What do you do when you are lacking faith?

[Oroppas]

Hi everyone,


Well, I've been seeking God for the past six months and it's been pretty hard to get to know him personally. I have prayed and confessed my sins and accepted Jesus into my life and want to give myself to him fully... I believe with all my mind and heart that God is real, that Jesus was the perfect son of God who came to earth and died for all of our sins and he rose again three days later and is now in heaven...

the problem is that lately I've been trying to pray but I have problems talking to God because I don't 'feel' saved at all. I keep having doubts in my salvation which makes me wonder if I ever was saved in the first place since I've been told people who are saved have the assurance of salvation which is unshakeable.

What makes it worse is that I've been reading through the new testament and Jesus makes a HUGE deal about faith and how important it is... He also seems to be harsh on those who lack faith. I need to know, what do I do to gain faith? How does one get faith in the first place?

When I pray I feel that he's not listening... and when I pray to confess my sins I don't feel convicted of them. I start to doubt that God will forgive me of my sins and then sure enough I believe he won't and I feel that he won't and it causes me to get discouraged and I stop praying and I start to doubt that I was ever saved in the first place. (God, are you there?!?!)

Does anyone else have these struggles? Are they normal? Is this a normal phase in growth? I'm so stressed out over this. I don't want to give up at all... I will seek him still but it just feels that I don't belong in his family. That I was never meant to be saved. That he doesn't want me to seek him.

It's like I'm asking for him to save me but he's looking through his planner and saying to himself, "Hmm... I never had any plans to save him... whats he doing here?"

All I want is to know his love for me and know it so well that I will never doubt his love for me no matter the situation I am in. and I also want to be SURE of my salvation... I want to know just WHAT I need to do to be secure so that I can get over this initial stage and move on with my growth. So that I can start to see a CHANGE in my life! That I can start to lose my old self and be born again and made into his image! So that I can start to please him! Thats all I want... I would have thought this is the type of person he seeks and loves but I don't know whats going on. Am I doing something wrong?

I just want to know God with all my heart, mind, soul, etc... I want to give him my life but I don't know why I feel so distant from him and why I can't seem to believe I am saved or that God even wants to save me.

Please help and pray for me... I'm dying here.

 

[seebs]

I always figured it was the people who were doubting, and hoping, who might be saved; it's the smug ones I worry about.

Anyway, you're not alone. Lots of people struggle with this kind of thing.

 

[looksgood]

I feel somewhat...interesting. It is odd that I should read this now. I had just finished 30 minutes of prayer (tried for an hour but I am still a bit weak). But what is odd is that I asked God to show me something in the bible. I was reading job and couldn't seem to put it down.

I have been through what you speak of. Even to the point of doubting my salvation. Job also has been there.

It is an actual trial of faith. It doesn't mean you have done something wrong or that God doesn't want you. It simply means that if you can hunker down and believe Gods word even if you don't feel like it you will be a very strong person in the faith. This trial is for you and not against you.

It can feel like just going through the motions at times, but I promise you that if you mean what you pray God honors that. Many times we do not "feel" saved. But as God said, we are not to judge by feelings, but by the word of God. Gods word said those that love Him are His. And to peter He asked do you love me? Though peter had failed Him, the answer was that he still loved Him. That is all it took.

You will come through this if you just trust in Gods word more than the situation. I have been there, and I am a wittness to that fact.

 

[Oroppas]

Thanks for the replies.

So... it's a Good thing? Do these tests come this early? I don't think I ever truly 'felt' saved, but I do love God and I have no shame in admiting it to people for sure. I truly do want to seek him and know him SOOOOO well and love him more than EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. I want to do his will and I want to make him happy when he see's me... I want him to smile when he thinks of me. Thats what I want. I also want to feel secure in my salvation and be able to approach him knowing that he loves me and so that I can grow in him and never feel alone or like a failure anymore.

Please pray for me.

 

[Oroppas]

It is an actual trial of faith. It doesn't mean you have done something wrong or that God doesn't want you. It simply means that if you can hunker down and believe Gods word even if you don't feel like it you will be a very strong person in the faith. This trial is for you and not against you.

What do you mean by 'believe Gods word'? Does this mean that I should believe everything God says is true and eventually he'll pull me into his love and I'll start to truly feel and know I am loved and saved? What specifically am I supposed to believe as far as his word is concerned?

You will come through this if you just trust in Gods word more than the situation. I have been there, and I am a wittness to that fact.

What did you belive? Am I supposed to belive that God's word is still true because I do. Or am I supposed to believe that God does love me and that I am saved even though I totally feel otherwise? Please help. I'm glad to know you have gone through this youself. How long did it last? And what comes after this trial (if it is a trial I am going through)

 

[looksgood]

LOL, when you come out of it, you will see that it is a VERY good thing. Because you will know how to trust God when all things say it is hopeless.

When I went through it I fell into deep sin. I wish I had not but I did. I had to repent of that and fight it. I wanted God more than those things. Thats why He said "Lovest thou me more than these?" We must love Him more than all else, as you have shown you do.

When I was in the trial I desided like job that even if I die in the state I was in, I would still trust God. Because I knew He does not ignore the cry of the humble. So then if I were to die in that state I believed only by His word that I would be saved, because I still wanted Him more than all else.

Also when I began to trust like that I noticed prayers being answered. I would pray and feel absolutly nothing. It hurt to try to pray because of it. But I thought, surely GOD hears. And He will not allow those who call on Him to be destroied. So even in my pain and agany God heard me. He answered many prayers. In fact one night He even answered a prayer for a dream.

As far as how early the trial hits, I have to say God has His own timing. He made a quick work in me. It may be an even faster one in you.

It is not a bad thing. Though I know it hurts. But just hold on to the promise that God made when He said you could call on Him and He would answer.

By the way, in your desire to please God and know Him you have shown great love. And I should tell you for your comfort this is a sign of salvation and forgivness. "He who is forgiven much, loves much" You may fail, but Love covers a multitude of sins.

You have my prayers.

 

[looksgood]

What do you mean by 'believe Gods word'? Does this mean that I should believe everything God says is true and eventually he'll pull me into his love and I'll start to truly feel and know I am loved and saved? What specifically am I supposed to believe as far as his word is concerned?

Many things are in the scriptures. With time you will find that the depths of His word are limitless. Till then the basics will do. In the scriptures (Gods letter to us ) Are the words, believe and you shall be saved. You said you asked Jesus into your heart. You had to believe for that. So now because you believed it when He said call on Him you are saved. What comes next is not always feeling and the warm fuzzies lol. You clearly Love Him, else you would not have said some of what you did. So here is my suggestion, study the bible. I am here for you if you would like a partener in that. The more you learn about God the better. Also spend time in prayer. You may feel nothing at the start. But soon enough your gona find a powerfull thing. God already loves you. All you got to do is believe it.

What did you belive? Am I supposed to belive that God's word is still true because I do. Or am I supposed to believe that God does love me and that I am saved even though I totally feel otherwise?

I believed that God would not let a man down. I believed that even if I could not feel it, God was still true to His word. I believed that He hears and honors those who call on Him. Believe not only that Gods word is true, but that God is true to His word. That means when God said if you ask Him into your life that He would save you, it means He really did do that when you asked.

Please help. I'm glad to know you have gone through this youself.

I am glad I went through it too.

How long did it last? And what comes after this trial (if it is a trial I am going through)

Your not gona like this...it lasted over 3 years for me. And when it was over I didn't know it at first. It was slow. I can just look back now and see that God was working in me. For isreal it was 40 years in the wilderness. But time is not a big deal. Cause as soon as we deside life or death that we will trust in God, we begin our way out.

And what comes after it lol. Never again will i doubt my salvation. Never again will I doubt God. And more than that, God will add to you. You will be a wittness of this. A minister to others, and a strong servent of God. With a faith that can not be moved, because it has already been tried.

 

[looksgood]

I have to go to bed now. But I will check in on you tomarow.

After some time of waiting on your part and trusting, you will find God will show you love as you never knew. Or at least you will learn how to recognise the love He is already showing. It is all a part of growing in Him.

 

[Oroppas]

Thank you for your help. I will think about what you said and get back to you later tomorrow... I am glad you are here to help.

 

[Pseud]

Hi Oroppas,

When I first started walking in Christ, very much like you I believed. I prayed, I accepted Christ into my life. But there were a couple of occurances that really put a spin on things.

The first was one night before I slept, I wanted to pray. I wanted to be in the presence of the Almighty, but I didn't know what to say. All I wanted was to be a Christian and I thought I already was. I'd come to realise during the day how almighty God really was, and how much He really did love me - He watched His own son die on the cross so that I could live. Also, if you try to put things into perspective - God is the One who created everything. He IS the almighty King of the Universe. There is nothing above Him. He's the greatest, most brilliant, being... and he wants you!

So in that prayer, I told Him all of the above and more! Of how awesome He is. How almighty. How he's the greatest, most wonderful, most brilliant, majestic, outstanding etc etc etc. After each praise to the Lord I felt a wave of love showering down upon me. For the first time, I felt the Lord's presence.

Praise God with your mouth and listen with your spirit.

The second thing is something that I will be doing for the rest of my life. It's not that I'm bad at it, but one can always be better at it. Repentance. Not just asking for forgiveness, but actually turn away and don't do it anymore. Pray for knowledge and wisdom, ask the Lord to point out the sin in your life that you don't recognise.

Oh, and it's already been mentioned, but reading the bible is always great. I'd take looksgood up on his offer of being a reading partner

Also, I must thank you for making your post and sharing your troubles. You reminded me of a few things that I must do to be filled with more of His Light. Thank you.

In Christ,
Andy

 

[looksgood]

Indeed pseud is right. Praise is one thing that gets Gods attention. God inhabits the praise of His people. Still you may not feel much, but after a while of praise and worship you will find God near you. It may take an hour or more, but praise gets US into the right place to hear God. That and prayer, even if we feel nothing. Soon enough we are gona feel God move. But one more thing I should say. If you never feel Him move, could you trust Him anyway? That is what I learnt when I went through that. It isn't a matter of what we feel. It is a matter of how much we trust.

By the way, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Reading the bible is a faith builder, but it is only that if you spend time with the WORD (Jesus). Prayer, talking with God, even if you don't feel anything, will open your ears in time to hear what is in the bible, and that will give you faith.