> General Discussions
Ever Felt Like This?
hillsbororiver:
Arcturus,
You are on a roll!
That is fantastic, you just gave me an EUREKA! moment, yes, I see that, in the world as men and woman, in the church as brothers and sisters, in His Kingdom as Sons and Daughters. Each step closer, as we grow in our One on one journey with Him together.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
Deborah-Leigh:
AMEN! GLORY GLORY AMEN!
;D ;D and Eureka back to me Amen!
Peace and joy to you
:)
hughbee40:
hello everyone
At times I question my faith. To me it all seems so simple. Live your life as God has created you, learn to hear Him and do His will which I am trying to do, yet why do I suffer so? I have been blessed with so many wonderful things (my wife and little girls) yet I am not sure I have forgiven God for all of the failures in my life and feel that He is punishing me for it. I have become afraid to try anything new other than my job as an over the road truck driver for fear of God destroying it as He has done so many times before. There are times when I feel Him so very close to me and I can literally hear Him say to me(in spirit) everything is OK, you are one of my beloved, yet there are other times when I feel completely alone. I have attended sporadically a small baptist church, but have grown to the point where I can no longer attend because of the nonsense the pastor spews each week. It seems like he is talking out of both sides of his mouth at times. I truly feel that he is a good person committed to God, yet what he says each week is diametrically opposed to what I believe. Sometimes I feel that I am losing my mind. I am in a world full of strangers. Everywhere I look, I find people who I have nothing in common with (spiritually). The exception are people whom the church labels as sinners and losers. I have found the greatest wisdom from simple truck drivers who chase truck stop whores and brag about their three day drinking binges when they have a few days off. I feel like Job at times. The only difference is that I feel stuck in a perpetual suffering phase. When will the restoration come? All of you seem to be good people seeking answers like my self. While my submissions have no structure or bible references, I hope you all will understand that everything I write is straight from the heart. If anyone has insight or relative experience, I would be grateful for that input. While I may sound bitter, I am not. I am at best confused. I hope that He has led me to this forum for answers and am eagerly awaiting responses that will affirm that hope.
best regards to all
Hughbee40
Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Hughbee40
Just a few thoughts......
hello everyone
At times I question my faith.
That is good. It is not wise to be sure of our faith. It is a gift and not something to be taken for granted.
To me it all seems so simple. Live your life as God has created you, learn to hear Him and do His will which I am trying to do, yet why do I suffer so?
Suffering is a sign of faith. Psalm 73 : 12 Behold these are the ungodly, who always prosper and are at ease in the world; they increase in riches.
I have been blessed with so many wonderful things (my wife and little girls) yet I am not sure I have forgiven God for all of the failures in my life and feel that He is punishing me for it. I have become afraid to try anything new other than my job as an over the road truck driver for fear of God destroying it as He has done so many times before.
In everything God knows what is best for us. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He is not about to cause you to fail and then punish you for it. God is a God of love. If you fail, He is the one who helps you up. If you fall, He is the one who gives you the strength to continue. If you fear, He is the one to give you the courage to cry for help and to turn to Him.
There are times when I feel Him so very close to me and I can literally hear Him say to me(in spirit) everything is OK, you are one of my beloved, yet there are other times when I feel completely alone.
This is simply part of the process of learning that despite what we feel, His word is true. Our feelings are not the yardsticks for gauging God’s truths. Whether we feel His presence or not, He is the author of our circumstances through which He has designed for us to be made into the image of Christ. This process is not very comfortable and is in fact extremely difficult on us but it is one that produces the fruit of His Spirit in us and His discernment. Just look at what you say in your post for the evidence of what I see….
I have attended sporadically a small baptist church, but have grown to the point where I can no longer attend because of the nonsense the pastor spews each week. It seems like he is talking out of both sides of his mouth at times. I truly feel that he is a good person committed to God, yet what he says each week is diametrically opposed to what I believe. Sometimes I feel that I am losing my mind. I am in a world full of strangers. Everywhere I look, I find people who I have nothing in common with (spiritually). The exception is people whom the church labels as sinners and losers. I have found the greatest wisdom from simple truck drivers who chase truck stop whores and brag about their three day drinking binges when they have a few days off. I feel like Job at times. The only difference is that I feel stuck in a perpetual suffering phase. When will the restoration come? All of you seem to be good people seeking answers like my self.
What you express here is a rare insight. Many are sincerely deceived and other’s are entering God’s Kingdom ahead of them. Matt 23 : 12 Whosoever exalts himself with haughtiness and empty pride, shall be humbled, brought low, and whoever humbles himself, whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly shall be raised to honour.
While my submissions have no structure or bible references, I hope you all will understand that everything I write is straight from the heart. If anyone has insight or relative experience, I would be grateful for that input. While I may sound bitter, I am not. I am at best confused. I hope that He has led me to this forum for answers and am eagerly awaiting responses that will affirm that hope.
best regards to all
You are a brother.
Peace to you
Arcturus :)
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: hughbee40 on November 25, 2006, 01:26:58 AM ---hello everyone
At times I question my faith. To me it all seems so simple. Live your life as God has created you, learn to hear Him and do His will which I am trying to do, yet why do I suffer so? I have been blessed with so many wonderful things (my wife and little girls) yet I am not sure I have forgiven God for all of the failures in my life and feel that He is punishing me for it. I have become afraid to try anything new other than my job as an over the road truck driver for fear of God destroying it as He has done so many times before. There are times when I feel Him so very close to me and I can literally hear Him say to me(in spirit) everything is OK, you are one of my beloved, yet there are other times when I feel completely alone. I have attended sporadically a small baptist church, but have grown to the point where I can no longer attend because of the nonsense the pastor spews each week. It seems like he is talking out of both sides of his mouth at times. I truly feel that he is a good person committed to God, yet what he says each week is diametrically opposed to what I believe. Sometimes I feel that I am losing my mind. I am in a world full of strangers. Everywhere I look, I find people who I have nothing in common with (spiritually). The exception are people whom the church labels as sinners and losers. I have found the greatest wisdom from simple truck drivers who chase truck stop whores and brag about their three day drinking binges when they have a few days off. I feel like Job at times. The only difference is that I feel stuck in a perpetual suffering phase. When will the restoration come? All of you seem to be good people seeking answers like my self. While my submissions have no structure or bible references, I hope you all will understand that everything I write is straight from the heart. If anyone has insight or relative experience, I would be grateful for that input. While I may sound bitter, I am not. I am at best confused. I hope that He has led me to this forum for answers and am eagerly awaiting responses that will affirm that hope.
best regards to all
Hughbee40
--- End quote ---
You have plenty of company Brother! So many of our Sisters and Brothers here in the Forum have had similiar feelings and experiences, the Old Testament is full of stories where the oldtime Patriarchs and Prophets were put to severe testing, chastising, refinement, etc.
This is a verse that gets quoted alot here; ;)
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
As well as;
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye ******** and not sons.
We discussed this a while back in these 2 threads, (and many others);
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2010.0.html
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2027.0.html
Here is a portion of Ray's Lake of Fire Part VI that addresses the subject too, (many of his articles do as well). Read the entire article here;
http://bible-truths.com/lake6.html
THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER
Let’s see again just what is involved in living the live of a believer:
"For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. For we are HIS workmanship [Gk: achievement], created in Christ Jesus unto [unto what?] … unto GOOD WORKS, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). We are not saved by OUR WORKS, but we are preordained to walk in GOD’S GOOD WORKS, nonetheless.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3;3). Notice that Eph. 2:10 says that we are "created IN Christ." Something new happens when we are "IN" Christ. There is a NEW birth and there is a NEW creation, "Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE [Gk: creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Cor. 5:17). Albeit, this new creation has its perils as we will see in the next verse.
"Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus [as a new and different creature] SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION." (II Tim. 3:12). This is not just a possibility; it is an absolute PROMISE.
"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through MUCH TRIBULATION [pressure, afflictions] enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
"For if we would JUDGE OURSELVES, we should not be judged. But when we ARE JUDGED, we are CHASTENED [Greek: paideuo, to train, educate, discipline, punish, chastise, instruct, learn, and teach] of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world [at the great white throne judgment]" (I Cor. 11:31-32).
"And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My Son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loves He CHASTENS [Prov. 13:24] AND SCOURGES [see I Pet. 5:9] EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. But if you be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then are you ********, and not sons" (Heb. 12:5-8). "Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be REVEALED BY FIRE; and the fire shall try EVERY MAN’S WORK of what sort it is" (I Cor. 3;13).
"Fear NONE of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a CROWN OF LIFE" (Rev. 2:10). "To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE [eternal, immortal life]" (Rev. 2:7), "He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death" (Rev. 2:11), "And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give POWER OVER THE NATIONS" (Rev. 2;26), "He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment [righteousness] and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life [Christ is the book of life] but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Rev. 3:5), "Him that overcomes will I make a PILLAR [a main and vital support in the very government of Almighty God] IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD…" (Rev. 3:12), "To him that overcomes will I grant to SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, even as I also overcame [see John 16:33], and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21).
There we have a very brief overview of the life of a believer. Is it not obvious that the life of a believer consists of a whole lot more than just "believing" that Jesus is the Christ? God has bigger plans for the human race than just "saving" them. God can "save" chickens, but God doesn’t want chickens for sons! God wants sons that are PERFECT as He is perfect! Wouldn’t you all agree that becoming perfect might just require a whole lot more than singing gospel music once a week? Perfection requires many things that only God can perform in our lives. We are, after all, His workmanship, His achievement. Having ALL OUR WORKS tried in the fire of His Holy Spirit is no small part of becoming perfect.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
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