For those who doubt and struggle

[Destroyer2000]

This is something I felt I should post for all of us, since we all doubt our faith, beliefs, and salvation from time to time.

As many of you know, I have been going through an extremely hard time lately. I have doubted, been scared senseless at the thought of Hell, and the realization of what eternity really was. And through all this, Satan was right beside me pushing me further into doubt. I have prayed, and done many things. I also wondered if anyone else ever felt like I did, and so the thoughts entered my head and I doubted even more.

I have this book called, "God's Hall of Fame" and a little 30 day devotional I have been reading. I read God's Hall Of Fame last night, and came across a story about a man named Paul Bunyon. He, like me, had doubted his faith all throughout his life. He spoke of the on-off nature of human faith, and is the author of many Christian books. All throughout his doubt, he continued to allow God to use him for His purposes. When he died near the age of fifty, lying on his deathbed, he was calm and joyful as he awaited his mansion. After going through his periods of dread, fear, doubt, and then his periods of joy and peace, he had finally grown strong enough. All the ordeals made his faith grow and increase.

Also, the devotional had one about optimism. It said to focus on your hopes and dreams, instead of your fears and doubts.

I share many of the same traits that Paul Bunyon did; the periods of fear and doubt, the periods of joy and peace. I have come to realize that even though it can be hard to believe, these ordeals we go through will make your faith grow.

[Silent Hunter]

That is very true. It seems that we do all end up feeling that way from time to time, doubting if we are truly where we should be with God. I felt the same way about a year ago. I was really doubting if I was saved. b/c I had been saved when I was 4 or 5 years old, I didn't really have much memory of a special feeling of being turned around from a life of sin. so I reafirmed (or whatever you want to call it) my salvation, sat down with my parents and made double sure and prayed to God about it.

In the end though, it's an issue of belief. If we believe, then we will be saved. He already did the saving. There's nothing we can do beyond believing that will save us.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I struggled with doubt and anxiety a lot too, still do a bit. But letting God use you in your weakest is the best thing you can do for him.
Great stuff Destroyer, that's awesome! A real testemant of God's love and mercy.

I'll be praying for you mate. (off to Japan now) Seeya!

[Nate]

Actually, I should probably start a prayer thread about this, but I dunno. >.>;;

Anyway, I am currently smack dab in the middle of those doubts you are mentioning. Not as to the existence of God (I am firmly convinced of His existence), nor the existence of Christ or his divinity (of which I am also convinced). My doubts are a little bit tougher to explain, and also border quite heavily on theology, so...I won't get into them here. ^^;;

Couple this with my frustration of a personal sin problem I continually have, that I have prayed for help for numerous times, for a long time, and it gets kind of rough. I don't want to sin, I know He doesn't want me to sin, I pray for the strength to stop sinning, I know God will never allow us to be given more than I can handle, so why do I keep doing it? It's rough, you know?

You're not alone, though, in your doubts and struggles, so...yeah. I don't even know why I posted this... <.<;;

[Destroyer2000]

^ It's cool, man. I'll pray for you. And thanks for all of your prayers. Someone once said, "We are so anxious about avoiding Hell that we forget to celebrate our journey to Heaven." That's good advice.

[Phantom_Sorano]

Wow, Pat-chan...that is a very good message...I hadn't thought about it in that light....how very true.

[Seppuku]

great advice destroyer2000, i often confuse myself do to my insane brain philophisising eveything i see, hear , and touch, but end the end, my conclusions ussually make my faith stronger the next trip around.

[TrigunX89]

kaemmerite - I've been going through the same kinds of things, it sounds like. In fact, that's why I just logged into CAA. I'll be praying for you.

Thanks for sharing, Destroyer. I'll keep these things in mind, and keep you in prayer.

[Denimcat]

I"ve been struggling with this on and off for years. How do we know that the bible is really true? x.x I believe, but I can't even explain why. I wish there were some kind of proof. I just fail at faith. x.x

[Ratrace]

I think the passage I want gos "When I am weak, then He is strong". Faith is hard sometimes. Think about what God has done for you, e.g healing, personal change in yourself or someone close to you. I can relate Kaemmerite and TX89, I have a few old habits that come back sometimes.

[Tigerchu]

I keep going through dread, I read something in the Bible and I get scared and wanna know "HUH?? What do they mean I can't call my biological dad "father"??"
Matthew 23:9 "And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven."

And "So do I have to do "clothe the naked, etc." to get to Heaven??"
Matthew 25: 34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

I"m confused, if someone could help me with these confusions, that would be nice.

[Tigerchu]

quote:All throughout his doubt, he continued to allow God to use him for His purposes. quote

Actually, I was like that(and unfortunately might be like that in the future), unsure, and some might call it "blind faith", by just going with God even though I wasn't sure. But now I know for a FACT that God exists.