Why isnt God using me?

[Goodbook]

Hmm maybe the issue is unforgiveness.

Do you know that God, our Father has forgiven you?

Do you know Him as your Father? Do you know Jesus as Lord?

You cant earn your salvation by doing good works and people pleasing and this to me is what youve been trying to do. I dont know what kind of church you go to but I think somethings missing there. Try a different one. You said you were thinking of becoming a nun? Are you in a catholic church? Are you angry at not being able to find a mate? I knew this catholic girl who always said she wanted to be a nun simply cos she wasnt married. But look God doesnt rate those who marry over those who dont. And He isnt less present physically to those who arent married.

Read your bible, listen to what God is saying to you by writing down scripture He impresses on your heart to recall.

You say youve been baptised in the holy spirit but you need to keep walking in Christ it seems to me you have gone off track. GOd wants you back close to Him not stressing needlessly of what other people think. Stop making it harder for yourself by wallowing in self pity...let go of it. Focus on Jesus.

 

[Guide To The Bible]

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.

I went through a long dry spell at about the 6 year mark too, it lasted about 4 or 5 years but one thing I remember that helped was "It is a Marathon not a Sprint"

Ecclesiastes 3
1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

 

[Guide To The Bible]

These/this kinds of times could be some of the "best ever"... "If" you would just choose to see it that way...

God Bless!

A Tale of Two Cities. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

 

[geiroffenberg]

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.

You just need to seek the kingdom and find your peace in your communications and unity with God within and not have any identity in being used or whatever. Being used by god looks very differently thatn what we think most of the time. You may be a big pastor of a megachurc without actually being used by god. But a housewife with a strong spiritual life can go to the grocesry store and get more done in the spirit than anybody, even without talking to people, or doing christian work at all. ITs just very different.

 

[seashale76]

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.

It sounds as if you are passively sitting by waiting. The question is what are you going to do? Going to church (not the one you left), prayer, and meeting God where you're at would be a start.

 

[faroukfarouk]

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.

We do need to move on, don't we? whether it's us or other ppl who need cleansing.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

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

I already made a post saying what I did. When I was at church I helped in soup kitchens,planned outreaches... Just look fo4 my post..I wasn't sitting and I'm not now.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

It sounds as if you are passively sitting by waiting. The question is what are you going to do? Going to church (not the one you left), prayer, and meeting God where you're at would be a start.

Why aren't you guys paying attention? It gets frustrating to give the same answer over and over again. I'm trying to get my license so I can go to a different church just reread my posts. I'm not being passive if I was I wouldn't expect anything from god <Staff Edit>

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

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

Why not get up and do something?

I have why you people assume I've never tried is beyond me

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

They are only trying to help. There isn't a need for that kind of response. You have given them an impression and that is what they are basing their responses on.

No they're not paying attention, all you have to do is read. I don't like people thinking I'm not doing anything...there really isn't a reason to assume if you read thoroughly

 

[Journey.In.Grace]

No they're not paying attention, all you have to do is read. I don't like people thinking I'm not doing anything...there really isn't a reason to assume if you read thoroughly

Don't know what to tell you, other than to read your Bible and pray always, and just keep close to God. Really the only thing you can do

 

[Cindy4HIM]

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.

Psalm 83:1 "O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still." Just keep praying. Pray this scripture to Him and other scriptures like this. Be persistent in prayer. Then wait. The Lord will show you. He will reward you faithfullness in praying about this and then also your waiting. God sees. He knows. Waiting is hard, but it's worth it. So now, PRAY. It's how God is using you.. and so, pray for others as well. Got neighbors? pray for them. Family? pray.. this may be your calling, for now.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Psalm 83:1 "O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still." Just keep praying. Pray this scripture to Him and other scriptures like this. Be persistent in prayer. Then wait. The Lord will show you. He will reward you faithfullness in praying about this and then also your waiting. God sees. He knows. Waiting is hard, but it's worth it. So now, PRAY. It's how God is using you.. and so, pray for others as well. Got neighbors? pray for them. Family? pray.. this may be your calling, for now.

Great Psalm; and as well as the Scriptures changing other ppl, you know, they may even have the effect of changing oneself!

Paul could say, This is the will of God, even your sanctification. (1 Thess. 4.3).

 

[Zayin7]

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.

I would like to reference a book .
Don't know how to link it.
Google "why I love home church" by Andrew Stirling .

Well worth a read

 

[brightlights]

I have why you people assume I've never tried is beyond me

Looks to me like you're posting on a forum rather than doing something.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

Looks to me like you're posting on a forum rather than doing something.

Now you're being smart. Obviously I'm posting on a forum at this very moment but people like you who want to start stuff don't know I got up at 5am to pray you don't know how hard I've tried in the past and still today.

All you want to do is be a snarky smart alec....if that's all you want to do ...don't reply, its simple.

I don't need your mess. Stop acting like a 2 year old.

 

[Gabriel Anton]

I got up at 5am to pray you don't know how hard I've tried in the past and still today.

Peace be with you.


How are you doing?

Getting up at 5am to pray is a Godly thing to do. What is going on here? I thought you don't pray anymore? What did you pray to God about? Spent anytime on the Bible? A little time?

I wish Joy and Peace to fall on you like the morning dew.


God bless you.

 

[FoundInGrace]

I hope God finds a way for me too. I feel lost right now.

I am sorry you are feeling lost. It is obvious you gave a lot of time and effort into serving in that church and are looking to do that again, and that you are seeking God through all of this and i believe that means a great deal to Him.
If i may share how closure came for me in case it helps..
There was a sermon about how a person had there faith and journey derailed, the person in leadership was there and somehow I had the strength to go over to them after and say to them that they had done that to me a couple of years ago. I also told them it didnt matter what they thouvht, that I didn't think it would matter to them anyway but I was just telling them what the effects in my life of what they did had been, I just needed to say it. And so I told them. And it was the right timing, God knew, I had worked through it enough by then that it really didn't matter what their response was. It was closure for me to get it out. I would like to say their response was good and in some ways it was by then as a couple of years had passed but in other ways it was what I expected. But what mattered was that i told them and got it out. If you are going to do something like that make sure you have worked through it enough that it really doesn't matter what they say. I can now move on, and it seems God has another place for me. I have wanted to move on for ages but I couldnt until I had said to this person what they had done (whether they heard it or not it was said). And God willing I am back on track a bit more now.
I am not sure ifdoing something like that is an option at some stage for you in the future. Perhaps that is something you could maybe place at Gods feet and in His timing He may bring that about.
I hope that this helps a little. I know there are good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do, for the Bible says, God says, you are His workmanship. So be encouraged God will have things to do for it is clear you want to serve Him.
do heal first though from the negative church experience, it sounds like maybe God is using this time for you to process what happened and heal.
During those two years I volunteered at an op shop and did a few little things for I wanted, like you, to be doing good things for Him. It may not have been for the church as such but God was in it ( the op shop raises money for an orphanage for kids God loves).
God will have things you can do where you are not disrespected like you were.
God bless you very much

 

[ToBeLoved]

That's the thinng, I don't feel anything and people like my horrible aunt she feels gods presence all the time even though she's dead wrong and the other who is stingy with money feels gods presence and talks to him more than I do... I feel I'm doing something wrong because of this I don't read my bible much because it doesn't seem fair.

Because of this you say you do not read your Bible much, because it doesn't seem fair.

But isn't that hurting YOUR relationship with God? That He tells us who He is and who we are to Him is in the Bible. You are missing that. You should begin a short devotion every day. Praying and reading the Bible.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Surround yourself with those who support you. Good people that edify. Maybe even make a few friends here. Sometimes it is a lot of little things we do. There is a Christian radio station KLOVE and I know you can play live on your computer the music they play on the radio. I always listen in my car and since I travel 25 minutes to work and 25 minutes home, minimum per day, it helps. Find the station on your computer and just listen while you clean the house or at the end of the day before bed.

Start doing small, yet edifying things for yourself. They all add up and I think you will see a difference in persepctive in a few weeks.

Be blessed.