I have been battling my thoughts and emotions. I have been having doubts plague my mind about God's existence and it is scaring me so much. I want to believe and trust in God but I don't know how to. I used to have a relationship with Him. I didn't feel distant and I never doubted Him or His existence. Now I feel like I have separated myself from God forever and that there is no hope for me whatsoever. That God didn't choose me as His elect. I don't want to live a life of unbelief. I have asked God so many times to help me believe and trust in Him again. To help me through this but it doesn't seem like my prayers are working. I feel hopeless, lost, and alone. I want God to just help me believe in Him again. Why can't I move past this? I'm sacred. I don't want to reject the Lord. I don't want to give up. I don't want to live a life of unbelief. Please, someone, help me. What can I do? I have been praying constantly. Asking for Him to just do something. Asking for reassurance. I haven't been reading my bible on my own but I have with some friends. I just don't know why I can't hear, feel, or sense him. Why my mind takes these things and then doubt His existence. I'm scared please help me.
Dear sunflower14444:
What appears to be the problem?
“battling my thoughts and emotions”
Your
thoughts:
1. about God's existence
2. God didn't choose me as His elect
3. it doesn't seem like my prayers are working
4. then doubt His existence
Please see
What might be the underlying cause?
Your
emotions:
1.
scaring me
2. I'm
sacred.
3. I'm
scared please help me
4. I
feel like I have separated myself from God forever and that there is no hope for me whatsoever.
5. I
feel hopeless, lost, and alone
What does the Scripture say?
“in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” -
1 John 3:20
Your ideal spiritual state:
Your
wants:
1. I
want to believe and trust in God.
2. I
want God to just help me believe in Him again.
3. I don't
want to live a life of unbelief (first mention).
4. I don't
want to reject the Lord.
5. I don't
want to give up.
6. I don't
want to live a life of unbelief (second mention).
What does the Scripture say?
"And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?'
All things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe;
help my unbelief." -Mark 9:23-24
"The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" -Luke 17:5
Your
questions:
1.
Why can't I move past this?
2.
What can I do?
3.
Why my mind takes these things and then doubt His existence.
What does the Scripture say?
"
Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." -Matthew 7:7-8
What might be the underlying cause?
Doubts:
1. “I have been having
doubts plague my mind…”
2. “…I never
doubted Him or His existence.”
3. “…then
doubt His existence.”
4. “…but
it doesn't seem like my prayers are working.”
What does the Scripture say?
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, -James 1:-5-7
Self-Judgmental:
1. “…there is
no hope for me whatsoever.”
2. “…God
didn't choose me as His elect.”
What does the Scripture say?
Hope
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:11-13 NASB
His elect
"
If anyone
serves Me, he
must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. - John 12:26
"Do not let your heart be troubled;
believe in God,
believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for
I go to prepare a place for you. -John 14:1-2
The positive steps you have been taking:
1. “…praying constantly.”
2. Reading the Bible “with some friends.”
3. Asking for “help.”
What does the Scripture say?
"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." -Matthew 26:41 NASB
The
key in your spiritual battle has already been stated by yourself:
"
I don't want to give up."
What does the Scripture say?
"and he went to meet King Asa. He called out, "Listen to me, King Asa, and all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you as long as you are with him.
If you look for him, he will let you find him, but if you turn away, he will abandon you. -2 Chronicles 15:2 Good News Bible
My personal suggestion to you is to, if you would not mind:
1. Try to understand your emotional side - write a journal and put in writing whatever thoughts you may have. This will help you to get the picture of "what you are" when you are feeling down.
2. Be strong in separating your emotion with your faith. Your faith is not your emotion and vice versa. Faith is about believing about facts, about what God and Jesus have done for us. Emotion is god-given designed to help us feel we are human, but it should not be the basis of our faith.
3. Keep praying. Believe me, I have suffered a lot for the sake of receiving what I have asked the LORD God of. I have already received it. I don't see why you won't.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6
I will pray for you tonight.
Christ love,
TLF.