When You Believe But ...

oceanofdreamz · Apr 7, 2004

Hello,
I've been going through alot of spiritual stuff and I was wondering has anyone here believed but keep having doubts? For instance... I believe totally in God but I keep having this feeling He may not be real... but yet I know He is it's hard to explain Anyhow, I want to follow God but how do you get past this???? Everyday I start feeling better and I get brought back down again... I'm scared of my future (that I'm gonna convert to athiesm) I'm scraed I'm not saved and I just don't know what to do.. my uncle whose a pastor said it's all because I'm getting older and learning about God for myself... but I'm scared.... can I truly believe and still have doubts I'm just so confused right now I keep thinking I'm getting through it but I am not and I don't know what to do...

Love ya in Him,
caitlyn

Alternate Carpark · Apr 7, 2004

Oceanofdreamz, The battle is neverending. The flesh wars against the spirit on a daily basis and satan wanders around seeking whom he may devour with doubt and uncertainty.

But as your walk becomes deeper, your trust and belief becomes deeper.

2 Cor. 4:1-18
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. [2] We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
[3] If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. [4] All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.
[5] Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. [6] It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
[7] If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. [8] As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, [9] but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. [10] What they did to Jesus, they do to ustrial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in ushe lives! [11] Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. [12] While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!
[13] We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. [14] And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. [15] Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
[16] So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. [17] These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. [18] There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

1 Peter 1:8 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust himwith laughter and singing.

2 Cor. 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [6] And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Ephes. 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wiles being satan's tactics, his stategies.

Ephes. 6:11
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

If you draw near to God and seek a deeper walk with Him, you can expect doubts to enter your mind. Satan does not want anyone to tap into the fullness of God or have a deep open relationship with Him.

As you seek out God, you will encounter obstacles. That is part of the walk. 2 Corinth 10:3-6 tells us it is our responsibilty to check every though that we have and compare it against the knowledge of Christ. If it is ungodly, then we remove those thoughts from our mind.
And your Father in heaven does not have a problem if you desire to discuss these issues with Him

Having doubts does not mean your faith is wavering, it means your faith is being attacked and /or tested.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.

Welcome to the battlefield.

swingnscream · Apr 7, 2004

Believe it or not, going through lots of spiritual stuff is good. The devil's always going to be trying to get you to question how real God is, and in our human minds sometimes it seems that all the greatness of God seems like it'd be too good to be true ...but it not
The devil also likes to make people question if they're really saved or not, just because if he creates enough doubt then maybe they confuse themselves so much that they finally just give up and quit following God. Don't listen to that stuff. If you asked God to forgive you for your sin and you've started a relationship with Him, don't question it just because you have some rough times. Perseverance grows character, and in your case, character to be more like Christ.
Keep on believing and seeking God, and you will find Him daily. Enjoy,

clwinche · Apr 10, 2004

Hello,

Hello Caitlyn,

I've been going through alot of spiritual stuff and I was wondering has anyone here believed but keep having doubts?

Certainly. Every Christian goes through periods of doubt at one time or another. I myself recently went through a period of doubt, but I prayed for God to show me His Truth, and He provided me with the answers I needed. He will do the same thing for you too.

For instance... I believe totally in God but I keep having this feeling He may not be real... but yet I know He is it's hard to explain Anyhow, I want to follow God but how do you get past this????

Pray about these struggles you are having with doubt, and equip yourself with knowledge, which strenghtens your faith.

Everyday I start feeling better and I get brought back down again... I'm scared of my future (that I'm gonna convert to athiesm)

Dont be afraid of your future. Remember that God is available to help you. Just reach out to Him.

clwinche · Apr 10, 2004

Continued....

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are saved. Period.

and I just don't know what to do..

Pray, and ask God to give you wisdom.

my uncle whose a pastor said it's all because I'm getting older and learning about God for myself...

Your uncle is correct. As we learn more and more, more questions arise based on what we learn. However, as we seek God, and continue to educate ourselves, we find the answers we are searching for.

but I'm scared....

Dont be. Trust God, and you will be fine.

can I truly believe and still have doubts

Yes, you sure can.

clwinche · Apr 10, 2004

Continued.....

I'm just so confused right now I keep thinking I'm getting through it but I am not and I don't know what to do...

Pray, and read Gods Word.

Caitlyn,

I would strongly suggest that you begin studying Christian apologetics. The term apologetics, in case you are not familiar with it, comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning to make a defense. Basically Christian apologetics is the process of defending the Christian faith. There certainly are some excellent apologetic materials available to Christians seeking to defend their faith, and to strengthen it. Below are links I have posted on my web site (which is still in the construction stage), and I hope they will be helpful to you (I have also listed some good books):

General Christian Apologetics Web Sites:

http://www.christian-thinktank.com/

http://www.risenjesus.com/intro.html

http://www.facingthechallenge.org/documents.htm

http://www.carm.org/index.html

http://www.str.org

http://www.apologetics.com

http://www.answers.org/

http://www.bible-history.com/

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/

http://www.tektonics.org/

http://www.geocities.com/worldview_3/index.html

http://www.johnankerberg.org

http://hisdefense.org/

http://www.comereason.org/

http://leaderu.com/

http://www.clearthrough.com/links.html

http://www.godisnowhere.org/

http://www.irr.org/Default.html

http://www.ex-atheist.com/

http://www.bede.org.uk

http://www.frontline-apologetics.com/

clwinche · Apr 10, 2004

Continued....

For Friends of Yours who are Involved in the New Age:

The webmaster of the below site is a former astrologer turned Christian, and she travels around the world reaching out to people in the New Age, and the Occult. She has a rather amazing testimony. I highly recommend you take a look at it.

http://cana.userworld.com/cana_home.html

Archaeology Supports the Bible:

http://www.tfba.org

http://christiananswers.net/archaeology/

http://www.abrock.com/Greece-Turkey/FootstepsIntro.html

http://christian.edu/

http://www.bib-arch.org/

Apologetics For College Students:

http://everystudent.com/

Theology Training Online:

http://www.biblicaltraining.org/

Reliability of the New Testament Documents:

http://www.geocities.com/worldview_3/reliabletext.html

http://www.grmi.org/Richard_Riss/evidences/29legal.html

http://www.douknow.net/ath_errors.htm

Science Apologetics (Scientific Evidence for the Christian Faith):

http://www.reasons.org

http://www.kiva.net/~kls/links.html

http://www.discovery.org

http://www.reviewevolution.com

http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/100ScientistsAd.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/4264/relsci.html

http://www.ideacenter.org/index.html

http://www.apologeticspress.org/docsdis/2002/dc-02-safull.htm

http://www.ldolphin.org/olkhov.html

http://solon.cma.univie.ac.at/~neum/sciandf.html

http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf

Apologetics for Teenagers:

http://www.swordandspirit.com

clwinche · Apr 10, 2004

Continued.....

Recommended Books:

These are all of the books I can remember at the moment, but I will try to remember some more as time goes on.

1. When Skeptics Ask by Dr. Norman Geisler
2. Unshakable Foundations by Dr. Norman Geisler and Peter Bocchino
3. I Dont Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist by Dr. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek
4. Faith on Trial by Pamela Binnings Ewen
5. The Creator and the Cosmos by Dr. Hugh Ross
6. Beyond the Cosmos by Dr. Hugh Ross
7. Why I Am a Christian by various Christian apologists
8. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Dr. Norman Geisler
9. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
18. The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

I pray that the above information will be a blessing to you, and that it will help strengthen your faith.

If you would ever like to share some of your doubts with me, feel free to post a message, or send me a private message.

Your Brother In Christ,

Chris

Rafael · Apr 10, 2004

You have to fill your cup up with God and drink deeply of the living water of life we have in Jesus. If you do not nourish and feed your spirit from the Word of God, it will grow weak. You don't want the crows of the devil to steal away your faith as in the parable. Let nothing keep you from the living Word of God that imparts life and spirit to you.
I hope you will grow in strength of God and forget the lies of the world and the devil. Reach out for the life only God can give and He will not deny you.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Blessed-one · Apr 10, 2004

agree. That's the one and only way (in addition that you refuse to give up seeking Him). I've had the exact problem, i can't say it's totally gone yet, but i've definitely improved by not giving up, giving God and myself more time, read the bible, pray more..

and you'll know that God really is there..

When You Believe But ...

oceanofdreamz

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Alternate Carpark

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