Here we are in Africa, a land where, if ever it would seem difficult to trust God, it would be here. How do you account for all the pain here and still believe in a good God? Yet, if statistics are to believed, a majority of many African countries are Jesus-followers. And many of them have resolved this issue by affirming, “Yes, God is good!” It’s an oxymoron for many Westerners.
All of life is about learning to know and trust God. Most of my life, I’ve only known him from a distance. We’ve been like the couple in the movie Say Anything, waving at each other across the room at the party.
In 1990, I lost my job and was betrayed by two close friends. My world fell apart. God forced my hand. He had to destabilize me in order to woo me, so that I might depend on him and eventually trust him.
At the time, it didn’t feel like grace. I felt wounded and wretched and wanted to die. I had no language to sort through the shards of my life. I was so absolutely shattered and discombobulated that God was all I had left – I had nowhere left to turn. Ultimately, I sought him like a hungry animal looking for food. And he responded with tenderness. It was a long and terrible process, but it proved the reality of Jer. 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart.”
One of the things that helped me is that I chose not to blame God for my wounds. A lot of people get stuck asking, “Why?” – bowing down at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil instead of bowing at the Tree of Life and worshiping. Read the end of the book of Job. God “is who he is.” He doesn’t have to answer to us. We won’t ever understand “Why?” until we cross over to the other side of eternity. So many people get hung up in No-man’s Land – demanding an explanation instead of choosing to trust a God who loves us and has the bigger picture.
Yesterday I caught up with a friend who was going through the same process, “I feel so raw,” she said. “I’ve spent so much time crying and asking questions.” She described it as a wilderness time.
It’s taking my friend a couple of years to find her way out of the wilderness – about what it took for me. Why God lets it take so stinkin’ long, I don’t know. I guess he figures it took us a long time to get into that mess and become thoroughly self- sufficient. Getting out of the mess, to be gracious, needs to proceed at an organic pace that allows us to grow into our new skins.
We don’t get to know people overnight and trusting them deeply takes longer. It takes years to develop a second sense about them, to understand why they do what they do. And God is the same way. He takes time.
Learning to trust God seems to require learning to stop relying on yourself so much. It means radical change at our core. Most of us don’t like change of any kind, much less surgery on our core self. Surgery hurts; it incapacitates and can even make us howl with pain.
God, the divine surgeon, is worth trusting. He loves us more than we can know. His wounding seems grievous, but it restores us to wholeness. If you find yourself under his knife, be still and learn to trust him. You will laugh again.
I’ve been in my wilderness experience all my life and I don’t fully understand what it means to trust. I know God can do all things and knowing that I should be able to trust him completely, but in the back of my head screams I’ve made such a mess of my life how do I trust God to straighten it all out?
I feel that I am being led into my wilderness…..so far inmy life I have had it pretty easy. But now with the economy the way it is my fears are almost overriding me…like waves washing over me…I feel like I am drowning. Last night I laid in my bed and my fears were so strong that I was literally shaking uncontrollably that I had to get up and read my bible….trusting God..I havent really ever had to but now I am about to learn. I read that I needed to trust God will all my heart and let God take care of whatever may come. I got back into bed and literally hugged my bible as I fell asleep. Iknow that I am not alone in this kind of a situation…and the one thing that gives me peace is to know that God is in control…no matter what may be happening.
I agree. You have to stop relying on yourself so much.My problem right now is that God has always been good to me in the past yet I am afraid to give him everything because when I try to trust 100% I am afraid I might get dumped upon like I have been trusting people in my past. I know in my head that God is 100% trustworthy and in some areas I do trust him 100% but to let it all go……. I am concerned to be so radical.
My wilderness experience has been for 15 years..and still going on….Remember me in ypur prayers, that I may learn to trust Him completely.
I am truly at a hard place in my life. My finances have been shot to smithereens for five years at least. I work very day and live from paycheck to paycheck. No shopping for clothes, no big time splurging, no lunches and show off dinners, no drugs, NOTHING, Where is my money. Oh no going gambling, no giving it away. BILLS are behind…WHY????????????????
SONYA I feel like you…
I am trusting God to allow a loan officer to loan me the money even after he told me my chredit score was below sea level that he was going to loan me the money, then he changed his mind.
I am still trusting God.
Am I nuts…? Or do you still see me as doubting? I am trying NOT to doubt God.
Yes, I am a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ…40 years or more of my life.
HELP me understand why my situation seems bad.
Thank you for the article. I have been in the wilderness for a year with depression sprinkled in as well. I have been a Christian for most of my life, but a major trama shook my foundation. I have struggled to make sense of it to move on then just today through my bible study time I see that there is a difference between trusting the blessings and things of God and trusting God himself. Stuff happens and we won’t understand it all. I cried out to God today to forgive me, rebuild me, and teach me to trust him all over again with everything. I googled “how to trust God.” It seems funny I know. There are some good sites btw. I don’t know what lies in the road ahead, but I know I want to be on the road that leads straight to God, to Zion. I wanted to write this in hopes it helps someone else. I know that I don’t trust God right now with many things, but I want to. My prayer is “God teach me to trust you.”
I think this site, is very good. I feel alittle lost at this point, but if feels good to see that others feel the same way. I know that things will get better, and I know that God will save me. It feels weird to say these things, because although I know that all these things are true,I find myself doubting all the time, But I do want to thank all of you guys for what you have written, and I want to thank God for never giving up on me. Because God never gives up on us.
This site is great. I find myself in the same situation as all of you. I am now in my third year of utter confusion and disappointment. I have failed the bar exam 4 times and as of now I do not see myself passing this test. I am not sure if God is telling me to choose another path or try harder. Either way I feel lost, embarrassed humiliated and ultimately I feel like a failure. I ask myself sometimes, WHY? I cannot help but ask that question….as of yet this question has not been answered. I am not sure what life holds for me or what I am supposed to do, but I do believe and I am saved I just don’t understand if my trust or lack thereof is the cause of my pain. what does complete trust in the Lord feel like?
To all who feel that they seek God but seem to stay in the wilderness and feel like it will never end. Remember: The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. God took good care of them, He fed them, He made sure their clothes never wore out and He constantly protected them all from harm. God is a GOOD God in all circumstances. Just believe it! Place all your cares on Him, Pray and get Yield all yourself and your sins unto Him, so He can Sanctify you if your a true Christian. When we hold back and keep sins in our lives, we hold back the Hand of God from helping us and from Blessing us. The first step is Justification when He saves us. It is His job. The second step for us is for God to change us into the likeness of His Son’s image and behaviors, etc. He can’t do the sanctification on us unless we Yield our whole selves to Him. Don’t hold back His Hand from change in you. Do a google search on the word Sanctification and it will open your eyes to what it truly is about. Diseases aren’t of God, they are of satan and of our own choices to sin and we pay the price of our sins by it’s consequences or God’s judgment of our sins upon us when we choose to not be OBEDIENT to His Word and His Ways. He save us from sin, so why do so many Christians hold on to the sins that He has saved us from? We have an Old Nature and a New Nature and when we get baptized WE die to Sin and Self. The Old Nature is dead and gone, it is not in us any longer. God puts His Nature inside of us and uses that to Sanctify us within to change us into the likeness of His Son. But, most fight against that changing and that is where all the pain and hurt starts within us. That is the warring of our FLESH and the Spirit within us. Put away the Sins of the FLESH and start to walk in His Spirit. Justlisten to the three voices within you and learn to discern who’s voice your hearing. God’s voice will never go against His Word (His Love Letter to us). God loves us so much that we will never, ever comprehend it while we are fleshly. I have been saved for over 49 years and I have struggled also to learn to trust God. He uses our circumstances, adversities and mistakes to teach us to trust Him and to grow us up spiritually. Once we truly Yield everything that we are or could become through allowing Him to change us from glory to glory…….then, the wilderness experience will begin to change and we will begin to get prayers answered and start to see His blessings to begin in us and through us. I believe disease is because we keep our sins and when we stop our sinning and let Him begin to sanctify us (make us Holy) we will also see Healing come to our bodies too. I have no doubt about it. We have a part to play in our Salvation and the Bible tells us to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of God and not be honest and true with how we walk before Him. He knows all, so trust Him and begin to believe you will find Him when you put away your sins and become obedient in all your ways unto Him. Stop faking it and become real and truthful with yourself and others. God can and will change you, if you permit Him to do so. He will not overide your “Will” to solve your problems. He expects pure and honest Obedience from us…..that is one things we can do. Choose to be Obedient and seek His face with reverence and honesty. Stop playing games with God. His Word says it quite plainly: If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of our Flesh. Flesh brings DEATH…..SPIRIT brings Eternal Life. Choose ye this day who YOU are truly serving….GOD, Yourself and satan.
God Bless all who read this and Lord I pray that you will open their eyes to You and grant them to know YOU in ways they never dreamed they could know YOU. In Jesus Name I ask this, Amen! One more thing, Remember: When you Pray, Pray to the Father……He is the ONE who we pray to. Not to Mary or Saints or any other one. And when you Pray, Pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus……that is the Model for true Praying…ask all things in Jesus Name and don’t ask for your own desires for He does answer only things that are in His Will and nothing will come that you ask for……to consume it upon your lusts. Ask, for Grace, not Patience. Asking for patience……..brings troubles, so you can learn patience. Ask for His Love, His Forgiveness…….for unforgiven Sins in our hearts will not even let God hear your Prayers. Sin in our lives……blocks the connection to God to hearing our Prayers…….that is Fellowship with Him that I speak of here. God Bless and have a Great and Prosperous New Year with learning who God is…….for He does always truly love us and desires to bless us, but we hold it up by our own sin and selfish ways by doing it all our way, instead of His way!
Thank you very much for writing about this!!! It’s really good to know someone else is experiencing the same type of learning experience. I’ve always depended on God my entire life. In fact, growing up I was so fine with being isolated cause God and animals were all I needed. Even though I’ve grown up, I think I’m still like that! haha! I joke quite often I want to become the cat lady. lol Anyways, I’ve been dealing with my own tremendous mental battle lately. For 7 months of my life I had all of my dreams, and it was extremely satisfying and fulfilling. Until one day, it was all ripped right from under me. I’ve made a lot of not-so-great choices since then, and although I got one part of my life that kept me sane… I lost it too. Sometimes it feels like I’m adding to the collection called “Ashley’s Life Losses”. I understand that I would have never become myself, and I’ve always said “its okay God has his reasons”. Lately, its been getting harder and harder to say that. Until it dawned on me today… God took away everything so that I can learn to 100% trust him. It’s the only way he can bring my life’s purpose out of this mess. It requires a lot of letting go of my own control. At the same time I know he’ll do amazing things I never even dreamed of or saw coming! It’s still difficult to let go of yourself.
It’s just nice to know someone else understands this whole issue. Thanks!
I recently found God after going thru a really tough time. My journey has been about 8 months in the making and each day, i grow and become stronger through his holy word and humbling myself to accepting his will in every aspect of my life. I went from being really down in the dumps all the time and thoroughly reliant on the validation of others to an incredibly happy person . When you seek, you will find, when you desire to be filled, he will fill you. I am slowly but surely learning to not lean on my own understanding and to trust him in all things. For when you choose him and desire to follow him by putting off your old carnal ways, he will direct your path. So indeed, trusting him and living life in faith is important…………i pray each day that he gives me the strength through his holy Word to live a life that is pleasing to him. The key to keeping on track is by infusing yourself with his loving and holy Word.
Hello, I am glad about this website as well. I am really dealing with the not trusting God situation. I don’t even know how I came to this place. One thing that I realize is that when I was a child, my father died when I was six and my mom began to be missing from the house getting with other men to cope with the loss, thus leaving me and my sister abandoned. My mom eventually met this man who did bring stability to our home; however, by the time that he got there, I was already Miss Independent by age 11. He couldn’t tell me anything. So all my life I was mad at everything – mad at God because I wanted my real dad, mad at my mom for not being there, and then I was even mad at my stepfather because he didn’t say I love you to me. Childhood issues become adult pain. In my adult years I realized that my parents only did what they knew to do. My mom had a void after her best friend and only lover died. My stepfather dealt with me how his father dealt with him. Anyway, i say all this to say, because of my independent spirit, I had to now take care of me, never really getting affection or experiencing love. So surely my relationship with my stepfather reflected my relationship with God. I only expected God to be in the sky and take care of the world, never realizing He wanted to take care of me personally too. I had so much faith that He would bless others, but I didn’t expect Him to want to do anything for me. I worked hard to have what I have now which is really nothing at all. It doesn’t make me happy. So since I have controlled my world, God has turned my little world upside down. So trying to fix my little world back up has failed on so many occassions and I think God is trying to make a point, but my heart just can’t let God love me at this moment. I am desperately working through this wilderness to bring my heart to a place to trust God and receive His love. So I feel all of you who have written on this topic. It is good to see other people dealing with it as well. It’s good to hear people who have made it through and have decided to help those who don’t have it yet. Thank God for this blog!
this is the first site that I have come to ,that really makes sence to me .I have been in the wilderness,for quite some time.after my 1st husband left me, with 3 childern to raise,I hated every body.I married 3 more times.The 4 husband,been with him for 11 years.I did not want a divorce.I never dreamed I would even marry again.The last two didnt last but a couple of months,one of them was looking for some one to help him pay his child support,the other one was just a mess.I waited 10 years,them I met someone,his wife had passed away.He is a good man.But his health is not very good.I quit working in 1998,his health started failing.Now he feels worthless.We go to Church.I feel like am in the wilderness and alone/He stay depressed and it is hard for me to let go and let God.I try to take care of to many things.
To cynthia bentley:
My God! I cannot even imagine the hurt you are feeling inside and I know there is some hurt there from the 1st husband. Oh how us women look for love in the wrong places and make decisions that causes us more pain. Your story is a reflection of the Samaritan woman in the bible (John 4) who had five husbands and encountered Jesus at the well. Jesus spoke to her which was forbidden in those times because samaritans did not communicate with Jews. Sometimes we feel that God should not even be dealing with us because of our past sins, but Jesus has broken all barriers at the cross. Another thing about her is that normally women flock to the well together in those days to draw water but she was by herself. Maybe she was known as the harlot, who knows, but it was in her aloneness that she met Jesus. He even told her to go get her husband and she said she has no husband and Jesus replied that she was correct and that she has had five husbands and the one she is with now is not her husband. She then began to see that Jesus was surely a prophet of God. Then Jesus invited her to drink of the living water that only He can provide that will cause her not to thirst again. Our nature is to be thirsty for love, but we always try to find it in people and this is where majority of the women fall. My story is similar except I never married. But I did become very promiscous at age 11, jumping from man to man, only to realize that there was a little girl inside me wanting daddy. I say all this to say Cynthia, I just want to encourage you in the Lord to find your restoration and love in Him alone. Then will you find purpose of life. Also, concerning the sickness of your husband, God has declared for us to bring His word back to His remembrance. Not because God doesn’t remember what He said, but He want us to be reminded of what He has promised. Start speaking all the healing scriptures that you can get your hands on over His life. Encourage him until he can build his faith up and then together when both of your faith is elevated that God is indeed a healer, will you then see the manifestation of healing. Don’t give up. Tell him that he is not worthless. God is going to get the glory and that man still has purpose because God still has him alive. Just believe. I have an uncle who has cancer in every part of his body even his brain and was suppose to die two years ago. The doctors don’t know what to say. He is alive, walking, eating, and joking with everybody he comes into contact with. God is in control. I just want to encourage you and will be praying for you and your family.
God bless and much love!
A DOG AT THE THRONE OF THE MASTER
A dog, in its natural environment is a rather nasty creature. Consider that they are often flea and tick ridden, diseased, filthy, smelly, driven by instinct and unsuitable for life within our homes until “domesticated”.
To take such an animal and put it through processes that would make it fit for life within the master’s house would not be something the dog would understand or enjoy. One can imagine the multiple baths, haircuts, combings, nail clippings, teeth cleanings, disease and parasitic eradications, training sessions required to encourage close human contact.
If you have ever been involved in these processes, you know what a struggle it is for both dog and master. While the master is doing what is best for the dog, the dog just doesn’t get it. The dog whines and struggles to avoid the seeming invasion into its comfort zones. Without any conception of its eventually improved condition, it shivers in fear of what the master may do to it next. It may even try growling or biting. It may roll over submissively and wet on itself as a sign of fearful resignation.
A dog must learn to trust the master in spite of all the master chooses to do to them. Somehow, dogs have the ability to love their masters in spite of the most recent traumas they may have suffered at their hand. They keep coming back for more. When the master bids the dog come, they usually advance with great joy to be close to the master’s side. Depending on the level of trust, or time past since their most recent domestication event, the dog may advance, in obedience to the come command, with head lowered or a belly up submissive posture . We have all witnessed this.
Sometimes, when we call our dogs to our side, it is not just to enjoy their company. It is to take hold of them and put them again thru one of the for mentioned processes. At times, I think our dogs instinctively know what we have in mind. We must telegraph it somehow. Over time, they learn to submit to the process. With reluctance, if they could indeed sense such an emotion, they acquiesce – realizing they are not going to die as a result of our invasion. They have learned to trust that the master’s work on them will not destroy them but somehow enable a closer proximity to the master’s place. It seems to bring joy to the master when the process has finished and they hear the “good dog” reward.
Outside the home of the master, it is a “dog’s life”. To continue the analogy, it’s a “dog eat dog world” filled with different degrees of wild, instinct driven, rough, undoctored, untamed animals. Outside is to be exposed to the ravages of nature, the ravages of other dogs, and self imposed sufferings – which we ignorantly endure.
I relate to the joy/excitement a dog expresses as they are invited within the home of the master. There is provision there. Have you ever felt like you are the dog and Christ is the Master? I find it easy to relate to this analogy – inadequate as it may seem. If you haven’t discovered the pain of God’s working His processes out on you, just wait, you will. The love of God bids us come but bids us be clean as well. Though justified, we must be sanctified by the “processes” of God. It is not an easy process. Like the dog, we too must learn to trust in the master – in spite of how it may feel. Anyone who says it is easy, hasn’t had enough of it, yet.
There are many scriptures that support the points made in this analogy. I’ll just say that to abide means to endure. Prefer the light and comfort of the Master’s chamber over the darkness without. Old Testament saints were instructed to remind themselves from what they had been delivered and be thankful. We too must remember to not return “like a dog to its vomit”; wishing again for the life of the uncivilized; but, to be thankful we may abide at the side of the Master.
Just want a encouraging website…alot of my life i have found it diffcult to trust anyone or anything resulting in alot of brokenness to myself and others..the process of learning to trust God isnt easy but i know in my heart it is what will benefit…their so many things in life that can make us uncertain and when God seems far even though he is not is hard to know what exactly he requires…my heart is to know Him and search His ways for i know their lies happiness but not always having the answers..maybe God wants us to rely more heavily on Him to rebuild the ruins of our messes and reprograme if you will this trust mechanism that even amongst the fear and doubt of wondering what God wants to let it go go to him wait in seek His glorious face and then and only then will we arise trumiphant
Thank you for posting this– I’m not sure how long this has been up, but I stumbled on it today when I needed it most. I’m going through an incredibly rough time living abroad, and am all set to go home (finally!) next Saturday, just as the volcano erupts in Iceland. I have been worn down crying all day, thinking that the moment I have been waiting for for so long has been potentially snatched right from under my feet. But I’m realizing this– as hard as it might be, I have to give it up to God and focus on His plan, not mine, and trust Him… completely. Regardless of what happens. Reading this post helped me to realize even more how important this is, and again– how much I truly can’t even begin to fathom God’s love for me and plan for my life. Thank you for writing this.
Before raw materials are made goods, they are made to pass through some processes that seem to be unpleasant. So also God prepares us in so many ways that seem to be disappointing but He knows what He does.
I am having the most difficult time of my life right now. I desperately need prayer for myself and my family. My husband has been out of work for almost two years. My dad tried to commit suicide 6 months ago, and is not improving. He is getting ready to lose his home. I am begging God to not let him move in with us because it was torture living with him and his drug and alcohol addictions as a child. He has been diagnosed as bi-polar and has no where to go! My life has been turned upside down and I am really struggling to trust God in these matters. Thank you so much for sharing all of your struggles and for your prayers. May we all get out of wildernesses soon!
Well learning to trust God is really process that we as christians must really strive to do. One simple analogy that often strikes my mind is the fact that we often ask God to help us in times of need, asking for specific things that we want, which may not be part of God’s plan for us in any case. Now, I found it very useful to run into this post because I think I have just experienced very harshly what a thin line it is to have trust in people instead of trusting God.
I am currently in a very difficult situation in the workplace and I applied for a job that I understood would bring solution to my problem. I missed the opportunity to be shortlisted and was informed as such after having fasted in prayer to try and find a new job. On the day the announcement was made, I had felt very peaceful and hopeful that I was going to get an answer to my prayers. But I was very restless and impatient and started asking someone to check the status of the shortlising process.
Believe me when I tell you that at that point I felt it in my heart that I had made the biggest mistake by asking. That was clearly not a move that someone who had complete trust in God would do! So I did it and I knew I should not have done it. About five hours later I received the call and they told me how they wanted me on the short list but I missed narrowly and should try again next time. Two things were stuck in my mind, either God did not plan for me to go there, or it was really because he wanted to show me what happens when a christian who does everything and prays so hard can miss an opportunity because of lack of trust!
Another thing, fellow Chistians please remain pure and seek God’s forgiveness so you can even be able to get messages as clearly as possible. Sometimes I get messages in my dreams and I am able to respond, but I must admit I do still have to completely let go trusting people but god alone!
Cheers
I too am going through a difficult time. I am young, 22, and my boyfriend and I were dating for over a year and a half, a long distance relationship where we only saw each other weekends, but talked to each other all day long. Almost two weeks ago he broke up with me, but we talked through it and decided to just take a break. But we still text messaged every day. We didnt spend that weekend together, the first one since we started dating. This pat Wednesday I asked to meet and so we each drove and met in the middle. I have a problem with worrying and controlling, and I know this bothers him and so I have been working on it, not just for him but also for myself. We talked, its what him and I do, we are very good at talking to each other. But in the end he says he has his own stuff to work on, that he needs to do without me. He said that maybe we can try again later. But he wants to be friends and still talk. I said ok, but yesterday I called and said I can’t be his friend, that I love him too much. It was one of the hardest phone calls i have ever made. I said he could check with me Monday but that it may be good to take this weekend with silence. I honestly thought that I would be with him forever.
The problem is that someday I want to get married, and he never does. I still believe that I can change his mind with time, but not if he doesn’t give me a second chance. Today I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe God was punishing me because essentially we had not allowed him in our relationship, and hadn’t always honoured him.
I want him back, but I know I need to trust God with this. I have been relying heavily on God in the last couple weeks and feel my relationship with him growing but it is so hard to trust God. Any advice?
Hi, Jessica im 22 yrs. old to. Im am kind of in the same situation as you. I was dateing this guy for about six in a half months he wanted to actually get marreid to me and then came june of 2010 and he broke up with me. He hit me with the words i think we should be friends. Yes there was another women invole. I havent seen him since june but yes he texts me but i dont reply.
He said he wanted to get close to God and have a personal relationship with him but yet our relationship ending the way it did. I felt like the world for me was over we did alot of things together and with each others family. I suffered greatly and cried many nights.I felt like i was stuck in a box and didnt have anywhere to go but look up.I was angry and fustrated and hurt.
Im telling you this because God has a calling for many of us but we tend to ignore it we will keep suffering until we do as he wants. I had a calling but i ignored it my calling is to tell everyone that i come across about him. Sometimes he allows us to go through challenges so we can have a story to go along with the message we deliver to others.
I had to get a stronger relationship with him to understand my pain. God promise all of us that he will give us anything we want if we would just walk with him.
Jessica i know you love this man but sometimes we have to let go of that person and let God deal with our situation. Who knows maybe he feels he needs to grow up before he makes that commitment to you. I was in love too but God told me that if i do his will and walk with him he will give me back everything i have lost.I know we as women we want that physical body next to us. I pray every night about my situations. I have became wiser and stronger now in his word and so can you. You will adventually get to the point where it wont hurt anymore. Its not easy but all we can do is pray.Just ask God to restore your mind so he can shape and form you to have patients. The key words with God is believeing and having trust. You will be wasting your time if you pray and dont trust or believe.
Dont worry about what your ex’s doing or whos’s he with just consatrate on God tell him your problems he already knows what you are going through he just wants you to come to him for help. When it feels like you have had enough just fall down on your knees and cry out to him. I garuntee things will work out for you. One thing about God he can reverse the situation were your ex will be whereing you shoes. God loves us and he only wants the best for us. Just remember that challenges makes us stonger and God dont leave us to suffer for long but if we not doing the will of God we will suffer for eternity.
We as christians must forgive and love one another.We cant go around not speaking to one another. Now this dosen’t mean you have to call him to speak but here is how God test us he may have that person to run staright into us one day. we must be ready and when we see that person greet that person with love. I have forgave my ex and if i ever run into him again i will greet him cause being spikeful will only hurt us and that person wins the victory.
When a man and a women are in a relationship and both of them have a personal relationship with him he will never let you and him depart because of his grace. There will be problems every now and then but because you and him have that faith he make sure you and him come through. I believe and trust with everything in my heart that God will help you and I through our troubles and bring us those kings that we want in our lifes.
May this message be a blessing to you and remember keep God firt!
Sincerely,
C. Williams
i always keep in my heart that GOD IS MY EVERYTHING ,what ever setuation in my life,HE is my everything,I trust GOD,now how about you?
For about a month I’ve been feeling so tormented and just battling mentally about so many things. We recently left a church that was filled with so much doctrine and where the pastor was just not a great leader whatsoever. I felt so alone and maybe even depressed. I knew God was there but at the same time i felt so distanced from Him. I couldn’t understand why I was struggling so much and why mentally I was feeling the way I did. At some points I felt completely depressed. I began reading my bible more and praying and everything would be fine for a bit then it’d return. Questions, doubts, and more thoughts began tormenting me and I began to wonder what was I doing wrong? Why was I being tormented? I would cry out to God but feel like He wasn’t listening or doing anything. Like in the story of Lazarus, I felt like Mary and Martha when Jesus came two days after they really needed Him and Lazarus died. I felt as if God wasn’t going to show up right when I needed Him but was asking when He’d show up. During this time I’ve been learning so much about myself and God and how God had become just a little Jesus on the shelf.
I remember having a conversation with my mother about becoming a Physician Assistant and I had so little faith in myself my mom said “Trust In God He is a great God and He can bring it to pass.” Sadly in my mind I scoffed at it thinking “No He won’t. He isn’t going to do it for me”. Jesus wasn’t the big God in my life. I’ve been so consumed in my own short comings and Gods holiness that I forgot Who I serve. I forgot that I shouldn’t have so much faith in what I can or can’t do but rather trust God, be faithful, and allow Him to work. I’ve been a Christian for 5 years and I love Jesus and I long to be in relationship and I trust Him for what He has done. But somewhere in my life God became this little figure that I adorned somewhere on the shelf of my life. Yes I respected and worshipped Him but for some reason I’ve allowed Him to become just a figure.
What’s interesting is my pastor on his radio series is preaching about the book of Job. And finally today the message really hit home. Job 28:28- “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’” We can’t buy or seek wisdom and understanding. I finally came to grips that I need to give God His rightful place as GOD. Who is in control and knows what He is doing and I won’t understand or know sometimes. There are things we won’t know unless God reveals (or chooses to reveal) it to us. I know this sounds like a basic truth but a lot of the times we don’t believe things until we experience it ourselves. I don’t know quite why this is happening, or when it will end but I do know the God I serve is a GREAT GOD and I will NOT curse His name just like Job in the midst of his affliction and pain chose not to curse God. A lot of time we ask too many questions (not that this is wrong or we shouldn’t) to the point where we become stubborn and self-sufficient. “If God won’t tell me I guess I gotta find our myself.” As I mentioned earlier, during this month it’s been a huge battle but at the same time I’ve been learning so much about God and myself. A lot of time we won’t understand WHY like Job and maybe we won’t ever understand. This not only goes for lifes issues but even questions such as “Why did God allow evil?” or “where did evil originate?”. These were some tormenting questions and sadly that added so much torture to my mind and it began distorting my view of God but with prayer and His word I fought it. Sometimes we need to stop trying to be like God and understand everything and just trust IN the God that has all the answers.
Another thing that really caught my attention was when my mom was studying the book of Revelation and she told me of this scripture Revelation 10:4 which reads “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” It was interesting because this scripture backed up what I said earlier that there are some things we wont know unless God chooses to reveal it to us and in this case He chose not to for whatever reason. In life we will experience things and God will tell us its purpose and other times God will refrain from revealing things to us for whatever reason that may be. Just like some people I began getting closer by reading my word but at the same time I felt so far because I didn’t understand. But now I’m beginning to see that in our finite minds maybe we SHOULDN’T understand everything and there are times where we won’t and we need to just depend on God and TRUST that He INDEED is in control and is great and worthy to be praised in the good and the bad. Just like Job I will not curse my God because regardless of my circumstances, He is a God that deserves praise.
hi
In vain do the builders build if the lord does not build the house. Don’t start with the tough things (Getting your life in order). Trusting God isn’t something you work out or grit your teeth while exerting effort. Try the following.
1. Read your Bible everyday at the same time.(Getting to know him)
2. Pray every day at the same time if possible.(getting to know him).
3. The result is you will trust God more and more. you will learn to hear his voice distinctly. He will cater for your needs. you will be given a divine appointment. A task no one else should do (unless you refuse of course)
In vain do the builders build if the lord does not build the house. Don’t start with the tough things (Getting your life in order). Trusting God isn’t something you work out or grit your teeth while exerting effort. Try the following.
1. Read your Bible everyday at the same time.(Getting to know him)
2. Pray every day at the same time if possible.(getting to know him).
3. The result is you will trust God more and more. you will learn to hear his voice distinctly. He will cater for your needs. you will be given a divine appointment. A task no one else should do (unless you refuse of course)
I am struggling so much with the mere idea of trusting God. I have been a Christian since I was 13 and am now almost 36. The more I read the bible and think about God, the more I question whether I can trust him and whether he is trustworthy. Sometimes it feels like trusting him blindly is a fool’s game.
For instance, why was the tree of knowledge of good and evil even in the garden in the first place? How did Lucifer get access to the Garden of Eden? Why did God create us to worship him? Is he a baby god who will fold us all back into a box when his parents call him to come to dinner? Life just seems like a ridiculous game and humans seem like little insignificant pieces. It’s not like we signed up for this misery.
How can I trust a god who would allow Satan to get anywhere near me, let alone the first of his creation? Why not destroy Lucifer when he fell? Didn’t an all-knowing God see the fall of Lucifer and the fall of man coming? Why not just cut your losses and start over? Isn’t god powerful enough to do that? Wouldn’t an all-loving God want to stop all pain and suffering? How does an all-loving god allow children to get hurt? Why aren’t more Christians asking these questions? How can humans be made to think, process, and question and be expected to turn our minds off to these obvious inconsistencies? Were we just blank sheeple before Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Why is the bible such a sacred text when men decided which texts should be included? Why not include the Book of Adam and Eve? God punished them the way a child punishes his toys in play after he banished them from the bible? Where was the mercy?
Why are we supposed to turn the other cheek when we are wronged when clearly that did not happen just before God decided that the world should be flooded? Why would anyone need to die for our sins? Why were we sentenced to death in the first place? Mercy, that is not.
Why should I feel like I am going straight to he’ll for asking these tough questions? Doesn’t everyone ask these questions? It seems as if there are many people who simply choose not to admit it.
Why were we created to serve? If man is made in God’s image, why were the Egyptians and other nations who had slaves punished for acting in a way that is consistent with being made in the image of God? Why is jealousy, vengeance, etc. wrong when we are supposedly made in the image of God and he is these things in abundance?
Who are we and why are we here? Why do we have to wait to get over to “the other side” to have answers? That just seems silly and wicked. Most parents I know are constantly irritated by their children and are super hard on them. Some even delight in hurting their children, although they will become raving maniacs if an outsider (not a sibling, mind you) tries to hurt one of their kids. God seems irritated by humans and his word seems to support the idea that he can and will cause us pain -and doesn’t seem overly concerned if we cause one another pain- but doesn’t exactly accept a challenger to the throne (Satan) doing the same thing. Perhaps that is going too far.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of why I feel God is untrustworthy. I hate that I feel this way, but I can’t seem to shake it lately. I feel somewhat enlightened, but in a great deal of pain. I long for the days when I was stupid and blind…a faithful Christian. At this point, I wonder if I will ever trust again. Lately, my faith is questionable, at best.
Doubting Thomas,
Your questions are very common among Christians who have been fighting the good fight for a while. There seems to be deep emotion and pain in your questions. While I acknowledge the emotional side there is also an intellectual side to the issue. I will try to focus on the intellectual issue by answering your questions and perhaps answer the emotional side, if possible, towards the end.
Why was the tree in the garden? This is very blunt because God chose to put it there. You have to look at Adam and Eve first and take into consideration the idea of free will. They were given libertarian free-will, which means that our choices are free from the determination or constraints of human nature and free from any predetermination by God. They have to have free-will or else if they didn’t they could not be held responsible for eating the fruit. Now the tree is pretty much there as a symbol of their free will. They had a choice: Follow God’s command or not. They chose the latter and screwed up. God did not tempt them by placing the tree there but in His wisdom he placed it because that’s the perfect symbol of free will. Could God have made perfect beings that never did anything wrong and always made the right choice? Yeah, He could have but they wouldn’t be free.
As for your question how did lucifer get access to the garden? Well…how couldn’t he? Why wouldn’t he be able to? It’s not like the garden was holy ground that he couldn’t touch. God created to worship Him because it was His choice to. If one doesn’t like that then I’m sorry there nothing else one could say…
I see that it seems tiring to keep fighting when there appears to be so much against us. It gets to me sometimes to. No we didn’t sign up for this but it is what it is. It’s not going to go away if one chooses to become atheist or agnostic about it. The problem will still remain. If God didn’t care about us humans He wouldn’t have wasted His time sending Jesus to die on the cross. Just really think about it. Yes there are something I don’t like, yes the battle sucks sometimes but when else can we do?
Yes an all-knowing God did see it coming and He knew it would which is why He wouldn’t let satan get away with it. That’s why the Bible says that since the beginning Jesus was pretty much destined to die on the cross. He knew what would happen and He made a way out of sin and hell. How can you trust Him? Because like a wise father He takes the bad and builds character. He does something with it. I face battles all the time, in my mind and everywhere I go. I can sit there and question God and get bitter and just give up or I can step up, trust Him and keep fighting. The former will get me nowhere and walking away from life is foolish. There’s nothing else to go to.
The problem of evil is a huge one and I have to kind of scrape off all the emotions to answer the intellectual side. No doubt God allowed evil to happen. I’ve wondered why, I questioned it, but I trust God knows what HE is doing. An atheist cannot really do anything about evil and how they cope with it I have no idea. Evil/sin is a consequence of disobedience, which came as a result of Adam and Eve. They were punished for it and it was just. We’re all sinner, we all fall short, etc. Evil happens, death, decay and pain. It’s not pretty but there is a solution. As I mentioned before for an atheist there IS no solution. All an atheist can do is have blind indifference towards it and say “It’s just evolution taking its course.” A christian acknowledges it full on and says “yes there is evil, yes there is pain, yes I don’t like it either but it’s reality. But there is a cure, there is a way out and that is the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for us all.”
Just because men decided it doesn’t mean God had no part in it. It’s logical to conclude that God being all knowing, powerful, etc. would supervise the canon of scripture. I think it’s rather amazing that God used men to bring about the scripture. He allowed us to be a part of the plan rather than just us being little worms that he throws food at.
You apparently have not read up on the canon of scripture and why they did not include some of those books. I recommend the Canon of scripture by F.F. Bruce to help you out there.
Now God’s mercy is given appropriately in context. God TOLD them and commanded them not to eat of the fruit. Their disobedience demanded God’s justice and punishment for sin. Yes He is merciful but He is also just. Yes He is forgiving. He could have killed them there but He didn’t He kicked them out but allowed them to live.
The turn the other cheek part bothers me. You seem to be taking God’s laws to us and throwing them back at Him as if He is subject to us. First this stems from a misunderstanding of scripture. God DID “turn the other cheek” for I don’t know how many years by having Noah warn the people of a flood. He warned and warned and He helped and told them to get right before judgement came. There was no excuse.
Well that’s what was required by God. Why that, I don’t know but I think that is irrelevant. An animal or imperfect human being couldn’t do it. We needed a perfect sacrifice that could cover us all. When you understand it you see the beauty and symbolism of it all. Once again your understanding of mercy and how God handled the situation is completely misconstrued. God was fully justified in sentencing us to death. It seems to me you are arguing out of outrage and the intellectual side is easily dealt with but it’s the emotions that seem to be pushing you away.
It’s fine that you asked these questions and I don’t know why you feel that way. Yes a lot do ask these questions, such as I.
“If man is made in God’s image, why were the Egyptians and other nations who had slaves punished for acting in a way that is consistent with being made in the image of God?”
Make I ask where this is? Sorry my old testament knowledge is a bit foggy.
” Why is jealousy, vengeance, etc. wrong when we are supposedly made in the image of God and he is these things in abundance? ”
I think a lot of this is just your own misunderstanding of God’s actions towards sinful humanity…
“Why do we have to wait to get over to “the other side” to have answers?”
We don’t. We have the answers that we need right here…
“God seems irritated by humans and his word seems to support the idea that he can and will cause us pain -and doesn’t seem overly concerned if we cause one another pain- but doesn’t exactly accept a challenger to the throne (Satan) doing the same thing. Perhaps that is going too far.”
For the former idea, can you back up this claim?
TO end, I recommend a new book called The Problem of Evil by Norman Geisler. A lot of what you’re asking stems around this issue. Honestly, the only way you are going to resolve this is if you face the issues, ask the questions, and seek God. Yeah a lot of life seems unfair and I sometimes ask God why these things happen. But if God exists (which I believe) and the bible is true (which i believe as well) then I could trust that God has sufficient reason to allow these things to occur and that He is working out His will daily. God alone is from eternity and me getting mad at God will not change reality and will not do anything. IF God exists and the bible is true, my anger and bitterness and sadness that may arise from these issues will not do anything to solve the problem at all. All atheists and agnostics do is ask questions the same way and just deny God, yet life without God is entirely absurd. You have to really ask questions, search, and seek the truth. Once you find the truth you have to accept the reality no matter how hard and bad it seems. I was in the exact same place and I still stuck with my Lord and savior. It’s the best answer and the only answer. Keep asking and searching in all honesty. Check out those books and as I said it is an issue that only you can solve. You have to embrace the reality and not hide from it. I used to be “ignorant” too and sometimes I wonder how much sweeter life would have been just being ignorant, but then I saw how foolish that was and I couldn’t hide from reality and the truth. The world is ugly, it’s sinful, it’s nasty but my God made a way out and I trust Him because He is the source of all truth and I’d rather trust Him than my own fallible ability.
Hello everybody! Thank you for this post and all the comments – it made me feel somehow encouraged that there’re so many of us who need to know and trust God more…
I’ve been a Christian for less than a year, not much, but still, I can say from my experience that the most important is building a real and living relationship with our blessed God. Just pray and talk to Him every day, tell Him about all your worries, desires, wishes and so on.
Pray that He would give you more of the desire to know Him, and then you’ll find yourself in a wonderful journey, learning God more and more every day…
it may be a trivial comment, but right now this is what I’m experiencing.
Hi Amira,
Good to hear from you and to hear your advice. It’s not trivial at all.
Thank You for blessing me with your testimony. I really needed to hear that. I tried to commit Suicide about 2 months ago and granted I ahve been trying ever since I was seven and Iam now 37. I have concluded that my work is not complete yet. Unlike other attempts that I made in the past this last attempt something shifted inside of me a and slowly I began to surrender and began to trust. I am still being being molded daily I pray that he renews my mind but I am much better today than I was yesterday. GOD Bless you and may the Lord continue to Order your Steps.
Dear Joy,
I’m glad to hear you say that you are in a better place then you were before. I would like to give you some truths from the Lord that I feel are especially for you.
You are not alone, Joy. He is good. He is constant. He is just and merciful.
I struggled with depression for five years, and everything that came with it: two different suicide attempts, pill popping, cutting, anorexia, perpetual sickness, etc.
You are not alone.
The darkness you’ve experienced as been so long and so deep. He wants to rescue you. He wants you to open your eyes to His light… To soak it in. He wants to heal you from this pain you’ve carried for 30 years.
There is such hope in Him. He is so good. And he is so real. And His healing is real.
I haven’t struggled with any of these things for almost 3 years now. He’s healed me. He wants so much to heal you.
“1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.”
-Isaiah 61:1-3
He is good.
I will be praying for you Joy. I will fight for you. God is fighting for you. We’ll be fighting until the battle is won against the evil one!
Leah
P.S. If you feel like it, I’d love to continue to talk with you and pray with you, my email is leahbanks@adventures.org
I need holy spirit by my side,because i does have somebody now,and i need peace faith hope so that i may stand/
This is timely message at this time.Remember me in your prayers to be stedfast in my daily trust in the LORD. Thanks
PRAY ON. MY GOD IS LOVE AND TRUTH. HE WILL NEVER FAIL. WHEN I LOOK BACK OVER MY LIFE AND ALL THAT I HAVE ENDURED, HE WAS ALWAYS THERE. IF I MADE IT THIS FAR, I KNOW HE WILL NOT LEAVE ME NOW. HIS GRACE AND MERCY IS SUFFIEICENT. I RMEMBER THE TIMES HE SHOWED UP, ON TIME. THIS WAS NOT JUST A FLUKE OF EVENTS, IT WAS A SUPERNATRUAL INTERCESSION. THIS DAY I AM GOING THROUGH A STORM(CATOGORY 3). BUT I KNOW,BECAUSE I BELIEVE, THAT HE KNOWS MY TROUBLE, AND WILL INTERCEDE ON MY BEHALF. WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH TODAY, PLEASE KNOW, HE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH IT. WHEATHER YOU ARE HAVING A VALLEY EXPERIENCE, OR GOING THROUGH A UNEXPECTED STORM, FEAR NOT, BELIEVE IN HIM, HE WILL GIVE YOU PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING. SELAH.
WEEPING, SHAKING, PRAYING. THERE’S A STORM BREWING IN THE VALLEY. CATAGORY SIX (6), THE STRONGEST YET. I KNOW GOD IS ON THE WAY. I KNOW HE IS NEAR. I AM PREPARED FOR BATTLE. MY PREFERRED WEAPONS; FAITH, TRUST, GRACE AND MERCY. AND AFTER THE STORM, PEACE BE STILL.
I discovered this site yesterday so my comment is alittle late , but its worth it.
I didn’t know how to trust God but I always knew he provides. My faith and trust in him has been built on all his goodness in my past. Write a list of all his good deeds and answered prayers that you have seen in your life. Start your prayers with thanks giving as you thank him for every single item on your list. He has done it before, he will do it again as long as you as and trust him.
The God that brought down the wall of Jericho (Joshua 6), the who held the sun for Joshua (Joshua 10), who parted the sea (Exodus 14:21-22), who rose Lazarus from the dead (John 11) is the same God who takes care of us today. He did this great acts, imagine what he can do for you.
Mark 11:24 says “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Ask, and then tell God that you have received what you have asked for in prayer, in Jesus name.
I’ve been a christian for around four years- due to school work, and commitments, I haven’t had as much time to reap the good news out of the bible. I love God with my whole heart and soul, and he is mine, for sure. But still, I have the stress attacks, and I just think, ‘I’m not living a life of a true christian’.One of peace, and calm, and of no fear.
Before I became a more grounded christian, I was always worried and anxious: about exams, about my family situation- we were never too financially strong, and my dad was an alcoholic.I became an introverted worried individual, with very low self esteem. Also, because I was fat in primary school, I was never accepted. It was only because I was smart, that people began to take interest in me. That’s probably why I was so nervous for exams- I felt that if I didn’t get good grades, I’d loose the favour of my peers, and fade into insignificance.
As a child, I didn’t outwardly cry about my dad like my sisters. The social workers said I would show no emotions- they were pretty concerned actually. But, deep down, I was worrying inside. I would worry about a lot of things- even as a child, I was so aware of my dad alcoholism, and of the the fact that we were tight, the fact that there were talks of us moving to stay with my uncle.
As a nine year old, I was aware of everything. This is why till this day, I’m still battling with worry, and trusting in God. I didn’t feel like my life was secure in the past.I felt unprotected, and the psyche I have developed about myself is worsening my academic performance. Oh for sure I am grateful to God for my successes- because I have had many- but something that really is holding me back, is this lack of belief in my ability. And I think that’s where God comes in. God made me go through what I have been through, to have no belief in my ability, so I can believe in him to sort it out. Oh, and it makes a great sob story!
One thing I’ve realised as a Christian, is that when you ask to be a follower of christ, it is not as easy as you expect. Yeah, gee, the first couple weeks are great, but it’s only when God starts to drill out your imperfections that separate him from you- that’s were the real pain starts.
For me, it’s the overly competitive nature I developed as a child, and my need to get self worth from doing well, and beating others.As a result, I turn on myself when I fail- moderate self harm for example- and I loose belief that God has given me talents when I loose. Low self esteem brings about many problems, jealousy and envy for example. Pride has to be my worst asset as well.
Rest assured, God wont quit until the ‘good works are done within me’, but I pray for the strength to endure. After all, as Christians, it’s our duty to portray the image of Christ to the world- and the image of Christ is one of great suffering.
Does anyone else feel the sense of a christian community? I feel great- even though I don’t know any of you.
I’ve been a christian for around four years- due to school work, and commitments, I haven’t had as much time to reap the good news out of the bible. I love God with my whole heart and soul, and he is mine, for sure. But still, I have the stress attacks, and I just think, ‘I’m not living a life of a true christian’.One of peace, and calm, and of no fear.
Before I became a more grounded christian, I was always worried and anxious: about exams, about my family situation- we were never too financially strong, and my dad was an alcoholic.I became an introverted worried individual, with very low self esteem. Also, because I was fat in primary school, I was never accepted. It was only because I was smart, that people began to take interest in me. That’s probably why I was so nervous for exams- I felt that if I didn’t get good grades, I’d loose the favour of my peers, and fade into insignificance.
As a child, I didn’t outwardly cry about my dad like my sisters. The social workers said I would show no emotions- they were pretty concerned actually. But, deep down, I was worrying inside. I would worry about a lot of things- even as a child, I was so aware of my dad alcoholism, and of the the fact that we were tight, the fact that there were talks of us moving to stay with my uncle.
As a nine year old, I was aware of everything. This is why till this day, I’m still battling with worry, and trusting in God. I didn’t feel like my life was secure in the past.I felt unprotected, and the psyche I have developed about myself is worsening my academic performance. Oh for sure I am grateful to God for my successes- because I have had many- but something that really is holding me back, is this lack of belief in my ability. And I think that’s where God comes in. God made me go through what I have been through, to have no belief in my ability, so I can believe in him to sort it out. Oh, and it makes a great sob story!
One thing I’ve realised as a Christian, is that when you ask to be a follower of christ, it is not as easy as you expect. Yeah, gee, the first couple weeks are great, but it’s only when God starts to drill out your imperfections that separate him from you- that’s were the real pain starts.
For me, it’s the overly competitive nature I developed as a child, and my need to get self worth from doing well, and beating others.As a result, I turn on myself when I fail- moderate self harm for example- and I loose belief that God has given me talents when I loose. Low self esteem brings about many problems, jealousy and envy for example. Pride has to be my worst asset as well.
Rest assured, God wont quit until the ‘good works are done within me’, but I pray for the strength to endure. After all, as Christians, it’s our duty to portray the image of Christ to the world- and the image of Christ is one of great suffering.
Does anyone else feel the sense of a christian community? I feel great- even though I don’t know any of you.
My beloved brothers and sisters, your pain and suffering cuts me to the heart. I am so sorry that this is the way that you must tread. Sorry, but yet at the same time I count you as blessed for the Lord chastiteth those whom he loves. Why does money not come? where are my friends? where is my security? Lord be the stronghold of my life.
Soon I shall enter into the cold, silent darkness as I am drawn towards the monastic wilderness of absolute poverty, chastity and total obedience. It will hurt, but there I will find the Lord waiting as the Beloved. I beg you too, if the money does not come, if your family despise you, if you are loathed and rejected by all and everything – do not despair, but rejoice! and enter in to the silence where you will find all things. Do not be resentful, but do not be afraid to cry.
My beloved, do not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day, for the Lord can never die.
well! i’d same story. what i learn from my story is there is no one could stand beside you in a a very threating situation . god is courage , god is love .jesus never show any survival erg on his way to the top .JC. made it. and he teach as to be persist to any pain. you or me can;t define our self till we face fear of our own survival. the choice you make on that moment defines who you are or in which side you are riding .
I am doing some reflection and research on why Christians do not trust God. As I read through this series of discussion,
I note many phrases such as “why does God” or “I feel”. Such phrases seem to say,”I am so important that God, the creator of the universe ought to explain to me what he is doing and why he is doing it. Or maybe one is saying “reality is what I feel” when reality is biblical truth which is found in knowing Jesus intimately. Too much talk about ourselves and our feelings, and our reasoning and not enough conversation about how to get to know God in a real personal way. I did not write this to be critical but to encourage each person to cry out to God, to seek him with our whole heart.
Yes, I’m one of the many who asked why. And tenaciously asked and waited for that answer kept me stuck and my problems in place and spreading slowly outward. However, the time to let go of why, let go of the question of when and so on is now. And do something that will be far more fulfilling and satisfying:
trust the Lord.
He knows what He is doing and He knows how to do it.
Job asked why. Ultimately, Job wasn’t told about the behind-the-scenes struggle with the enemy. He certainly experienced the circumstances and results. But WE know from the Bible what happened to Job and why.
And maybe that’s good for us, too. Maybe fear and problems persist because we focus on them so much (or rather ourselves). The solution may be as plain as trusting God. Give those things over to Him. Write them on one side of a sheet of paper and across make a column to describe how the issue was resolved. And then thank Him for the answer. In the meanwhile when the thought of the problem hits you out of the blue, remind yourself you have surrendered it to God in prayer (on your knees) and it no longer belongs to you. Then thank and praise Him in advance for the solution He will provide.
Remember gratitude for the blessings you already have. Remember thankfulness, that these blessings come from Him in the first place and not some thing we cause to bring into our lives. And when your concern is resolved make a point to let others know how God blessed and touched your life and gave you yet another reason to continue to hope and trust in Him.
Remember that feelings are inherently deceitful. Take willful control of your thoughts and assert that your life belongs to God.
God is more concerned about our problems than we are like He was with Job, because as His child, it is a reflection on His name that we overcome. He wants us to prevail.
Yet the only way overcoming can happen is if we turn to Him rather than ourselves.
It glorifies His name when we trust Him.
And when we thank and praise Him.
Peace.
Thanks, Mike. Powerful insight.
I understand. I leave these words with you DARE TO DREAM. God Bless.
l also typed ‘how to trust God’….& got onto this site……thanks for your inspiring words….l cannot tell of what God has done for me……the extent of God’ love for me & my angels, & yet l remain afraid to trust him completely & accept his love fully…..l wallow in self-pity & dream & accept failure….when l know that God’s plan for me l have yet to fully experience……pls help me God, in Jesus name…Amen.
found this article in response to search question on how to rebuild trust in God. really shattered now; reassessing what i believe ( or at least what i thought i believed). thank you for sharing. please pray for me as i walk through this excruciatingly painful wilderness.
Stay in prayer. There are lots of ways to be of service and help to others which can strengthen our spiritual state. Yet, there is absolutely no substitute for prayer. That should tell us something vitally important. Pray the Word back to God when you pray. Remind Him of His promises when you bring them to Him. Will pray for you.
‘Commit thy way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.’
TRUST GOD OR NOT?
When Christians are ask if they trust God; most would respond in the affirmative. Do Christians really believe God is trustworthy?
How do Christian respond when asked, do they believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God? For many, the trust, in God starts to wane at this point. An all too common reply, is of course the Bible is God’s word, however, the Scriptures were recorded and translated into other languages my mere men. We know men make mistakes.
What is mystifying to me is how believers in Christ can proclaim that they believe God created the heavens and the earth, but do not believe God has the power to direct men to record and translate His word without error. Would that be a God you could trust?
Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone , but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (NASB)
Jesus said men should live on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. How would that be possible if the Bible is not the infallible word of God?
1 John 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.(NASB)
John said we know Jesus if we keep His commandments. If the Bible is not God’s incontrovertible truth, how can we know we are keeping the commandments of Jesus?
THE GOD I WORSHIP HAS THE POWER TO PRODUCE A BIBLE THAT IS INERRANT, FACTUAL,
INFALLIBLE, FREE FROM ERROR, LITERAL IN HISTORICAL ACCURACY, TRANSLATED CORRECTLY, AND YES, INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF.
There those who agree that the Bible is the inerrant word of God but then state that you have to be a Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic scholar to understand the meaning of Scripture.
In order to understand the Bible you have to understand whatever langauge translation you are reading. If English is your first language then you should use an English translation, if German is your primary language then read a German translation, if you are Greek then read a Greek translation etc.
It is not ironic that they do not believe you have be a Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic scholar to under Joshua 10:13, however, in order to understand Acts 2:38 you have be not only have to be a Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic scholar, but an English professor as well.
Joshua 10:13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.
The “scholar police” accept Joshua 10:13 at face value; as well they should.
The “scholar police” believe you have to be a Greek scholar and an English professor to understand Acts 2:38.
The “scholar police” have an agenda. There goal is to convince the world that water baptism is not essential to have sins forgiven.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(The Thompson Chain -Reference Bible NIV)
You do not have to be a Greek scholar or an English professor to understand what “so that your sins may be forgiven” means.
Acts 2:38 Peter told them, “you must repent and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus , so that you may have your sins forgiven and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips)
If you have a fifth grade reading level you are capable of understand the meaning of “so that you may have your sins forgiven.”
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Let each one of you repent and be immersed, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (The Better Version of The New Testament by Chester Estes)
“In order to the remission of sins” means the same thing whether you are a Greek scholar, a professor in English or a novice Christian.
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NASB)
It does not matter if you are a Greek scholar, or an English professor; “for the forgiveness or your sins” means exactly what it says.
DO NOT LET THE “SCHOLAR POLICE” CONVINCE YOU, THAT ONLY AN ELITE FEW CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE.
CONTRARY TO THE “SCHOLAR POLICE” WATER BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE YOUR SINS FORGIVEN!
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. Google search>>> steve finnell a christian view
Dear friends, my heart bleeds with empathy and compassion for those who have left comments here concerning their seemingly dire situations.
When times are hard it seems tough to trust in God, but this is when we need to trust Him most. He will rescue us from trouble – always, if we believe in Him.
Consider what James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
This passage of scripture seems hard to swallow especially in the midst of turmoil. But the key here is reliance upon the Creator of the Universe. These tests come into our lives so we learn to trust in God. When we trust in God and persevere through hard times God will reward us on the other side. If we remain faithful to Him, He will remain faithful to us.
You see life’s trials are all about placing our trust in God. The devil is the one who tries to trip us up wanting us to believe it is hopeless. But God can use these trials to bring Glory to Himself. We just have to trust in Him.
My challenge to you is to put a smile on your face and “thank” God for the difficulties that you are facing, and to guide and direct you on His path that you may bring Glory to Him those this time of adversity. Place your troubles at His feet and put it in His hands and don’t take it back. Trust that the Almighty WILL lift you up.
The joy that awaits I can’t even describe, I can only say “Praise the Lord”
Thanks for these thoughts, Gary. Encouraging.
Im so out of it meaning my life i felt so tired i felt so drain so overwhelming is like i cannot go on lately my mind feel so shot like i am in a different place i try to put the best outside i do not no where to start i have been a single mother for 13 year i got married and thought that my life will will be better know that i receive Jesus has my savior married for 23 years and separate for 15 year now.i was trying to work on the marriage end up now with a 13 year old daughter still been single altogether 35 year right now i needed a way out because i cannot do this on my own any more i love the Lord or maybe I’m lying to myself for i do not know how to trust God i just realized that i was only talking to people about God whom i am not even know my self to help me in my own dilemma because it has been so long depending on my self and know everything is coming sown on me heavily i can not handle it any more i needed help please keep me in your prayers for i mean to served God with all my heart.God Blessed you always
Please continue to trust. It is, after all, what our relationship with Jesus is all about. Remember Peter getting out of the boat during the storm? What trust that took. Even Peter wavered. Try to surround yourself with healthy Christian people. These will hold you up in prayer and minister to your needs as God directs.
Have you ever heard the gospel song, “Trust and Obey”? The words are: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”
Failure is part of our makeup. Jesus knows this. Do your best, as an act of sacrificial love and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in putting to death the sinful human desires.
Remember Romans chapter 4, where it says “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness.” He trusted yet he too waivered.
Blessings
Bob Macauley
My friend and sister in Christ texted this article and comments to me this morning. God seems to be always doing things like these when I am at my worst – no trust, no belief, no Bible reading, no prayer and have thrown in the towel for vCard the umpteenth time.
Like one comment read I can believe for others and witness the answers to their prayers but for me…. God never seems to come through and at the most crucial times.(Death of a parent, hospitalization of a relative, destruction of a young man and his posterity, enslavement and bewitchment of family members) what makes it excruciatingly painful is I thought He had given me His worf to stand on – Scriptures I did not know before nor searched for in a concordance. Oh how I confessed and declared these words. How I prayed them back to God. I held on to them in faith. Or so I thought. Things just got worse or the opposite happened. I might not have verbalized it but I do not think I can trust God to do good for me or my family members.
My enemies and attackers have me in derision daily. Because of my attitude and behavior in this horribly, loathsome situation God’s name is being profaned. The saints encouragenent to trust God goes nowhere. Am I really saved? How is it possible for Satan and his henchmen to control a Christian’s mind abd lifestyle? Am I a fake, demon possessed or what? Will we really be delivered?
Funny how deep down I know God can and I will syrongly declare His omnipotence, omniscience, immortality and omnipresence yet….
I guess what I am saying is like most of you have said I need to trust God and come to the realization that there is no other way to live and “come out” of this wilderness.
In conclusion, as I rant and rave and make a profaned mess, my friend who is s lso on this trust journey got a revelation that no matter what our problem /dilemma/situation is there is only one solution TRUST IN GOD VIA HIS WORD. WE NEED WISDOM (the how) KNOWLEDGE (what) and UNDERSTANDING (why) FOR OUR SITUATIONS. AND GUESS WHAT? THESE ARE FOUND IN GOD THE ALL WISE AND ALL KNOWING. NOT IN US! That’s wherey problem seems to be I am yet to realize there is no real solution in me or my abilities especially for this present unspeakable atrocity.
Thanks for the post. I realize now I am not the only one and the worst of the worst because of my doubts and “presumptuous” questions.
Ya know, I’m not going to lament anything. And my situation is really, really strange. I seem to be able to FULLY trust God in matters of provision and stepping out in faith in terms of the prophetic and 99% of other areas in life. But there is ONE specific part of my life that I have absolutely no trust in God. It almost seems like my faith in Him is compartmentalized. I know that He is good and trustworthy. But I just can’t seem to bring myself to trust Him because this is the only area of my life that I have experienced major losses and no victory CONSISTENTLY. I have never had any success in it and I’ve basically shut down as a result. I have given up completely and I am not interest in “trusting God” for it anymore. I will not give permission for my will to be overridden by Him in this area. I am sick of it. Other than that, I am fortunate that my life is very good. No health issues and I can live on my paycheck, by His grace. And for that, I thank Him. Weird, huh? It’s almost a dualist existence, but I’ve made peace with it.
I want to trust Him….
I look for him everywhere…
Where is he??
Why, when I feel like I’ve put all of my faith in him, do I feel like I’m never answered. Instead, I continue to hit these hard times and I’m tired. I’m so so tired.
I’m finding that it’s difficult to continue this life.