Hey everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't been blogging. I got a laptop for my birthday in November and I'd written a couple blog posts but for some reason the computer wouldn't post them. But I just tried posting something right now and it worked so I'm going to try again.
These past couple months have been difficult for me spiritually. I honestly feel like a faker and a lier posting right now. I'm been doubting and questioning my faith intensely and it just seems to be getting worse. I don't even know what to say. I've just drifted from God alot. I had a meeting with my pastor that I arranged about over a month ago to discuss how I'm feeling, and although I really enjoyed speaking to him and hearing what he had to say, I just don't feel an emotional connection to God at this point.
I'm struggling alot with if this is normal to feel like this. This isn't just some, I don't really believe in God right now. This is doubting and questioning so much that I have instilled in myself since I was 11. My morals and values are the same. I just don't know about my religion.
And I do still believe in God. I just don't know about my relationship with Him. This is honestly the most hard thing to explain. I'm sorry.
Happy Christmas Break
You're saved by faith, not by feeling.
ReplyDelete"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (Jn 3:16).
Do you honestly believe that Jesus Christ died for You? Not "do you feel like you do," but do you believe in His atoning work on the cross?
If you do, God says you will not perish but have eternal life.
Furthermore, look at the 1st letter of John - the whole point of him writing the letter was so believers would KNOW they had eternal life (1 Jn 5:13). How? Well, he proposes fruit-tests. Jesus said that "you will know them by their fruit," (Mat 7:16-17), and "the world will know you are my disciples if you love one another," (John 13:35).
God says you're a Christian if:
1. You acknowledge your sin and live accordingly (ie. repent when you feel convicted - continuously). - 1 Jn 1:8-10
2. You obey his commands, for they aren't burdensome to you. - 1 Jn 2:3, 5:3
3. You aren't in love with the world and it's things, but rather God. Your joy is not to go shopping or watch a movie with friends, but rather to be filled with the Holy Spirit. - 1 Jn 2:15-16
4. You don't live immersed in sin, like a diver deep beneath the surface in the dark waters of sin (1 Jn 1:6), but rather fly in the light of God (1 Jn 1:7) along the surface of the water - yes, occasionally getting wet in sin, but never immersed wholly and constantly in the depths of sin. - 1 Jn 3:5-6,9
5. Looking back on your life, you can see yourself becoming more and more like Jesus Christ (yes, with times of dark nights of the soul, but even then you become more like Him). - 1 Jn 2:6
6. The world persecutes you for being a child of God - 1 Jn 3:13
7. You love Christians and would rather be with a group of old Christians than a bunch of lost, carnal teenagers your own age. - 1 Jn 1:7, 3:14
8. The Spirit lives in you. - 1 Jn 3:24, 4:13
9. You would publically anounce Jesus as Lord (in context, in Roman times, confessing Jesus as Lord would frequently result in a long, slow, painful death) - 1 Jn 4:15, Romans 10:9-10
There are more in the gospels as well as more in the letter.
Yo, if you want to hang out, I just pulled through a time like that... LITERALLY: last night. I want to come talk to you if you don't mind, give me a day that you are free, and aside from Tuesday and Wednesday, I have at least a little time ;)
ReplyDeleteyour blogging buddy who has also stopped blogging but will get back on it, Scott
I think that everyone goes through times when they doubt or drift away from God. I think that morals and values are important, but your relationship with God is much more important. You don't have to be perfect. I'm deffinately not! God accepts you the way that you are and he loves you more than you can imagine. God never intended for people to live and die on earth and that was it. God wants to love you and for you to love him back more than you can imagine. I think one thing that will really help you to sort things out would be to first talk to him. Maybe it doesn't sound like he's listening right now, but trust me, he is. He cares about you so much and wants to fix things between you two. Also, you can talk to other friends who you know are christians. Maybe you think that they wouldn't understand or they would judge you. The truth is, christians were meant to face these types of things together. I'm sure they would be there to listen, pray and support you. Give it a go. Attending a youth group or a church services is another main thing that can help you to find the answers to your questions. Church was made not only for people to strengthen their relationship with God, but to be together as a unit to love, support, and encourage each other. Without church, I would probably in a doubting position as well. Even with church, I have doubted. Numerous times. God is most deffinately not going to hate you for it. He has this crazy love for you, and all you need to do is accept it. Talk to him about it. I know he will answer. Please, my heart is aching for you. I know how you feel and I have gotten through it. Take the time to talk to him now. You may not feel awesome right after, but it takes time. I will be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteEveryone feels like this sometimes. I would reread your post from October 5, 2010, you gave us some awesome advice, and I think it will help you. Praying for you! Love you lot's!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I thought I'd check the blog. I had forgotten about it for a while :) I hope things are alright... you never took me up on my offer to hang out :P
ReplyDelete