Why isnt God using me?

Psalm 22:1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Dont lose hope, love or faith. You must have all three. If one is missing you wont find peace.

Hope faith and love. Hope for Gods love, faith in Gods promise, love for those who persecute you. Love for Jesus and thy neighbour.

God will be with you. Seek Him with a full focus.

Have you forgiven what happened at that church, maybe that is why God seems far away because unforgivness is inbetween you and Him. Only a thought that crossed my mind. Maybe God wants you to heal from the sadness and hurt from that time and truly forgive so that you can move on and He can use you again.

I'm sorry I'm a little confused..they disrespected you so you left. Then you apologised to them for them disrespecting you? Or apologised to try and smooth things over?

Ok so it was a very unhealthy dynamic going on and something i think you do need to heal from still , and sometimes forgiving ourselves as well as others so we're not beating ourselves up all the time as well. It can be a process and does open up communication with God as we work through those things. It does sound to me like you really tried to sort things out and God knows that. I'm sorry this happened to you I really am. If it is any comfort sometimes God is working on things in the background - I recently had a situation where I had also had a bad experience with church leadership and struggled with forgiving and my own actions in that situation as well but a couple of years later after much angst and despair God allowed me closure. It is worth working on healing and forgiveness of others and self, or keeping on trying to seek God and find God in it all so you can find peace in serving God again. I have e said a prayer for you and the whole situation and for that closeness with God and fulfilment in serving Him again to be restored in your life. Dont let what happened in that church stop you from seeking Him and reading His Word, that is what the enemy wants.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

I don't need riches just for god to let me know he's here with me physically. That's all.

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I'm not exactly sure what this means, but taking a guess... have you considered the possibility that you need a different kind of church experience? Have you consider Anglican/Episcopalian, Lutheran, or Roman Catholic churches? That's the only sort of thing that can make sense of the above. God being with us physically is called sacramentalism. Some Pentecostal and Charismatic churches also have a vague sense of this as well, but it's not as explicit or consistent.

You sound like somebody that has a need to feel useful, to be a means to an end. This could be a sign of low self-worth. Maybe you are dealing with depression?

Albion has some good advice. I would add, do you have any hobbies or social activities? If you want God to use you, you have to get busy. That doesn't necessarily involve a particularly religious vocation in fact it could be something as simple as exploring things that are interesting or fun for you.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

I don't know how to get healing or closure.

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I didn't know either with my situation but God found a way so i will pray about that for you that you will know God's leading and guiding with it all for your specific situation. I really wish all the very best for you rest well

Far Side Of the Moon said:

That's true, not everyone is used in grandways...and that's fine with me if I'm not. If just like to bear some fruit.

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I have a suggestion for you. Since you have time alone, undertake the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Google them.

For centuries people have found great spiritual insight, strength, comfort and joy from them.

They will help you.

So that's what I'd suggest.

question for the OP:

what gives you assurance that the LORD truly saved you?

Far Side Of the Moon said:

This is something I've been thinking about. I've been saved for 6 years ...but I had a bad church experience ..however at least while I was there I was able to do somethings like help at a soup kitchen and plan our next outreach stuff..but I left bc of the disrespect... Sometimes I just want to crawl back because even though I wasn't being treated right..at least I was being useful and doing something. I loved doing that and it gave my life meaning...

Now I'm just sitting here... ( no I cat volunteer or anything until I get my license which is what I'm working on) like I don't really pray...because its just me praying and I don't hear God at all...I just wonder why? Why the silence...why am I not being used? Why am I just sitting here?

It would be perfect for me to devout my life to God bc I have no husband or friends to get in the way ( I would be a nun but I don't like closed spaces and I know that's not my calling) but God doesn't speak back, and I don't know why.... I'm willing... But I'm starting to lose hope....

And if you're wondering yes, I've been baptised in water and the holy spirit...so I don't know why God is so far away and so behind the scenes in my lifw,,, I justdont know...

It makes me feel bad and it makes me wonder if he likes me at all ...old just feeling down.

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I received Christ at Cavalry Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA listening to Chuck Smith in 1974. After trying to hear from God ( whom I thought was ignoring me) I ask Pastor Chuck why God was ignoring me. His counsel woke me up and I have never doubted God's willingness to speak to me again - which He does through the Word, other Brothers and Sisters and through my memory of things I have read over time. If you want to know God's plan for you and your life, simply read Paul's letter to the Christians at Ephesians. This letter identifies our POSITION in Christ and how God can use us - particularly Eph ch 5 verses 15 - 33. We are told to redeem the time.
Some translation use the word "occupy" the time. Simply stated this means to go about God's business reflecting on what we have learned and experienced in our relationship to the "Living God - through His Holy Spirit". If you believe that God is being silent - you may not be hearing Him through your own impatience. It is a learning process. Chuck, the co-founder (with Christ) of one of the most innovative ministries in the history of Evangelism - who had several dozen employees - was seen sweeping the courtyard after services on several occasions.
When asked why he did not ask someone in the housekeeping department to sweep, he said, " this is the most important part of my ministry. While I am humbly sweeping - I am also reflecting on the things God taught me today."
Another reference in the Word is the Epistle of James. If you want to know how Christians are supposed to "occupy their time" read the short book of James.
You also mentioned having been "Baptized in the Holy Spirit". This is one of the most misunderstood ideas in scripture and therefore - subject to misinterpretation. The early Greek language translates "baptize" as to identify with . . . We are baptized in Christ to identify with Him as our new sanctified life is set apart to serve Him. To be baptized in the Spirit simply means to identify with the ministry of the Holy Spirit which is to draw people to Christ - NOT TO THE "CHURCH". The church is the combined and whole body of Christ - not a building or specific denomination.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

This is something I've been thinking about. I've been saved for 6 years ...but I had a bad church experience ..however at least while I was there I was able to do somethings like help at a soup kitchen and plan our next outreach stuff..but I left bc of the disrespect... Sometimes I just want to crawl back because even though I wasn't being treated right..at least I was being useful and doing something. I loved doing that and it gave my life meaning...

Now I'm just sitting here... ( no I cat volunteer or anything until I get my license which is what I'm working on) like I don't really pray...because its just me praying and I don't hear God at all...I just wonder why? Why the silence...why am I not being used? Why am I just sitting here?

It would be perfect for me to devout my life to God bc I have no husband or friends to get in the way ( I would be a nun but I don't like closed spaces and I know that's not my calling) but God doesn't speak back, and I don't know why.... I'm willing... But I'm starting to lose hope....

And if you're wondering yes, I've been baptised in water and the holy spirit...so I don't know why God is so far away and so behind the scenes in my lifw,,, I justdont know...

It makes me feel bad and it makes me wonder if he likes me at all ...old just feeling down.

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I've had plenty of bad church experiences. Maybe not as bad as yours. If you live in the US you are blessed enough to go try the next church that is just down the next street. I cannot count how many churches I have walked into by myself.

When you are going through hard times always remember this. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:1-4.

I beg you to watch this video...please. If the link does not work search on Youtube "When God Doesn't Listen by Francis Chan"

Albion said:

You asked why God seems not to be doing anything with you, but part of the problem may be that he can't do much with any of us if we are simply sitting and waiting for something to happen to us.

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Or to put it another way "You can't steer a parked car!"

Seriously though, you are going through something that most believers experience at some point; some of us fairly often. Jesus himself experienced it when he needed to sense his Father's presence the most "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" So you can know for sure that Jesus knows how you feel!

You will find some of the Psalm writers say the same thing and it can be helpful to read such Psalms out loud to God himself. Psalm 22 is one that is particularly helpful. Not only does it gives words that many feel, it also gives us the right response, once we pour out our heart. Look at vs 22 and the second half of the psalm. Resolve to do the same, or something equivalent:
"22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him ..." (this in spite of the cry of the first half of the Psalm!)

As Albion and the Psalmist both say, don't just sit there, get up and do something. But in doing this realise that God quite possibly has more to do in you and to you, than he does by you and through you. My mother used to say that to me, probably because she knew that a lot of what I did was "busy" work, to soothe my conscience or to look good to others. Whatever you do, says Paul, do it with joy/zest and do it "for the Lord," not for yourself.

Do not pretend to know what God is or is not doing. Maybe he is very active, even in this dry period... you just don't recognise it. It maybe something like "you can't learn patience without waiting." And don't we know how hard it is to wait, wait, wait!

God will bless you, because he loves you, he believes in you, and he will never give up on you! (1 Cor. 13) Let him hold you, rather than trying to hang on to him. He promised he would!

Monna

Do your own thing, start a nonprofit to be honest if you want a job in any field there is always a way to make one for yourself. I started a reading program and even if it's not your church something like that is needed.

The first thing I want to ask is, are you reading your Bible? Are you praying? Are you putting effort in forming a relationship with the Lord?

Getting drunk does not solve anything. I always tell my friend who has too much of a drinking problem is that drinking and getting drunk solves absolutely nothing. What good does it do? Not only is it a sin to get drunk but in the end you only feel sick with a hangover and have to come back to reality to deal with the issue. Getting drunk only prolongs it, and it is no way to live. I encourage you to open your Bible, read, and just talk to God. You cannot be used for His purpose if you do not have a relationship with him. Being saved and baptized is one thing, but committing to God is a whole other story. I don't have friends; most people at my church have ignored me for the past three years, and I have felt so depressed, angry, and bitter over it. In reality, though, it was God closing doors that didn't need to be open to me for a reason -- to focus on HIM, and not of the world.

So this is my advice: Turn your eyes to the Lord and truly seek Him. Only He can ease your pain and make you anew. And the thing about talking to God and hearing nothing -- prayer is not immediate. Sometimes you have to wait MONTHS, even a year or more to have your prayers answered. It is His timing, not ours. And you can't hear His voice if you do not have a relationship with Him.

Far Side Of the Moon said:

This is something I've been thinking about. I've been saved for 6 years ...but I had a bad church experience ..however at least while I was there I was able to do somethings like help at a soup kitchen and plan our next outreach stuff..but I left bc of the disrespect... Sometimes I just want to crawl back because even though I wasn't being treated right..at least I was being useful and doing something. I loved doing that and it gave my life meaning...

Now I'm just sitting here... ( no I cat volunteer or anything until I get my license which is what I'm working on) like I don't really pray...because its just me praying and I don't hear God at all...I just wonder why? Why the silence...why am I not being used? Why am I just sitting here?

It would be perfect for me to devout my life to God bc I have no husband or friends to get in the way ( I would be a nun but I don't like closed spaces and I know that's not my calling) but God doesn't speak back, and I don't know why.... I'm willing... But I'm starting to lose hope....

And if you're wondering yes, I've been baptised in water and the holy spirit...so I don't know why God is so far away and so behind the scenes in my lifw,,, I justdont know...

It makes me feel bad and it makes me wonder if he likes me at all ...old just feeling down.

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How would you answer if God posed the same question to you?

Why not get up and do something?

Far Side Of the Moon said:

Hopefully I find the strength to trust god the way you do.

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Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Another words, it is not that I am special or anyone for that matter in the eyes of GOD. It is that God's grace is available to all and he will meet you exactly where you are in the measure of faith you have. From there it only gets better as our faith grows and he is more than willing to meet you where you are. God Bless, this is the Glory of Jesus and his grace and mercy and love he has for ALL of us.