I've been going through a rough time lately in my faith, and haven't shared a whole lot about it here. But I realized today that others might be feeling the same thing, and this would be a good place to discuss it.
So, have you ever doubted God's love for you? Or God's existence?
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
Hmm... I seem to have troubles with this kind of thing most often when I've arrogantly put God into a box, and then it turns out He doesn't fit into it. That doesn't mean He isn't real or doesn't love me just because he doesn't fit into the narrow view of existence I've made for him. When I try to look at him in a different way, I see him better than before, and am glad he no longer fits what I wanted at the time. Does this make sense, or is it just pretentious nonsense?
Other times, it's helpful to pray "I believe- help my unbelief" which is of course from the gospels, but I can't remember the circumstance-- someone said it to Jesus when he questioned their faith.
I think it boils down to being genuine. Most people in this situation either try to hide their doubts behind false piety and deny they have doubts at all- or else they just give up and say God either doesn't exist or doesn't love them. But what people should do in this situation is neither of the above- it's being genuine.
As with any relationship, you need to tell God how you feel. If you're doubting God's existence, it may feel foolish to do so. If you're doubting his love for you, you may feel like you're too angry to talk to him, but if you pray to God and honestly explain your feelings, in my experience things will turn around after that. Give God something to respond to. If you say "God, I'm just not sure I can believe you really love me, given (x, y, and z)," God will delight in proving you wrong.
-- Edited by Chris at 22:29, 2007-12-16
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
I hesitate to put too much of my struggle here because I certainly don't want to plant the seed of doubt in someone else's mind. But have you ever just wanted a sign? Something visible and/or tangible that proves God is really there?
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
I used to look for "signs" whenever I began to doubt in what I believed in. Then I realized that no matter what sign I got, I would later ask for ANOTHER one to "insure" it. I began reading in the bible about how the Israelites always doubted Moses' leadership in the desert and how no matter what miracles were done to show them that God was with them, they would lose faith and would cry about going back to Egypt. Even after God led them to the very edge of their new "Promised Land", they still wanted to go back to Egypt when they heard stories about "giants" living there. This shows that no matter what kind of "proof" that we are looking for from God before we can believe His promises, we still want more.
I think God lets us go through these "dry times" of our lives in order to grow us up into more mature children of His.
I'm sure that family sees it as proof. But it's not proof for me. I want a Joan of Arcadia experience with God. Or at least a Monica from Touched by an Angel experience. I want Jesus to come in, sit beside me, and hold me!!
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
I struggle with my faith so much--I have sought outside the realm of Christianity for answers. And, I feel I will never have the answers in this life--due to the fact that God is too big for me to grasp...to understand.
I have read the Bible, and am now reading the Apocrypha. I'm not a Bible scholar, and I don't need to be to know this:
I believe in God, and I believe in the Golden Rule. I try to be the best person I can be, and live every day like it is my last. I try to smile as much as I can, and I try to look for the best in everybody. Whenever there is a cloud of doubt hanging over me...I go to bed, and wake up with a clean plate. I leave all my worries behind, and try to start anew.
I question the existence of God every day. However, I believe it is within our limited scope of humanity to do so. It is perfectly normal to question if God is there. Because the act of questioning is what creates our faith. What we beleive was not handed to us on a silver platter, and forcefed to us. No. Instead, we have had our own questions to ask, and individualized answers to receive.
This struggle is just part of being human. I believe it stems from Adam and Eve. When God kicked them out of the Garden--He kind of hid Himself from the rest of the world. So, that we may seek Him with all our heart.
I know faith is hard to come by sometimes--but, in my opinion, that is what God wants from us. He wants us to strive to believe in Him. If He gave us all tangible signs--then we wouldn't really need to have faith, because we would already be accepting it as truth.
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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Sweety, if we were to be true to ourselves and God all of us have doubted at one time or another. I agree with Mama Lisa that we shouldn't plant a seed of doubt so please don't look at this post as though I am in disagreement with her. Honey, I have lived as a closet female for most of my life. I doubted that God loved me because I knew the things nobody else saw. As a straight male I had my doubts as well. I have a problem with those who are so arogant that they never have times of doubt. The straight folk on christianet are a good example of judgmental folk that do not doubt. But then again, they are like a man that looks in a mirror and walks away forgetting what manner of man he was. Sweety, too many live a life free of problems and when they get saved they forget that we all are but sinners saved by grace. The grace of God Almighty is his Son Jesus Christ that came as the only atoning Lamb of sacrifice acceptable to God. Honey, I doubted as a straight male. I doubted as a transgender female. I doubted as a female. Yea, I guess I doubted indeed. Remember David. The word of God says that times got so bad for David that he strengthened himself in the Lord. There comes that time when each and every one of us, straight, gay, trans, whatever has to strengthen himself/herself in the Lord. The word says that we should lift ourselves up sing psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts unto God. And sometimes the doubt can get so bad that like Hannah, we pray or sing in our hearts because we are so weighted down that we just can't speak. Well, God can hear our hearts. He heard Abraham's. When Abraham doubted in his heart the Lord said "I heard that." If you are doubting hang in there and keep praying. Keep trusting. The Lord will indeed speak to you or manifest whatever he wants to you. Just keep believing! The others gave terriffic advice. I'm sorry to go on so long. Take care and may God bless. Tiff
I think that what Darrel said about God wanting us to seek him with all our heart was just BEAUTIFUL! You really are growing in your faith.
Tiffany is right: whatever we have in our hearts, God sees and understands. He knows that the darkness in this world will try to take our eyes off from Him and doubt His love. But if you re-read in the Bible about how Peter's faith faltered over and over again, Christ was there to rescue him from the stormy waves, to his own guilt for denying that he even knew Him.
And He will do the same for you, too. Just don't give up on Him...He'll NEVER give up on YOU!
....I want a Joan of Arcadia experience with God. Or at least a Monica from Touched by an Angel experience.....
Hi ML,
I guess these shows are good because they get people thinking about God existing beside them. I don't know, because I've never seen either one, but I'd bet they have a negative effect, too, which is that they teach people that a relationship with God is the same as seeing a friend on the street, or being held by a parent or spouse.
I'm sure you know God isn't perceived in those ways, but it bears saying. If even a part of your subconscious is convinced by those shows that God isn't real if he doesn't literally hold your hand, it can cause unsettling feelings that you can't explain. But the truth of the matter is that no one has an experience like that, and expecting one is destructive.
The important thing to remember is that doubts aren't signs of weak faith or lack of faith, and doubts are not proof that God doesn't care, or doesn't exist. Doubts are tough and scary things, but they're just inside of your own self.
This is probably saying too much since I don't know your specific situation, but too often in our culture people think that just because something bad is happening it means God has abandoned them. This is not true. Ever since there have been people there has been pain, whether you believe God is there with you or not. But just because something goes well doesn't mean God favors you any more than if it doesn't go well. It works in reverse too- just because things aren't going well, that doesn't mean God has abandoned you.
-Chris
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
