Loosing Faith

[WatcherX]

I'm a christian and don't know what to do anymore. Over the past four years it seems that only bad things have been happening to me... my mom became an alcholic, my sister became a drug-addict, my parents are divorcing, my aunt almost dies, and over all this time I have had to handle it alone without anyone to turn to except for god... And like I said, its been 4 years so I've been expecting somthing at least somthing... I mean god works in "mysterious ans subtle ways" but I'm starting not to see the point in it anymore, I can't handle another hardship if all I am going to get in the end is some miniscule reward... Im even begining to doubt if god is even there and is even listening to me... I mean it seems like I, a good-hearted, decent, nice-person, would get rewarded... but I don't... and it seems like every single malicious intented asshole in the world gets everything they want...

If anyone could help me in any way from just calling it quit please reply

[Tyler Durden]

From what I understand, the whole point of being faithful is sticking to your faith even though it doesn't seem to be working out for you. Perhaps you can't believe it can get any better, but hope isn't a bad thing, you know. Even false hope is beneficial, for as long as it lasts. This is built into the human psyche, and isn't easily repressed.

But rationally, you should be able to rise above this with someone's help, so try talking to friends or family. Or go for the stoicism, that's always cool. But don't doubt that things will get better, because they usually do. And if they don't seem to be, you can fix them. Feel free to doubt your religion, but don't doubt yourself.

[Zook]

Well I can't say I have seen times as bad as that but I also have been loosing faith. Often during mass the priest will say that those who believe have seen an act of God. I applaud those who have b/c I have seen nothing that looks like the work of God in my life. In regards to your situation you are right in saying that God works in strange ways. If you truly believe in God you will find relief, whether in this life or the next. Those assholes that reap the rewards will see dark times while you are rewarded. It all comes down to patience and being able to not expect instant gratification.

[WatcherX]

Originally Posted by Zook

It all comes down to patience and being able to not expect instant gratification.

I've been pateint for 4 years... Im not asking god for somthing great, but I'd like a little gradification just so I know that he is still there, or if he is there at all

[Tyler Durden]

Like I said, the end result isn't important. It's getting there that matters.

[dejah]

i second what DK says on "getting there that matters"

you can ask for gratification, but you can't demand it.
that's where the patience bit comes in.
because you can't do anything else but wait for it.

you should also ask yourself though,
are you right to be asking for it?
is it selfish? what about my family?

maybe, just maybe,
you're going about it wrong.
you have to work for your gratification too. earn it.
by helping out the best you can with your family situation.
don't run away. that could either make it or break it
keep your head on and SALLY FORTH SOLDIER!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by WatcherX

I'm a christian and don't know what to do anymore. Over the past four years it seems that only bad things have been happening to me... my mom became an alcholic, my sister became a drug-addict, my parents are divorcing, my aunt almost dies, and over all this time I have had to handle it alone without anyone to turn to except for god... And like I said, its been 4 years so I've been expecting somthing at least somthing... I mean god works in "mysterious ans subtle ways" but I'm starting not to see the point in it anymore, I can't handle another hardship if all I am going to get in the end is some miniscule reward... Im even begining to doubt if god is even there and is even listening to me... I mean it seems like I, a good-hearted, decent, nice-person, would get rewarded... but I don't... and it seems like every single malicious intented asshole in the world gets everything they want...

If anyone could help me in any way from just calling it quit please reply

The problem here is that you are trying to rationalize faith, which is impossible.

[Guardian Soul]

You can't just wait around and expect some miracle to come along, It's not going to happen.

All of these things happening are because of the actions of the people who take them.

[dejah]

I mean it seems like I, a good-hearted, decent, nice-person, would get rewarded... but I don't... and it seems like every single malicious intented asshole in the world gets everything they want...

hmm. perhaps it's not coming because you're only thinking about yourself?
try putting others before you.i
it's not so much "going through hardships"
and getting rewarded because of that.
you aren't rewarded for personal gain.
help your family as much as you can. talk to them, rationally, calmly, and pull the family card. if you can do that, that in itself is already a reward.
it's what you do to get through the hardships.
what do YOU do to try and make your life better for yourself?
moping and whinging isn't gonna do much about it.
being jealous about malicious ill-intended people isn't making you a better person either, it's just breeding for much more negativity.

[Forever Atlas]

(I know this may be a bit to read, but I really hope it helps)

First off I'd like to let you know that Im sorry to hear about the hardships you are facing. But also know this, you are not alone. Eventhough everyone's situations are different, not all hope is lost.

You know that it is admirable that you are looking to God for help. I know you said you have been waiting for four years for something. But have you noticed something? You have dealt. You are still there, and you are still alive.

There are many people around the world that have gone through things worse than you and have still kept faithful to God. Not to minimize your situation, because it still is a very unfortunate and hard one... I know.

But maybe you can take comfort in this.

The apostle Paul was one of many examples of people in the past that have gone through hard times:

at 2 Corinthians 11: 23-27 - Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman, I am more outstandingly one: in labors more plentifully, in prisons more plentifully, in blows to an excess, in near-deaths often. By Jews I five times received forty strokes less one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from [my own] race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness.

Paul suffered a whole lot. However he endured untill his death. He was convinced in the existence of God.

Also we remember the account of Job? He suffered great loss. His children died, his wife did not support him, he lost all his material wealth, and his so called friends pretty much backstabbed him.

Now as I noted above you have been able to deal with these problems so far.

"There was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me.”—2 CORINTHIANS 12:7.

Many people have recieved this "thorn in the flesh". A trial and tribulation of sorts. Its just part of the things we have to go through in these last days as the Bible goes on to say that it would be "critical times, hard to deal with" (2 Timothy 3: 1-5)

Now eventhough it may seem that these problems dont go away, it doesnt mean you dont recieve help. Again, you have been able to deal thus far. Though God may not TAKE away the problems from in front of us... he does many times give us the strength to endure that we may not have been able to on our own.

Also I can relate with you where you say that you have no one to talk to. But if you can find someone mature and trusted, try. Even the scriptures tells us that we should talk to others and they should listen to us.

James 1: 19 - Know this, my beloved brothers. Every man must be swift about hearing, slow about speaking, slow about wrath

So if you can, find someone that will lend you that hearing ear. And if you can get that support to go on.

Please note too, that God does notice your hardships. In due time God promises to take away all the problems that mankind has brought upon itself.

Revelation 21: 3, 4 - With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Satan will keep throwing things upon those trying to serve God to break them down and lose faith.

I personally have been experiencing hardships too, serious family problems, economic problems like the majority of the world, personal issues, many deaths of family and friends. I know that things can be hard. Trust me, and there are many others out there too that know just how you feel and what you are going through. Never feel you are alone. It will be hard to deal with, it will be... but God provides the strength needed.

But I encourage you to keep fighting, keep praying, keep on asking (Matt 7: 7), keep enduring, and know that your efforts are not going unnoticed.

Hebrews 6: 10 - For God is not unrighteous so as to forget YOUR work and the love YOU showed for his name, in that YOU have ministered to the holy ones and continue ministering

This also provides you time to show that your faith is not based on just having everything going good. That was one of the issues Satan threw at God. He said that God's servants would only serve him when things are going good for them. And that is one of Satan's missions still down to this day... he wants to break people so they stop serving God. You have been going through stuff that might seem like a long time, but note that others have had to suffer many many more years through much greater hardship... I believe you can too.

I also know that it does seem that a whole lot of people doing bad things seem to prosper too. Remember what the Bible also says about this:

Psalm 73: 12 - Look! These are the wicked, who are at ease indefinitely.
They have increased [their] means of maintenance.

Job 21: 7, 9 - Why is it that the wicked themselves keep living,
Have grown old, also have become superior in wealth? ... Their houses are peace itself, free from dread, And the rod of God is not upon them.

So it may seem that these do go on gaining everything with no consequences sometimes, but remember that those who do seem like this, their pleasure is only short lived.

Psalm 37: 9, 10, 11 - For evildoers themselves will be cut off,
But those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.
And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more;
And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.
But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace

You might not see the results right away, chances are you wont even get a miracle of sorts that were back in the ancient days. God doesnt work that way anymore, but he does provide for his servants. I know, I have seen it first hand many many times.

I'll leave you with a few more scriptural thoughts:

1 Peter 4: 6, 7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt YOU in due time; while YOU throw all YOUR anxiety upon him, because he cares for YOU

Psalm 55:22 - Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter.”

[Samber]

I'm sorry for your hardships, and I hope everything works out all right, but you cant just wait around for somthing good to happen. You shape your own world and you need to have confidence in yourself enough to not to just wait on God. I know its hard, but you're still good and alive.
Try talking to counselors, or friends to get the stress out. You just cant wait for somthing divine to happen, as long as you have hope things will get better, they will.

[Frozen Fate]

I have a vague idea of what you're going through. My dad is a heavy drugie (mainly meth, which is deadly to be around particles, which has affected me alot.), my parents are getting divorced, we almost lost out house, my cousin had a seizure driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, and another cousin went through a windshield and survived only because he was so drunk.

I'm Christian as well (Catholic o be exact). I personally always turn to God as well. You can't expect immediate results rfom God. In fact, his ways can work at anytime. Everything will get better eventually get better. They won't just magically happen and everything will be all fine and dandy.

Just try to pray a bit more, maybe a Rosary or the occasional Novena. I praty them about once a week with my mom.

Hope everything gets better for you.

[Forever Atlas]

True you should talk to someone if you can. I know sometimes there really is no one to talk to... but if you can find someone mature enough to help you do it. Like I mentioned above, even the Bible lets us know that our fellow man is here to help us through times of need too.

James 1: 19 - Know this, my beloved brothers. Every man must be swift about hearing, slow about speaking, slow about wrath

Phillipians 2: 4 - keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just YOUR own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others

Romans 12: 10 - In brotherly love have tender affection for one another.

1 Thessalonians 5: 14 - On the other hand, we exhort YOU, brothers, admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all

Thats just a few of the scriptures that shows us how we should be towards others. If you can find someone who can honestly help you in that way, to encourage you, to offer a hearing ear, to be a support to you... do so.

[Johnny Stooge]

Seems like you've found out what most us have known all along.

You're on your own, kid.

[Forever Atlas]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stooge

Seems like you've found out what most us have known all along.

You're on your own, kid.

Originally Posted by WatcherX

If anyone could help me in any way from just calling it quit please reply

Nice way of helping, Johnny -.- .......