What should I do if part of my "old self" has returned?

[Elegant]

My fears, embarrassment, fear of people, and shyness have returned, just as they were before I met Christ, and I'm a little scared because I see it as a major setback... I don't know if it's temporary or what...

I wanted to ask you a few questions:

Is it normal for a Christian to experience feelings of their old nature again for a time in their life?
How should I react accordingly?
Is this my fault, perhaps because I'm far from God?
Could this "stage of feelings" be part of God's plan, serving a good purpose? Or am I solely responsible for the appearance of the old self?

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but I didn't know which category to place this question in.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

My fears, embarrassment, fear of people, and shyness have returned, just as they were before I met Christ, and I'm a little scared because I see it as a major setback... I don't know if it's temporary or what...

I wanted to ask you a few questions:

Is it normal for a Christian to experience feelings of their old nature again for a time in their life?
How should I react accordingly?
Is this my fault, perhaps because I'm far from God?
Could this "stage of feelings" be part of God's plan, serving a good purpose? Or am I solely responsible for the appearance of the old self?

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but I didn't know which category to place this question in.

My humble thoughts.....

Typically, fearing some people, shyness and feeling embarrassed are not sinful actions. I am not so sure ridding it from ones personality would be possible as these are common human emotions. That being said, a hyper condition is probably the sign of a deeper anxiety.

Thankfully, there are professionals who can help as well as group therapy to conquer such conditions. You are not alone.

But most importantly, try not to question your faith by viewing this as a setback. Lean on Him more and more rather than doubt that He is there to help you through this. We all have issues to deal with because we are still in the flesh. He dwells in us through His Holy Spirit conforming us daily and during that conformity we still have stumbling blocks to overcome.
Stay on course and seek help from others. And remember, love is the key to our Father's will for us.
Blessings

 

[fhansen]

My fears, embarrassment, fear of people, and shyness have returned, just as they were before I met Christ, and I'm a little scared because I see it as a major setback... I don't know if it's temporary or what...

I wanted to ask you a few questions:

Is it normal for a Christian to experience feelings of their old nature again for a time in their life?
How should I react accordingly?
Is this my fault, perhaps because I'm far from God?
Could this "stage of feelings" be part of God's plan, serving a good purpose? Or am I solely responsible for the appearance of the old self?

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but I didn't know which category to place this question in.

I think the problems you listed are related to pride/ego/shame which are all interelated themselves and a direct result of the Fall of man where we became distanced in some manner or another from God, from our fellow man, from the rest of creation, and from and within ourselves. And, yes, the struggle with it all can and does serve God's purpose.

It's a process, a journey, this becoming perfected, perfected in love to be most accurate IMO-and a good journey even if not always a comfortable one. Anyway, the closer we are to God the less domininant the ego becomes. But it will continue to rear it's not-so-beautiful head throughout all of our lives. And you'll also have victories-understanding and overcoming in the process. Anyway, it's a good and incomparably worthwhile journey, of learning, of gaining wisdom by experience as God gives us the knowledge and grace to fight the battle in this crazy life while growing nearer and nearer to Him-and away from our focus on Me.

 

[Elegant]

Mis humildes pensamientos.....

Por lo general, temer a algunas personas, la timidez y la vergüenza no son actos pecaminosos. No estoy seguro de que sea posible eliminarlos de la personalidad, ya que son emociones humanas comunes. Dicho esto, un estado de hiperactividad probablemente sea señal de una ansiedad más profunda.

Afortunadamente, existen profesionales que pueden ayudar, además de terapia de grupo, para superar estas afecciones. No estás solo.

Pero lo más importante es que no cuestiones tu fe viéndolo como un revés. Apóyate cada vez más en Él en lugar de dudar de que Él está ahí para ayudarte a superar esto. Todos tenemos problemas que afrontar porque aún estamos en la carne. Él mora en nosotros a través de su Espíritu Santo, conformándonos a diario, y durante esa conformación aún tenemos obstáculos que superar.
Mantén el rumbo y busca la ayuda de los demás. Y recuerda: el amor es la clave para cumplir la voluntad de nuestro Padre Celestial.
Bendiciones

Thank you. I understand your interpretation, but it's not that I'm complaining about these feelings because I believe they're sinful. Rather, they worry me, since through them I can see how close or far I am from God. I went to psychologists for a long time, and they were never able to resolve it. Christ was the only one who, overnight, healed all my fears...
I think I'm being very reluctant to seek His help (maybe I don't want His help), but I know He's the only thing that can heal me again.
I ask you to pray for me, so that I won't be so proud (which is what I think I am, I'm not sure) so that I can trust Him again and that He will be my only refuge... and believe in Him.

I don't know if it's necessary to leave my name when praying, I don't think so...

Thank you. God bless and keep you.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

My fears, embarrassment, fear of people, and shyness have returned, just as they were before I met Christ, and I'm a little scared because I see it as a major setback... I don't know if it's temporary or what...

I wanted to ask you a few questions:

Is it normal for a Christian to experience feelings of their old nature again for a time in their life?
How should I react accordingly?
Is this my fault, perhaps because I'm far from God?
Could this "stage of feelings" be part of God's plan, serving a good purpose? Or am I solely responsible for the appearance of the old self?

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but I didn't know which category to place this question in.

Memories make back ups. The back ups make back ups.

Transformation so the foundation of memories change takes time.

There's no rush.

I understand how the atmosphere at church leads people to believe they need to "produce a false image"

but it's just better to be good in the sight of God than people.

It is unfortunate that one must choose even at church, but that's the way it is.

 

[timf]

Christian maturity is about transitioning from the flesh (selfishness) to the Spirit (selflessness). W can read the we are to "mortify" (put to death) the deeds of the flesh. We can also read that this is done through a process of making no provision for the flesh. This lack of provision might be seen as "starving" those fleshly inclinations.

One might not expect this process to be accomplished overnight and therefor relapses might be expected.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Take this into your heart and hold it as true. All else is false.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I do not have a spirit of fear. I have a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

 

[Richard T]

Here is my two cents. Early in our Christian walk, God's grace can extend quite far. So God may carry new Christians like a mom carries a baby. However, as your Christian walk is maturing, God expects Christians to do more, to learn to walk on their own a bit. So first, you have an awareness of this. Secondly, you seem to have a willingness to try and change. I am thinking though that you simply are not sure what to do? To me the answer lies in you being transformed by the world of God. Your going to have to learn to apply the word of God to your situations and find a way to let it rule your heart rather than some emotions that may hinder you.
As some equate the opposite of fear to be faith, this should be something you can build on. Faith comes from hearing God speak through his word. Yes, you have faith for salvation, but to transform into maturity you need to to hear from God and put some action to the areas where you are uncomfortable.
Lastly, you might think why me? Can't God just use someone else and ignore me or just carry me like he did when I was just learning to believe? Sure he could, but your destiny is far more. Far enough that you will glorify Christ in the changes that He is undertaking. It is a rejoicing moment to me that God is calling you deeper. And no, you do not have to condemn yourself for anything lacking that you have. Just keep your eyes on Jesus and he will illuminate your path. Again though, that path is in the word, being personally taught and comforted by the Holy Spirit. So plant the mustard seed in faith that you can change with the help of God. God bless.

 

[Elegant]

Here is my two cents. Early in our Christian walk, God's grace can extend quite far. So God may carry new Christians like a mom carries a baby. However, as your Christian walk is maturing, God expects Christians to do more, to learn to walk on their own a bit. So first, you have an awareness of this. Secondly, you seem to have a willingness to try and change. I am thinking though that you simply are not sure what to do? To me the answer lies in you being transformed by the world of God. Your going to have to learn to apply the word of God to your situations and find a way to let it rule your heart rather than some emotions that may hinder you.
As some equate the opposite of fear to be faith, this should be something you can build on. Faith comes from hearing God speak through his word. Yes, you have faith for salvation, but to transform into maturity you need to to hear from God and put some action to the areas where you are uncomfortable.
Lastly, you might think why me? Can't God just use someone else and ignore me or just carry me like he did when I was just learning to believe? Sure he could, but your destiny is far more. Far enough that you will glorify Christ in the changes that He is undertaking. It is a rejoicing moment to me that God is calling you deeper. And no, you do not have to condemn yourself for anything lacking that you have. Just keep your eyes on Jesus and he will illuminate your path. Again though, that path is in the word, being personally taught and comforted by the Holy Spirit. So plant the mustard seed in faith that you can change with the help of God. God bless.

I don't know how you did it, but you understood everything perfectly. Thank you. Blessings.

 

[Richard T]

I don't know how you did it, but you understood everything perfectly. Thank you. Blessings.

I am just glad you are on God's path for your life. I pray you never get discouraged and always guard your heart.

 

[stevevw]

My fears, embarrassment, fear of people, and shyness have returned, just as they were before I met Christ, and I'm a little scared because I see it as a major setback... I don't know if it's temporary or what...

I wanted to ask you a few questions:

Is it normal for a Christian to experience feelings of their old nature again for a time in their life?
How should I react accordingly?
Is this my fault, perhaps because I'm far from God?
Could this "stage of feelings" be part of God's plan, serving a good purpose? Or am I solely responsible for the appearance of the old self?

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but I didn't know which category to place this question in.

For some but I believe for most the old self can linger on or be overcome and then come back. I don't think in the same exact way as you have grown and are different. But nevertheless these worries, fears, temptations, desires whatever they may be that was your particular weakness can reemerge just like they would for a non Christian who may have had therapy but regressed or relapsed back into old habits or thinking.

Its really a good thing because in reality I don't think such deep rooted trauma or psychological issues can be dispelled in an instant. Though I don't doubt that instant miracles happen. But that the old ghosts come up is really a further cleansing that God is helping us overcome our old selves.

God doesn't give us more than we can handle so he will gradually transform us. Sometimes its a case that you have learnt to overcome these worries but something happens even unrelated and this causes them to be relived or come up again. So its not really the same as it is linked to something else that we need to grow through or overcome.

The goodthing is you are talking about it. Sharing is good and it gets it from out of you and you can get another perspective. I would imagine if you have a church or peer group or support network that others have similar experiences and worries. So don't keep it to yourself and find some others who you can share with. I find that helping others takes me out of myself and yet also gives me support to understand myself better.

 

[Elegant]

For some but I believe for most the old self can linger on or be overcome and then come back. I don't think in the same exact way as you have grown and are different. But nevertheless these worries, fears, temptations, desires whatever they may be that was your particular weakness can reemerge just like they would for a non Christian who may have had therapy but regressed or relapsed back into old habits or thinking.

Its really a good thing because in reality I don't think such deep rooted trauma or psychological issues can be dispelled in an instant. Though I don't doubt that instant miracles happen. But that the old ghosts come up is really a further cleansing that God is helping us overcome our old selves.

God doesn't give us more than we can handle so he will gradually transform us. Sometimes its a case that you have learnt to overcome these worries but something happens even unrelated and this causes them to be relived or come up again. So its not really the same as it is linked to something else that we need to grow through or overcome.

The goodthing is you are talking about it. Sharing is good and it gets it from out of you and you can get another perspective. I would imagine if you have a church or peer group or support network that others have similar experiences and worries. So don't keep it to yourself and find some others who you can share with. I find that helping others takes me out of myself and yet also gives me support to understand myself better.

Thank you so much!! Yes, I attend church, and my brothers and sisters help me a lot too... you, on this forum, have certainly been a great blessing.

 

[stevevw]

Thank you so much!! Yes, I attend church, and my brothers and sisters help me a lot too... you, on this forum, have certainly been a great blessing.

No worries and keep strong in Christ. God bless

 

[com7fy8]

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)