question, how to find more faith and hope?

[anti_nietzsche]

Hello,

sometimes it is like I don't have much faith, as if I must doubt again in order not to be messed up by my own truth seeking. The atheists and agnostics often give themselves into doubt so deeply that it's like Jesus does not exist for them. I find that very depressing, but it happens to me too. When I really deeply ask myself about my own faith I must admit that sometimes I have it and sometimes I do not. The times of unbelief ARE rarer than my times of faith, but still it concerns me and sometime I worry that I could loose faith. It's like sometimes Jesus is far from me and life becomes empty and futile. Then the Holy Spirit creates new faith in me and I do not worry anymore, but I do think my faith is weak sometimes. What do you do to strengthen your faith? I think I have to go to other christians with this. Those who know love and do not believe in God's wrath. For when God is love, He cannot be wrath, the two are mutually exclusive.

Please help me. I need some encouragement.

[marie glen]

..when i first came to the Lord, many years ago, it was all about how I felt.. one day close to Him.. on another day, not so close.. now it's been almost 40 years and looking back I realize what most "stablished" (established) me was when i began to see the plan of God as one complete whole.. Lots of folks say understanding isn't important, it's having "faith"..  And of course that's true.. But for me, I wanted to know true from not true, all of it..?.. I could live with blind faith.. but i prefer faith with understanding.. Not that I think I understand all details and particulars! but an overview and summary of what God is doing.. what the purpose of this whole "veil of tears" is.. Why death was allowed? why suffering is allowed? some of it horrific... what person worth their salt wouldn't get bummed out living on 'this side' and seeing the world and life as it presently is..? (faith w/o understanding is superior, but "wisdom is justified of her [different] children" - I think He put the hunger and prayer to understand in my heart.)

..once I realized (to my mind) that thinking ability includes the ability to make choices (Xcept for the BiG choice!! - HE chooses the elect, and "hardens whom HE will" a lucky throw of the dice? since one is no better nor worse than another..?)

...so to choose anything other than He does, in thought, word or deed, is to become imperfect.. and thus to be on that path to death.. which of course we all are.. (He being both life, surely? and perfection. Imperfection, then, is the opposite of life.) But what was His other option? No rational creatures? ..Ever?

So... He is going to save all.. and (imho) is simply letting angel and man choices run their course.. Proving to ALL "in heaven and earth" that of the two directions of life - toward God, or away from God.. the away from God can never, no never, ever.. work. Period. A foundation lesson He is engraving upon every heart, mind and psyche. (The unveiling.) How, can an un-breakable paradise/perfection be accomplished?? He, surely? has done all things exactly as He has in order to bring about the very best of aLL possibilities.. He is perfect, therefor the 'end result of all this - human history, etc, can onLy be (surely?) the-utter-best-one-possible.

I guess bottom line, I think it is simply knowing He iS perfect.. and all good.. then there is trust - the "large covering shield of faith" - Amplified Version. "With which we can quench aLL the fiery darts of the wicked one". They fall to the ground broken.. harmless.. For no matter what, we know He is perfect. And know that utter perfection of life awaits us all..

:dontknow: One can only relate, concerning their own learning and experiences. :gsmile:

[Dandelion]

In my own journey, anti-nietzsche, I have found that faith is the basic, but trust brings us to a new level. And, it is the experiences I have had when I trusted God, that helped to grow my faith. 

First of all, a story to explain the difference between faith and trust. I have posted this before, but maybe you did not see it.

A man is going across Niagra Falls, on a bicycle. The bicycle is on a tight rope. On the handlebars of the bicycle is a basket.

Faith says the man will get across the falls, but trust is my willingness to ride with the man, in the basket on the handlebars.

So, there is a huge jump from faith to trust.

Now, an example. When my mother had a stroke, I really put trust to the test, for the first time.

My mom's stroke was the final straw, in my 27 year marriage. It was a extremely bad marriage.

So, coming from my family, no one was there for support for me. That is how my family operates. When you are down and out, they are your final kick in the pants. Very sad, but very true.  And, my marriage was very detrimental to making friends, as well. My children were just on the edge between adolescence and young adults, gasping for air, from having grown up in the toxic environment of my marriage, my family, and their Dad's family.

I was a Deacon in my church. My Pastors were supportive of me, but could only do so much.

I would be working 3 jobs to keep my mom at home. There were many reasons I was so adament about it....I believe good reasons.

I wanted to keep my mom home, for as long as possible. She was 94, had a fair amount of dementia, and a feeding tube. She used a walker to help her be mobil. She was cooperative unless you asked her to do something she didn't want to do. Then you had your hands more than full. Looking back, though our relationship was never good, those were definitely the best days that Mom and I spent together.

I looked up at the sky and said to God, " This is your show. My back is against the wall. Please, please Lord, you have to carry me."

So, I watched miracle after miracle unfold. God sent a small army of the most unlikely helpers, you could imagine. Some for a few days, and some for a few years.

It was very difficult. Many a day I was physically and mentally exhausted. Frequent trips to the Emergency room with mom; Home Health aides round the clock; buying all the groceries for everyone; moving to a larger place to accomodate all this; managing mom's money; working with the lawyer; working the 3 jobs; trying to help my children continue their journeys towards adulthood, right after the divorce, which occurred exactly one year after Mom has the stroke.....and on and on.

But, I hung in, and so did God.

And, about 4 years later, when the state insisted my mom go into a nursing home, I became homeless.

And that, was a whole other story, of God's blessings, in very difficult circumstances.

But, through it all, I learned to trust. And, I can never be the same, again.

Everytime it seemed I would hit the very bottom, God carried me up, on eagle's wings, at least enough to catch my breathe. And, He and I got to be very good friends.

And, blessing after blessing flowed down.

And, honestly, the roller coaster ride has not stopped. But, I am an awesome witness. And, I have gotten to realize how incrediblely HUGE God is.

So, throw yourself on a free fall into the Lord's hands. You will be in for an amazing journey. And, you will never, ever be the same, again.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
            And do not lean on your own understanding.

      6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
            And He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3

And, yes, Marie, TRUST!         :dsunny:

D.

[jabcat]

 :thumbsup: D

[anti_nietzsche]

Oh God, Dandelion, you had such a heavy load to carry. I hope you will find another and better girl to marry. I speak a bit from experience, I have never loved someone so much like a girl I had loved in my youth, and it doesn't matter what happens, I don't fall in love with someone else and can only think of her. I miss her deeply and I feel like I must wait for heaven to be together with her again. She does not believe in God as it seems now. But she was so different in her youth, so kind and creative and thoughtful.

My mother is old now too, 78 years old. But she is living alone and I am sick with schizophrenia and live in a group home. We meet every two weeks and then it's much joy and I am also happy that she believes in Christ and in the salvation of all people. She is an aid to me in my family where my three sisters and their families do not believe in Jesus.

God bless you!

[rosered]

 

Amazing grace  of God  , so  very  precious ..

Hang in there A-N .!!!  you are loved .

   Amen Marie !.
Beautiful  witness to Gods glory  D . :icon_flower:


  :HeartThrob:

[sheila]

the spirit of doubt works against the gift of faith we recieve from God.and blows us about..and fights against us being firmly established and

recieving from Him.Also,we are always on sure ground putting faith in Jesus,if we man trust..men are fallable,churches too.and stumbling

  and discouragement brings us low.a Saul-Paul conversion becomes necessary at times.Pharisee/Sadducee/denominations


   Listen to My Son,in him I am well pleased........red letter words to read and walk in, prayers for more faith to hear HIM

  will not lead to disappointment,follow Him...try Him out on this matter and see if He doesn't open the floodgates of heaven

   keep seeking,keep asking..follow in His way's...He is able to cause you to put faith in and trust Him..

  a sure foundation of which you will be able to stand.

                                                    :HeartThrob:

[Dandelion]

Oh God, Dandelion, you had such a heavy load to carry. I hope you will find another and better girl to marry. I speak a bit from experience, I have never loved someone so much like a girl I had loved in my youth, and it doesn't matter what happens, I don't fall in love with someone else and can only think of her. I miss her deeply and I feel like I must wait for heaven to be together with her again. She does not believe in God as it seems now. But she was so different in her youth, so kind and creative and thoughtful.

My mother is old now too, 78 years old. But she is living alone and I am sick with schizophrenia and live in a group home. We meet every two weeks and then it's much joy and I am also happy that she believes in Christ and in the salvation of all people. She is an aid to me in my family where my three sisters and their families do not believe in Jesus.

God bless you!

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

I will pray for you to have friends and support, throughout your life, in your walk with God.

So glad you are here with us!

D.                              :dsunny: