sakeeta Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 I have all of my life heard that when people are sad, hurting, lonely and otherwise in hard and difficult times, that they turn to and turn it all over to God..and are comforted. How do they do that..and how are they comforted and the pain and loneliness lifted away? I am lonely..very lonely. I have had an extremely difficult time this past year..and although I have tried, I do not get comfort from my prayers. I am still hurting, still lonely..still sad. I am very depressed, and it doesn't seem like God is helping me the way I hear that He helps others. How does this work? I really want to know..because I really would like to have that kind of relationship with God. I just don't know or understand how it works..and what I am doing wrong! Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Try something else maybe. Pets are very good for loneliness, if at all possible. I've come to the conclusion that some people are wired for this kind of belief and others just aren't. I tried very hard to believe in that stuff for quite a while but it left me feeling completely empty. I did not expect to hear voices, see miraculous signs, in fact I went in with almost no preconceived notions except that I expected to feel something no matter how indefinable or faint. Yet, despite having the lowest expectations possible, I was still left disappointed and unfulfilled. It's natural that you go through a phase of feeling even more worthless than usual, that you are doing it wrong or that nobody and nothing cares about you, but it's not the case. It just means that you likely have to look elsewhere for meaning in your life. Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Sakeeta, for me, it's very simple. if you can't find happiness and solace "out there" then the only other place to look, is within. I am of the opinion that ultimately, whatever faith you follow, it's all orchestrated within our own minds and hearts. Even those who have found a deep and abiding Love and Peace with God, made a voluntry (inner) decision that made them go that way. The most imortant person in your life, that will be with you til the end of your days, and will always put your interests, well-being and happiness first - is you. Start with that. Link to post Share on other sites
Love Hurts Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Sakeeta, The Lord moves in His time; sometimes quickly sometimes slowly. Allow yourself time to heal and grow in Him, allow Him time to work in you and for you. A relationship with Jesus comes through reading His word and through prayer. Prayer is a direct line to Him. Have faith through the storms of life that He is moving in your life. As its obvious to me through your words you are searching for more of Him… its also obvious to me... He knows that. I recommend you get into a Christian Bible Study, the more you learn the more you grow in Him. At turning points in our lives we are left to ourselves for good reason in Him. To grow in Him, for a closer walk with Him. Patience and perseverance is what you need most during this time. Keep your focus on the Lord, pray for others... reach out and advise or assist others in anyway possible… the less we think of ourselves…. The more emotionally stable we are. Personally I’ve found when my life has been traumatized, I took that time and focused on others; there is a world of hurting people and even a word of encouragement can feel as though a mountain has been moved in anothers life. Be inspired.. “Hebrews 11” is filled with the Saints of old that walked by faith. God Bless Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 I've come to the conclusion that some people are wired for this kind of belief and others just aren't. there's a lot of truth to this, I'm thinking, because I can talk til I'm blue in the faith about God and his love for all creation, but unless someone has that "faith receptor," I speak nonsense. Plainly said, faith is a gift from God, revealed in his own time. I really would like to have that kind of relationship with God. as cheesy as it may sound, you must open yourself up to him. Pray, meditate, contemplate, converse ... basically center yourself in him. The Bible is a good start – a brief study of the lives of the saints is another good resource, because you see that some of these folks changed their way of thinking and living to find a relationship with God. Anne Rice recently published a book about her faith journey, and her two books about Christ's life show that. In fact, the first book has a section in the back about her journey, really quite a beautiful witness. talk to others IRL who model the strong faith you would like to have for yourself – and be wary of someone who insists that their way is the ONLY way for you to meet God, that's simply proselytization. My thought is that God doesn't really look at it as Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Muslim or any other faith expression, but simply people looking to be in a loving relationship with him. Link to post Share on other sites
Explorer Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I have all of my life heard that when people are sad, hurting, lonely and otherwise in hard and difficult times, that they turn to and turn it all over to God..and are comforted. If life was pure love and happiness, we would have no reason to seek religion. There's a purpose for everything. Link to post Share on other sites
Lovelybird Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Love Hurts, so glad to see you here and sakeeta, I am glad you are seeking God. Head knowledge of God is very different from knowing God intimately. I read from somewhere a certain pastor felt burned out, then he talked to a nun, that nun told him "you need a personal relationship with God" that hinted that this pastor had head knowledge of God but didn't have intimate relationship with God, and he felt the need deepen his relationship with Savior. Presence of God indeed can dispel all darkness, give us peace and love. But how? Has you been born again? If you are born again spiritually, like Lord Jesus said, "you have to be born again to enter kingdom of heaven", also when you are born again, Holy Spirit will stay with you all the time, you can approach God at any time . If you want God in your life, all you need to do is to invite Him to enter your heart in Jesus's name, and willingly to submit yourself to Him totally, and repent your sins A certain pastor shared his experience: just silently wait on God until you feel God's presence. I also agree with Love Hurts, that study Bible can help us to know God. One thing I tell you here, God is the best that can happen in my life. I experienced real life like Jesus Lord said. And we need perseverance. There were tough times for me even I was born again, it is a process for me to change. You know, Bible teaches us to transform our mind to Lord's mind, that don't happen in one day. As we continue to grow, continue to transform our mind, we are going to reap good fruits. Sometimes God's help for us is in His words, such as HE teaches us some principles, if we obey these, then we make wise decisions, and so reap good results. I will pray you soon will discover God's amazing love and grace Link to post Share on other sites
JGT Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 It's a placebo effect. If you have an unwavering spiritual belief the more likely it is that you will feel comforted in when "you give it all to god". I think the best way to show this is through my own religious evolution. Here is a quick timeline: Child/adolescent = unwavering belief in Jesus the Christ (distant relative to Joe the Plummer). In times of fear or doubt I turned them to him and I felt better. Mid to Late Teens = starting to doubt my beliefs. I try to still give them to god but it just doesn't seem to work anymore. Early twenties = Atheism. Nothing makes sense, Chaos theory is in effect, roll with the punches. Mid twenties = Meism. I create myself in my own image. I have an internal locus of control, all my problems are fixed by me. You probably fall somewhere between the two extreme, you have to decide where exactly you fall on between the two poles and where you want your spiritual journey to take you. If you feel more comfort from an external force, by all means look towards religion. If you find it isnt your cup of tea, look within yourself. Link to post Share on other sites
JGT Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Quankanne I like your sig. If that's winter in Hell, I'm moving there. Here in Michigan that's the forecast in mid to late Novemember and it only gets worse from there. Haha. Link to post Share on other sites
Lovelybird Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Oh, I should've mention, there are many challenges along the way, the first challenge of your faith in God is if you can resist other's ridicules, and non-understandings, only strong ones can pass that Lord Jesus said "unless you become like children that humble, you cannot enter kingdom of heaven" Link to post Share on other sites
Lovelybird Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Ok, this paragraph is so exciting, I couldn't help sharing it here: Follow the cycle of intimacy. Knowing God is a process that can no more be exhausted than the exploration of the universe. There is always another blazing aspect to discover in God. John 14:21 describes the stages in the cycle: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (niv). Stage one: if we love God, we obey his commands. Stage two: if we obey his commands, he reveals himself to us. Stage three: when he reveals himself to us, we know him better and love him more. Then the cycle repeats itself, with our love and knowledge of God growing ever deeper and stronger. Unless accompanied by obedience, prayer and Bible reading cannot bring intimacy. At one point in their history, the Israelites rigorously practiced spiritual disciplines. They were fasting, worshiping in the Temple, seeking the Lord. But God told them, in Isaiah 58, that he had another kind of fasting in mind. They needed to follow the spiritual discipline of obedience: to stop oppressing their workers, to feed the hungry and set prisoners free. God promised to come near those who obeyed him. Of course, no one obeys perfectly, but deliberate, ongoing disobedience breaks the cycle of intimacy as surely as eating the apple sent Adam and Eve packing from the Garden of Eden. Shelley, Marshall: Deepening Your Ministry Through Prayer and Personal Growth : 30 Strategies to Transform Your Ministry. 1st ed. Nashville, Tenn. : Moorings, 1996 (Library of Christian Leadership), S. 7 Link to post Share on other sites
ed-205 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Sakeeta, I can't add much to the very sound advice that the others here have already given to you. All I want to say is that sometimes, (I believe) God expects us to solve our own problems, that's how we grow in mind and sprirt. Have faith that he would not put you in a situation that you cannot handle, and abandon you there. Link to post Share on other sites
Love Hurts Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Thank you lovelybird I count it a privy to be able to join in. I was listening to a powerful message on prayer ‘’The Purpose of Prayer ~ 1 of 20 ~ Dr. Myles Munroe’’ on you tube. I highly recommend it as we may not realize how powerful prayer is and it sheds light on unanswered prayer. One key factor; once saved and you pray… [note; God hears the prayers of the unsaved or none could be saved] it’s the length of time that we pray. Ex;. If I pray two minutes a day… I can expect my prayers to be on hold… as appose to the soul that prays 3 hours per day or stays up all night consulting God. Then theres the faith factor; Jesus spoke and and or speaks and believes His word will not return void. God has faith in His own word, we need to have faith in His word as we pray, believe and it will be unless we ask a miss[ James 4:3]... it will be. Another key to unanswered prayer is what are we doing to the body? Fornication is a prayer hindrance. Glorify God in Your Body 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats [1] for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Dr. Myles Munroe breaks this down and explains it well… check it out. God Bless Link to post Share on other sites
Lovelybird Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Love hurts, I love Myles Munroe’ messages, I think he is very funny, yet very insightful you are so right. God is love, but HE is also holy and justice. What HE wants from us is to become more like Lord. HE doesn't want us to stay same or stay in old, but transform to new creature, new level intimacy with God. Yes, HE loved us even when we were sinning against Him, but Love of God brought us to repent, and again love of God makes us change Link to post Share on other sites
LucreziaBorgia Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 ... it doesn't seem like God is helping me the way I hear that He helps others. How does this work? I really want to know..because I really would like to have that kind of relationship with God. I just don't know or understand how it works..and what I am doing wrong! I would wager the only thing that could be said to be 'wrong' is that you are seeking comfort in other people's perceptions of what God is, rather than looking within and finding it for yourself. G_d won't help you like he helps others. G_d will help you in a way that best helps you. You'll have to do some searching inside yourself at what you think G_d is to you, and what you want from a relationship with G_d. It may be that you get peace and solace from something other than what you would expect. Some people find that looking for G_d in the Bible or in church doesn't work for them, so they find G_d in other things: in nature, in love between people, inside their own hearts. When you reach your happy medium, you'll know it. That feeling of loneliness will pass - not because you picked up a book but because you found what you needed in your heart and mind. Once you find it inside yourself, you'll recognize it in everything else. I think the key is to find your spirituality before you take on religion. Link to post Share on other sites
Love Hurts Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Love hurts, I love Myles Munroe’ messages, I think he is very funny, yet very insightful you are so right. God is love, but HE is also holy and justice. What HE wants from us is to become more like Lord. HE doesn't want us to stay same or stay in old, but transform to new creature, new level intimacy with God. Yes, HE loved us even when we were sinning against Him, but Love of God brought us to repent, and again love of God makes us change Great post Lovelybird, I was just looking at a lump of ice-cream… [you know lots of people like ice cream]...and considered to stay frozen is not to do much. Yes God wants us to change. We can stay a frozen lump and not touch many on the surface or we can melt in His love and cover more surface penetrating more hearts with His word. Saved we will grow and cover more territory. Unsaved we need not change who we are before coming to the Lord … just come as you are… He will change us with His sweet love. How Sweet He Is. God Bless Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I would wager the only thing that could be said to be 'wrong' is that you are seeking comfort in other people's perceptions of what God is, rather than looking within and finding it for yourself. G_d won't help you like he helps others. G_d will help you in a way that best helps you... What's with the G_d? Why write it like that? Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
ed-205 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Not real sure about it myself, D, but I think some folks feel that by actually mentioning "God" in anything but prayer they are taking his name in vain, which is in direct violation of one of the 10 commandments. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean-Blue Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I've come to the conclusion that some people are wired for this kind of belief and others just aren't. there's a lot of truth to this, I'm thinking, because I can talk til I'm blue in the faith about God and his love for all creation, but unless someone has that "faith receptor," I speak nonsense. Plainly said, faith is a gift from God, revealed in his own time. I really would like to have that kind of relationship with God. as cheesy as it may sound, you must open yourself up to him. Pray, meditate, contemplate, converse ... basically center yourself in him. The Bible is a good start – a brief study of the lives of the saints is another good resource, because you see that some of these folks changed their way of thinking and living to find a relationship with God. Anne Rice recently published a book about her faith journey, and her two books about Christ's life show that. In fact, the first book has a section in the back about her journey, really quite a beautiful witness. talk to others IRL who model the strong faith you would like to have for yourself – and be wary of someone who insists that their way is the ONLY way for you to meet God, that's simply proselytization. My thought is that God doesn't really look at it as Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Muslim or any other faith expression, but simply people looking to be in a loving relationship with him. quankanne, this was well said! Link to post Share on other sites
LucreziaBorgia Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 What's with the G_d? Why write it like that? Cheers, D. Habit, mainly. Jewish relatives, and such. Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Okay, I'll play along. Why do they do it? Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
LucreziaBorgia Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Okay, I'll play along. Why do they do it? Cheers, D. Out of respect and reverence. And habit. It is what is taught. Link to post Share on other sites
Enema Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 If life was pure love and happiness, we would have no reason to seek religion. There's a purpose for everything. Fixed: If life was pure love and happiness, we wouldn't have created religion. There's a reason for everything. Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I'll be left to ponder the connection between reverence and omitting the 'o' from the word 'God'. Does God dislike vowels? Hmm, on second thoughs I probably don't want to know. Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
Moose Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I'll be left to ponder the connection between reverence and omitting the 'o' from the word 'God'. Does God dislike vowels? Hmm, on second thoughs I probably don't want to know. Cheers, D.Can't you just respect what others choose to do? I bet you don't like jelly mixed in with your peanut butter either do you? Sakeeta, You MUST ask Christ into your heart. His Holy Spirit is His comforter. Then you'll find the Peace you so seek. With Love, Moose Link to post Share on other sites
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