so it can then rebuild it self stronger. but if he just lifts and lifts and lifts but never adds weight, hell never grow.
god allows these struggles becuase you need them in order to grow and build muscle. keep fighting, dont give up, and it will make you stronger and stronger and stronger, untill you wipe that devil out, then god will allow a stronger one in, so you can grow even more stronger. but he is with you even unto the end of the world, hell watch over you, please dont give up, you mighty woman of god!
struggles make you stronger.
struggles confirm you.
in the midst of the struggle is the time to rejoice.
your growing, whether you see it or not.

 

[Lost]

Quote: Posted by Susan:  "Maybe I'm guessing at the wrong thing or pulling at straws here, but maybe you need to see different expressions of the Christian faith? What I mean by that is that revivals and such are great, but the problem is that you may get your emotions and feelings mixed up with your faith.

May I suggest finding a church that is more focused on doctrinal teaching and less on experience? Who knows: you might find an entirely new reason for your Christian life!"

Godsgurl4ever2006, I'm just new here but Susans' suggestion sounds very good to me. Both of my children at 14 started having all kinds of struggles, especially emotions, feelings and questioning of faith. My oldest tried several different churches and found one that helped her feel more at home. Maybe you could do the same. (She is 19 now) My youngest has just started high school and is having great difficulty which brings me to ask you this:

Quote: Posted by Godsgurl4ever2006:"i am in darkness"

Maybe if you could explain to those here, more wiser than I, in more detail what you meant by this so they could help you more?

You seem to me like a very intelligent young lady!!

You also sound lonely. Could this have something to do with how you are feeling? Are you in your first year of high school? You must be going through several other struggles that are very difficult right now. I don't know if this helps but you sound a lot like my daughter when she was 14. The other day I heard her tell my son (your age) that if he can just hang in there for the high school years he will feel so much better by the time he is a junior.

I am going to pray for you and want you to know that my heart goes out to you. Are you familiar with the poem "Footprints In The Sand"? God is carrying you through your hard times!!