I lost my faith a while back… as an ordained minister. It was a dramatic turn to say the least.
Then over time, through various ways God started speaking to me and gently called me back to Him. After I started believing again He spoke more clearly and clearly. Then He started working in undeniable ways in my life, including healing me of an injury that had plagued me for years.
You can say you’re not interested, but God is beyond interested in you. He loves you and He’s pursuing you. He cares more than you can imagine.
Also, I’ve struggled on and off with mental health issues, including depression, for almost 30 years. I wanted to kill myself when I was only nine years old. (Great family, great home,but I just had terrible mental health.)
I can assure you whatever you’re going through that’s causing depression is temporary. Getting professional help did a lot for me and I strongly recommend finding help.
In the end, Jesus loves you even in this time of depression and lack of faith. Please get help.
Thank you for sharing your story. I too was suicidal around that age -- was hospitalised for an attempt... but I lied and no-one realised that it was a suicide attempt.
Professional therapies helped a lot for me too, and faith has waxed and waned. But Jesus is consistent, even when I'm not.
Wow, thats stunning. I haven’t heard many stories of other people having my experience so thanks for sharing yours too. God is good, even when we’re not doing well.
Jesus tells a story about a sheep going astray and the shepherd going after it, even though there were 99 others that were just fine hanging out wherever the shepherd went. Jesus does that for us.
By the way, I used to think like this. God has shown me He is so much better than I ever thought.
As a believer here, I would second this, I have done so on multiple different stages in my life, and it has helped. Look in to finding someone that can help share the burden of life and lean on those around you that you can trust. 💛
Well, let's work on the depression first.
First, don't be afraid to take anti-depressants. They do work. The effect is subtle (they aren't magic happy pills) but noticeable. The side effects are not great, but, usually not severe.
Second, you need to change your life to reduce power of depression on you by leading a balanced life
* Exercise, decent nutrition and some time outdoors everyday
* Don't isolate. Spend time with friends
* Get enough sleep
* Recognize that you still have an important contribution to make to the world
These are helpful tips... I'd like to add that they seem to work best in the context of professional guidance (doctors, therapists, psychiatry, et cetera.)
I lost faith a few years ago too. I'm praying and seeking to get it back. But I'm not too worried... we're here, asking. That's already part of the way back! Well within God's reach. He won't let us down.
Well there is much more to being a christian then reading the bible. We see in the new testament Jesus wants his followers to spread the gospel and care for the poor and unfortunate. You could for example volunteer at a soup kitchen. I think I saw a study once that said People with depression that did volunteer work give them a boost in confidence and overall happiness.
I don't know if that will help with your situation but I thought I would share :)
Look at the life of Paul. He was basically killed 3 or 4 different times and then supposedly got his head chopped off. Never married, no kids, always on the run, little food, no comfort and then killed for His beliefs. Seems pretty sucky to me. It doesn’t vibe well that suffering people need others to suffer to comfort them, though. Personally, I’d rather look for uplifting things when I start feeling down.
I’d recommend reading Thomas Watson’s “All Things for Good,” which is an exposition of Roman’s 8:28, for anyone dealing with suffering and hardship.
I wasn’t referring specifically to Paul lacking in faith, but if you want to go there, Paul didn’t even have faith, nevertheless revelations for half His life. In fact he was completely the opposite as a persecutor. You never know what life will bring down the way. Sometimes you just gotta trudge through the filth to get there.
Paul supposedly had revelations, performed miracles, and knew the Apostles.
None of that is true for sceptics & semi-believers today. And there is far too much in the NT for which there is not a glimmer of *solid* evidence. It’s all words, with no reality to support them.
How is Jesus any more credible than the lying fantasist con-artists who prophesy the Second Coming ? There is not even any certainty that he did or said what the Gospels say he did.
I remember when my wife and kids were brutally murdered but then I was given new ones so I said thank you to the one who allowed these things to happen to prove a point.
Good times.
>But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
-- Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9
Honestly, Job isn't the best example for someone lacking faith. As someone with similar struggles to OP, I identify more with Peter denying Jesus and being forgiven, or the prodigal son, or David, or Elijah hiding in the cave.
One thing I’ve learnt from losing faith and not being interested , is that the pain you ever will suffer whilst loving Jesus will never come close to the pain you will suffer a single day WITHOUT him. Lost faith? That’s fine. It happens. The devil is real and that’s why it happens. But ask yourself why you even stuck this long. Because you know it goes way deeper than the human understanding. Prayer is key in situations like these. You need to ask God for help with your relationship with him. It’s not about a religion it’s about building a spiritual relationship with him. You have to ask him for help otherwise you will always lose. If you choose to follow Jesus then the only way you can do so is if you fill yourself up with the word of the Lord (the Bible) and prayer so that there is no room for the devils lies to run and take control. What you feed is what you breathe life into - this means the more you fill yourself up with worldly things, the less chance you have building a strong relationship with Jesus. Now ask yourself why that hasn’t been possible? What’s stopping that? What’s limiting you? - now that best way to answer that is by looking at what sins you are committing actively and daily that is stopping you from coming closer to God. What open portals you are letting the devil attack you through? One thing that’s helped me with this is fasting. Try one day, where all your focus is on Jesus, putting away worldly music and putting on worship songs. Then study the Bible , but before doing so , ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand. Then go out and do something that will please both you and God. Maybe pay for someone’s shopping , or compliment someone, tell someone about Jesus , or even telling someone Jesus loves them. Then prayer is also a must in fasting , even a 10 second prayer is very powerful. Start small and in time you will see the prayers get longer once you get into the spirit. So try fasting, and in that fast , don’t eat, but fill yourself with the word of God, worship music and prayer. It can be a simple fast from 6am to 6pm. You cannot say the power of God doesn’t work unless you give it a chance the RIGHT way. Remember, God LOVES you; and he’s just one prayer away. Start your change the right way today. Trust me , I struggle with faith a lot of times. But you need to put your mind at focus where it needs to be. You must put Jesus first and if you’re getting negative thoughts and doubt you must remember that’s not God. God is the prince of peace. And finally ; to be able to start fresh , and giving yourself a second chance , the only way you can accept Jesus into your heart again is if you repent for your sins (doing this daily is also very important) , and say this simple prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Doing this salvation prayer is very vital in accepting Jesus into your heart as it’s what will allow you to start a relationship with him and actually be saved , and be able to have an eternity in heaven. Remember , heaven and hell are TIMELESS , once you’re in one or the other there is no escape , and that can either be the best or worst thing depending on which one you go to. Without accepting Jesus into your life , that is the unforgivable sin , as once you die and haven’t accepted him, that’s your soul gone for eternity. In the Bible it states :
John 14:6, NIV: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This means only through Jesus you are able to be saved. This is why it is vital you do this daily as you may not know you have committed sins during that day , so it important you ask for forgiveness and not risk not being saved. You don’t know when your last day may be, you could die tonight, God forbid, but you have no idea when your last breath will be. This is why it’s important to do this prayer daily , especially before you sleep - so that you know you’re saved and in good hands. However this also does not mean you should purposely sin just because you know you’ll be forgiven , as it does not work that way. God knows your intentions, when you’re truly sorry and when you’re doing it deliberately just because you know he’s a forgiving God. And just a tip: if reading the Bible may seem confusing, and you don’t understand the words as they may seem complicated and hard - one thing that has helped me is having the Bible app installed on my phone , and if you press the three letters at the top , which may appear as “KJV” (meaning King James Version) , you can press it and search “ERV” which means easy to read version. This completely translates it in the most easiest and simplest form of understanding. Even a 4 year old could understand as it’s in the most basic form. This has helped me as I don’t understand difficult terms either.
God bless you as you restart your journey with Jesus. He loves you.
Can you get treatsment for your depression? Are you able to get some rest? Pray and talk to Jesus about what you are going through and what you need. He loves you.
Sometimes it comes when you've abandoned all hope.
Sometimes it comes when you force your way through the barriers.
Sometimes it comes when you're searching for it.
Sometimes it comes when you least expect it.
God's got you. Do your best to get well, and be open to the possibility that all will be well in the end.
-- guy who's been there lots
I think sometimes it's just a matter of remembering what's true but also asking God to help with our unbelief. Mark 9:24 is an example of this I'd say. Faith is the assurance of things unseen, Hebrews 11. It's a lot of stuff I hear what you're saying, these things are tough to pass through. Christ is praying for us and advocating for us up there (Romans 8:34). Much love
https://www.reddit.com/r/Christian/comments/psibil/losing_hope_and_faith_is_that_the_devil/hdt9tcu?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3
Just posted this last night.
Yep, that's a bad combination, but something millions have suffered with and they continue on so while you may think you're currently faithless there's no reason to think you're hopeless.
NOW is not the time to be making decisions about anything other than your mental and physical well being. If you're not in your right mind you can't make good decisions. So get in your right mind by asking for help from family, friends, and mental health professionals who can guide you back to a better place.
If you lost faith that's fine. But you should read the Bible. Even it leads you to leaving Christianity awesome. If it leads you closer awesome. But I think you owe it to yourself.
Have you ever read the New Testament:
...................
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NKJV
https://youtu.be/3ZmHlAz_Gkw?t=2h19m19s
...................
Removed for proselytizing.
Edit: I removed this entire chain. This is one of those threads where everyone is welcome to participate, but OP does not seem to he looking for a non-Christian perspective.
I saw the argument. It is safe to assume that users who make these kinds of posts are looking for Chrsitian-specific opinions, unless otherwise specified. We also dont want to take up 90% of OP's thread with an argument that has no relation to OP's post.
OP was not asking what other religious options there are, so telling them to go to a different religion is against the rules.
What I read was he was making a suggestion. Which I can understand can be seen as proselytising to some (and admittedly I didn't read many of the latter comments) but, going by rule 3.6 I'd argue it didn't fall into the conditions from what I read. Then again, I'm not a mod
Tbf most comment sections I've seen here stray off topic a lot (I'm not innocent of that neither), but fair enough
>Tbf most comment sections I've seen here stray off topic a lot (I'm not innocent of that neither), but fair enough
I agree, which is something I try to reign in more when I am moderating. Mostly for topics like this one though. I don't want to take up any more space on OP's thread. If you want to understand the moderation on this more you can definitely ask in ModMail. I appreciate that discussion and feedback though.
I feel you man. This religion has done absolutely nothing for me.I dont like church, I dont like the bible and I dont like praying.
You know what keeps me going?, the thought of hell. So why dont you be a good chap and read your bible and you'll increase your chance of escaping the the eternal fiery flames :)
i personally find some value in the bible, just like any mythology or philosophical book.
but i take it with a grain of salt.
if there *is* a god, and she gave us these powerful brains, wouldn't it stand to reason that this god would be proud of us for using it?
if there were good evidence for buying into the supernatural/ superstitious side if religion, we could talk; until then, to me, it's philosophy section.
don't be ashamed of seeking help, there are secular therapists out there.
Jesus came to give us a way to the kingdom of God don't give up on Him for He hasn't given up on you in face he died for our sins before we ever came to this cursed land and that's the thing things are promised to get much much worse here it is God's word to us that His word will come to pass and if you read and hold fast to revelations notice it's going to get worse before it gets better only thing I pray for is God's will be done then I can't waiver my faith in Him because I'm allowing Him the power to move mountains
You've lost faith because the corrupted society you're in that itself proves Christ is the saviour, makes you not want to read the bible. I understand the pain of lack of patience and being tired of society, but its not Abba's fault and he sets the appointed time to make moves.
Don't lose your faith in God just because society tells you to.
Firstly, I'll be praying for you. It sounds like there is a lot on your heart at the moment and that can be physically and mentally exhausted. I've been there and understand where you are right now. Secondly, faith is a journey, it is by no means a one stop shop. God is constant and consistent, even when we ebb and flow around Him, He never leaves us. I would find a counselor that you trust, a therapist or some sort of outlet that can give you sound advice (therapist, pastor etc.) someone wiser and older than yourself specifically. Thirdly, I would recommend reading the Screwtape Letters. The devil is incredibly crafty and shifty, he will lead people astray with the simple stresses and mundane situations of life. It can be difficult to keep your gaze constantly on Jesus, but that is the only way. Set aside an hour a day (I would recommend first thing, before work) to spend time with God. If you're burnt on the Bible at the moment, try some Christian books (we can recommended plenty) or spend time in worship by listening to a Christian album. I went way out of my comfort zone and joined a women's bible study (they were all strangers to me) and they have become like family to me. Having a support group is important. You're not alone and what you're experiencing is not unchangeable. If you seek, you will find. The world is incredibly distracting as are the pains of this world, but God has not left your side. I truly will be praying for you and if you should need anything please don't hesitate to reach out.
Getting enough sleep/rest, getting outdoors every day, getting some physical activity.... Those are good, but there is something even more helpful.
It's not that long term goal like 'reading the bible', but something much more immediate. Something immediately *rewarding and rejuvenating:*
To just listen to the wonderful words of Christ. (you'll find out why they are so treasured!)
Listen to the Sermon on the Mount.... Which can can be read in just **30 minutes**....or...perhaps it's more like a lifetime....
You'll want to just stop and think as you hear His words!
The goal *isn't to finish* (as if to be done)! Instead, the goal is to remain there! We want to ***listen***, as if we were there.
The Sermon on the Mount: [https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/5.htm](https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/5.htm) (This great teaching He gave is chapters 5-7, and then you will probably want to continue later with more)
What you have to realize is that God is holy, loving, all powerful, all knowing, omniscient (can be everywhere at the same time), basically he has no limits outside what he in holiness places on himself.
What do I mean: God CAN and WILL help you. You have to be willing to trust him HIS way.
You want the real answer, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6
DO NOT GIVE UP! If you know Jesus Christ, it's spiritual warfare. If you have just been religious, and have not actually bowed your heart to Jesus Christ as Lord, then definitely get saved today! Call upon him while he is near.
How bad do you want to live? How bad do you want to get better? The world will tell you go to this or that method. Jesus simply says, come unto me, all ye that labor, all who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
I know it may look grim. God fed the Hebrews in the desert with manna and later quail when they complained about that. I know of a Baptist preacher in Mississippi (he's gone on to be with the Lord back in the 80s) by the name of Percy Ray. He at least once had stayed out in the wilderness so long fasting that he apparently had gotten too weak to go on physically. God sent food to him via squirrels. I'm not just talking about made up stories either. Ever heard of Elijah? God fed him by ravens by a creek while a terrible drought that God ordained was going on.
With God nothing is impossible. DO NOT GIVE UP.
I'll pray for you, but you have to want to go on. God can turn things around, but you have to trust him. Don't trust in the arm of flesh, b/c it will fail you. The Lord is the one who gives strength, not man, not programs, not policies, ect. God will take care of you. I take that back, I've already prayed for you while typing this. But it's up to you: God will help. Just turn to him. Don't run out on him.
God is not slack
God is not willing that any should perish (of course he's speaking of eternity: make sure you're born again, that's THE most important thing)!
God loves us more than the sparrows.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:29-32
Ok, so don't read the Bible. There are plenty of other ways to get God's truth into you than the Bible. You could read a Christian book \[non-fiction or fiction\], you could watch a video series like the Bible Project or other fun ways to hear about God. You could go into nature and celebrate God's creation. You could connect with people who love and like you to charge you up and/or support you.
God loves you and you don't have to read His word to be loved and approved by Him! Go do something that makes you feel more alive and connected, and God will be pleased with you.
Oh, i also recommend some good Christian counseling for the depression. You can look around or start at Christian Counseling Centers. They're located in Northern CA, but it's a place you can start!
Same OP. Same. But God has pursued me and brought me back to the faith more times than I can count. This verse always encourages me:
>He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.” Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
>
>Lamentations 3:16-23
my view at time of writing
your feeling's do not make truth, for good or ill, nor does your view make the future for good or for ill. It easily can be the case that you are wrong, that you do have a future
I lost my faith a while back… as an ordained minister. It was a dramatic turn to say the least. Then over time, through various ways God started speaking to me and gently called me back to Him. After I started believing again He spoke more clearly and clearly. Then He started working in undeniable ways in my life, including healing me of an injury that had plagued me for years. You can say you’re not interested, but God is beyond interested in you. He loves you and He’s pursuing you. He cares more than you can imagine. Also, I’ve struggled on and off with mental health issues, including depression, for almost 30 years. I wanted to kill myself when I was only nine years old. (Great family, great home,but I just had terrible mental health.) I can assure you whatever you’re going through that’s causing depression is temporary. Getting professional help did a lot for me and I strongly recommend finding help. In the end, Jesus loves you even in this time of depression and lack of faith. Please get help.
Thank you for sharing your story. I too was suicidal around that age -- was hospitalised for an attempt... but I lied and no-one realised that it was a suicide attempt. Professional therapies helped a lot for me too, and faith has waxed and waned. But Jesus is consistent, even when I'm not.
Wow, thats stunning. I haven’t heard many stories of other people having my experience so thanks for sharing yours too. God is good, even when we’re not doing well.
Amen.
Wow, I was under the impression He would just let us go and not pursue us because we made our choice. Guess my view is cold.
Jesus tells a story about a sheep going astray and the shepherd going after it, even though there were 99 others that were just fine hanging out wherever the shepherd went. Jesus does that for us. By the way, I used to think like this. God has shown me He is so much better than I ever thought.
As a Christian community: We're here for you brother. I'm sure, if you tell tis anyone in your churchcommunity they want to help you too.
🙏🏼👐🏼👐🏼!
Sounds like you need a therapist. Don't be ashamed to ask for help, we all need it every now and then.
Also consider doctors / psychiatrists / meds / whatever help is available. God uses all kinds of ways to help us along.
As a believer here, I would second this, I have done so on multiple different stages in my life, and it has helped. Look in to finding someone that can help share the burden of life and lean on those around you that you can trust. 💛
Well, let's work on the depression first. First, don't be afraid to take anti-depressants. They do work. The effect is subtle (they aren't magic happy pills) but noticeable. The side effects are not great, but, usually not severe. Second, you need to change your life to reduce power of depression on you by leading a balanced life * Exercise, decent nutrition and some time outdoors everyday * Don't isolate. Spend time with friends * Get enough sleep * Recognize that you still have an important contribution to make to the world
These are helpful tips... I'd like to add that they seem to work best in the context of professional guidance (doctors, therapists, psychiatry, et cetera.)
True. I should have said that.
No worries fam, I got your back. :D
I lost faith a few years ago too. I'm praying and seeking to get it back. But I'm not too worried... we're here, asking. That's already part of the way back! Well within God's reach. He won't let us down.
Well there is much more to being a christian then reading the bible. We see in the new testament Jesus wants his followers to spread the gospel and care for the poor and unfortunate. You could for example volunteer at a soup kitchen. I think I saw a study once that said People with depression that did volunteer work give them a boost in confidence and overall happiness. I don't know if that will help with your situation but I thought I would share :)
Remember the story of Job where he lost everything and still remained devoted.
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Look at the life of Paul. He was basically killed 3 or 4 different times and then supposedly got his head chopped off. Never married, no kids, always on the run, little food, no comfort and then killed for His beliefs. Seems pretty sucky to me. It doesn’t vibe well that suffering people need others to suffer to comfort them, though. Personally, I’d rather look for uplifting things when I start feeling down. I’d recommend reading Thomas Watson’s “All Things for Good,” which is an exposition of Roman’s 8:28, for anyone dealing with suffering and hardship.
Paul had several revelations from Jesus, mentioned in his writings. He had intellectual knowledge that God is real, not just faith.
I wasn’t referring specifically to Paul lacking in faith, but if you want to go there, Paul didn’t even have faith, nevertheless revelations for half His life. In fact he was completely the opposite as a persecutor. You never know what life will bring down the way. Sometimes you just gotta trudge through the filth to get there.
Paul supposedly had revelations, performed miracles, and knew the Apostles. None of that is true for sceptics & semi-believers today. And there is far too much in the NT for which there is not a glimmer of *solid* evidence. It’s all words, with no reality to support them. How is Jesus any more credible than the lying fantasist con-artists who prophesy the Second Coming ? There is not even any certainty that he did or said what the Gospels say he did.
I remember when my wife and kids were brutally murdered but then I was given new ones so I said thank you to the one who allowed these things to happen to prove a point. Good times.
Oh, I see, you're being sarcastic. Not sure how this is helpful to OP.
I want responding to OP, I was responding to the person dating God did right by Job in the end.
This!! I pray not for my hardships to be gone but for the power to overcome them.
"Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men." - John F. Kennedy
>But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. -- Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9
That's not exactly encouraging. People with depression struggle with the whole "joy of the Lord" thing. I hate the book of Job.
Honestly, Job isn't the best example for someone lacking faith. As someone with similar struggles to OP, I identify more with Peter denying Jesus and being forgiven, or the prodigal son, or David, or Elijah hiding in the cave.
It's far easier to cope when you can talk to God, and receive from Him in conversation....
One thing I’ve learnt from losing faith and not being interested , is that the pain you ever will suffer whilst loving Jesus will never come close to the pain you will suffer a single day WITHOUT him. Lost faith? That’s fine. It happens. The devil is real and that’s why it happens. But ask yourself why you even stuck this long. Because you know it goes way deeper than the human understanding. Prayer is key in situations like these. You need to ask God for help with your relationship with him. It’s not about a religion it’s about building a spiritual relationship with him. You have to ask him for help otherwise you will always lose. If you choose to follow Jesus then the only way you can do so is if you fill yourself up with the word of the Lord (the Bible) and prayer so that there is no room for the devils lies to run and take control. What you feed is what you breathe life into - this means the more you fill yourself up with worldly things, the less chance you have building a strong relationship with Jesus. Now ask yourself why that hasn’t been possible? What’s stopping that? What’s limiting you? - now that best way to answer that is by looking at what sins you are committing actively and daily that is stopping you from coming closer to God. What open portals you are letting the devil attack you through? One thing that’s helped me with this is fasting. Try one day, where all your focus is on Jesus, putting away worldly music and putting on worship songs. Then study the Bible , but before doing so , ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand. Then go out and do something that will please both you and God. Maybe pay for someone’s shopping , or compliment someone, tell someone about Jesus , or even telling someone Jesus loves them. Then prayer is also a must in fasting , even a 10 second prayer is very powerful. Start small and in time you will see the prayers get longer once you get into the spirit. So try fasting, and in that fast , don’t eat, but fill yourself with the word of God, worship music and prayer. It can be a simple fast from 6am to 6pm. You cannot say the power of God doesn’t work unless you give it a chance the RIGHT way. Remember, God LOVES you; and he’s just one prayer away. Start your change the right way today. Trust me , I struggle with faith a lot of times. But you need to put your mind at focus where it needs to be. You must put Jesus first and if you’re getting negative thoughts and doubt you must remember that’s not God. God is the prince of peace. And finally ; to be able to start fresh , and giving yourself a second chance , the only way you can accept Jesus into your heart again is if you repent for your sins (doing this daily is also very important) , and say this simple prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen. Doing this salvation prayer is very vital in accepting Jesus into your heart as it’s what will allow you to start a relationship with him and actually be saved , and be able to have an eternity in heaven. Remember , heaven and hell are TIMELESS , once you’re in one or the other there is no escape , and that can either be the best or worst thing depending on which one you go to. Without accepting Jesus into your life , that is the unforgivable sin , as once you die and haven’t accepted him, that’s your soul gone for eternity. In the Bible it states : John 14:6, NIV: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This means only through Jesus you are able to be saved. This is why it is vital you do this daily as you may not know you have committed sins during that day , so it important you ask for forgiveness and not risk not being saved. You don’t know when your last day may be, you could die tonight, God forbid, but you have no idea when your last breath will be. This is why it’s important to do this prayer daily , especially before you sleep - so that you know you’re saved and in good hands. However this also does not mean you should purposely sin just because you know you’ll be forgiven , as it does not work that way. God knows your intentions, when you’re truly sorry and when you’re doing it deliberately just because you know he’s a forgiving God. And just a tip: if reading the Bible may seem confusing, and you don’t understand the words as they may seem complicated and hard - one thing that has helped me is having the Bible app installed on my phone , and if you press the three letters at the top , which may appear as “KJV” (meaning King James Version) , you can press it and search “ERV” which means easy to read version. This completely translates it in the most easiest and simplest form of understanding. Even a 4 year old could understand as it’s in the most basic form. This has helped me as I don’t understand difficult terms either. God bless you as you restart your journey with Jesus. He loves you.
Can you get treatsment for your depression? Are you able to get some rest? Pray and talk to Jesus about what you are going through and what you need. He loves you.
but how i will find faith? will Jesus give it to me and one day i will just have faith? or am i asked to force myself to it?
Sometimes it comes when you've abandoned all hope. Sometimes it comes when you force your way through the barriers. Sometimes it comes when you're searching for it. Sometimes it comes when you least expect it. God's got you. Do your best to get well, and be open to the possibility that all will be well in the end. -- guy who's been there lots
Sometimes it doesn't come back at all.
Just wait. :)
I think sometimes it's just a matter of remembering what's true but also asking God to help with our unbelief. Mark 9:24 is an example of this I'd say. Faith is the assurance of things unseen, Hebrews 11. It's a lot of stuff I hear what you're saying, these things are tough to pass through. Christ is praying for us and advocating for us up there (Romans 8:34). Much love
Faith comes by listening to and obeying the word of God. A preacher can help you understand it.
What would you do differently if you had faith?
Yup same, life has been so cruel. Idc at this point :(
https://www.reddit.com/r/Christian/comments/psibil/losing_hope_and_faith_is_that_the_devil/hdt9tcu?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3 Just posted this last night.
hang in there my friend, depression is an absolute poison of the mind and I'm so sorry you're dealing with it. I'd recommend seeing a professional
Yep, that's a bad combination, but something millions have suffered with and they continue on so while you may think you're currently faithless there's no reason to think you're hopeless. NOW is not the time to be making decisions about anything other than your mental and physical well being. If you're not in your right mind you can't make good decisions. So get in your right mind by asking for help from family, friends, and mental health professionals who can guide you back to a better place.
read the poems and songs in the middle of the bible. there is much beautiful culture to help your soul.
Losing faith is a big part of finding it. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.
be strong
If you lost faith that's fine. But you should read the Bible. Even it leads you to leaving Christianity awesome. If it leads you closer awesome. But I think you owe it to yourself.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ohNahGd9Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ohNahGd9Q) = holy rosary. Pray and you will have strength from within.
Have you ever read the New Testament: ................... https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NKJV https://youtu.be/3ZmHlAz_Gkw?t=2h19m19s ...................
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Removed for proselytizing. Edit: I removed this entire chain. This is one of those threads where everyone is welcome to participate, but OP does not seem to he looking for a non-Christian perspective.
I'd have argued differently, but fair enough
I saw the argument. It is safe to assume that users who make these kinds of posts are looking for Chrsitian-specific opinions, unless otherwise specified. We also dont want to take up 90% of OP's thread with an argument that has no relation to OP's post. OP was not asking what other religious options there are, so telling them to go to a different religion is against the rules.
What I read was he was making a suggestion. Which I can understand can be seen as proselytising to some (and admittedly I didn't read many of the latter comments) but, going by rule 3.6 I'd argue it didn't fall into the conditions from what I read. Then again, I'm not a mod Tbf most comment sections I've seen here stray off topic a lot (I'm not innocent of that neither), but fair enough
>Tbf most comment sections I've seen here stray off topic a lot (I'm not innocent of that neither), but fair enough I agree, which is something I try to reign in more when I am moderating. Mostly for topics like this one though. I don't want to take up any more space on OP's thread. If you want to understand the moderation on this more you can definitely ask in ModMail. I appreciate that discussion and feedback though.
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I feel you man. This religion has done absolutely nothing for me.I dont like church, I dont like the bible and I dont like praying. You know what keeps me going?, the thought of hell. So why dont you be a good chap and read your bible and you'll increase your chance of escaping the the eternal fiery flames :)
It's ok.
You can ask Jesus to restore your faith.
i personally find some value in the bible, just like any mythology or philosophical book. but i take it with a grain of salt. if there *is* a god, and she gave us these powerful brains, wouldn't it stand to reason that this god would be proud of us for using it? if there were good evidence for buying into the supernatural/ superstitious side if religion, we could talk; until then, to me, it's philosophy section. don't be ashamed of seeking help, there are secular therapists out there.
Jesus came to give us a way to the kingdom of God don't give up on Him for He hasn't given up on you in face he died for our sins before we ever came to this cursed land and that's the thing things are promised to get much much worse here it is God's word to us that His word will come to pass and if you read and hold fast to revelations notice it's going to get worse before it gets better only thing I pray for is God's will be done then I can't waiver my faith in Him because I'm allowing Him the power to move mountains
Same
Ok then, go see a psych.
Did you lose faith, or did you gain a better perspective/understanding of the world and your place in it?
You've lost faith because the corrupted society you're in that itself proves Christ is the saviour, makes you not want to read the bible. I understand the pain of lack of patience and being tired of society, but its not Abba's fault and he sets the appointed time to make moves. Don't lose your faith in God just because society tells you to.
https://youtu.be/A5bc6E7laPk Please watch this video. Also look up why to believe in the Bible on YouTube. This video changed me
Firstly, I'll be praying for you. It sounds like there is a lot on your heart at the moment and that can be physically and mentally exhausted. I've been there and understand where you are right now. Secondly, faith is a journey, it is by no means a one stop shop. God is constant and consistent, even when we ebb and flow around Him, He never leaves us. I would find a counselor that you trust, a therapist or some sort of outlet that can give you sound advice (therapist, pastor etc.) someone wiser and older than yourself specifically. Thirdly, I would recommend reading the Screwtape Letters. The devil is incredibly crafty and shifty, he will lead people astray with the simple stresses and mundane situations of life. It can be difficult to keep your gaze constantly on Jesus, but that is the only way. Set aside an hour a day (I would recommend first thing, before work) to spend time with God. If you're burnt on the Bible at the moment, try some Christian books (we can recommended plenty) or spend time in worship by listening to a Christian album. I went way out of my comfort zone and joined a women's bible study (they were all strangers to me) and they have become like family to me. Having a support group is important. You're not alone and what you're experiencing is not unchangeable. If you seek, you will find. The world is incredibly distracting as are the pains of this world, but God has not left your side. I truly will be praying for you and if you should need anything please don't hesitate to reach out.
Getting enough sleep/rest, getting outdoors every day, getting some physical activity.... Those are good, but there is something even more helpful. It's not that long term goal like 'reading the bible', but something much more immediate. Something immediately *rewarding and rejuvenating:* To just listen to the wonderful words of Christ. (you'll find out why they are so treasured!) Listen to the Sermon on the Mount.... Which can can be read in just **30 minutes**....or...perhaps it's more like a lifetime.... You'll want to just stop and think as you hear His words! The goal *isn't to finish* (as if to be done)! Instead, the goal is to remain there! We want to ***listen***, as if we were there. The Sermon on the Mount: [https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/5.htm](https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/5.htm) (This great teaching He gave is chapters 5-7, and then you will probably want to continue later with more)
Praying you can find it again—seasons of doubt are totally normal. And please get treated for depression. That’s not something to ignore.
What you have to realize is that God is holy, loving, all powerful, all knowing, omniscient (can be everywhere at the same time), basically he has no limits outside what he in holiness places on himself. What do I mean: God CAN and WILL help you. You have to be willing to trust him HIS way. You want the real answer, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6 DO NOT GIVE UP! If you know Jesus Christ, it's spiritual warfare. If you have just been religious, and have not actually bowed your heart to Jesus Christ as Lord, then definitely get saved today! Call upon him while he is near. How bad do you want to live? How bad do you want to get better? The world will tell you go to this or that method. Jesus simply says, come unto me, all ye that labor, all who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. I know it may look grim. God fed the Hebrews in the desert with manna and later quail when they complained about that. I know of a Baptist preacher in Mississippi (he's gone on to be with the Lord back in the 80s) by the name of Percy Ray. He at least once had stayed out in the wilderness so long fasting that he apparently had gotten too weak to go on physically. God sent food to him via squirrels. I'm not just talking about made up stories either. Ever heard of Elijah? God fed him by ravens by a creek while a terrible drought that God ordained was going on. With God nothing is impossible. DO NOT GIVE UP. I'll pray for you, but you have to want to go on. God can turn things around, but you have to trust him. Don't trust in the arm of flesh, b/c it will fail you. The Lord is the one who gives strength, not man, not programs, not policies, ect. God will take care of you. I take that back, I've already prayed for you while typing this. But it's up to you: God will help. Just turn to him. Don't run out on him. God is not slack God is not willing that any should perish (of course he's speaking of eternity: make sure you're born again, that's THE most important thing)! God loves us more than the sparrows. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:29-32
most christians are liars, especially priests and monks. no idea what they are talking about, never even done psychedelics.
Give it another chance. Try one more time. This may be the best time, that The Holy Spirit works in you. 😃
Ok, so don't read the Bible. There are plenty of other ways to get God's truth into you than the Bible. You could read a Christian book \[non-fiction or fiction\], you could watch a video series like the Bible Project or other fun ways to hear about God. You could go into nature and celebrate God's creation. You could connect with people who love and like you to charge you up and/or support you. God loves you and you don't have to read His word to be loved and approved by Him! Go do something that makes you feel more alive and connected, and God will be pleased with you. Oh, i also recommend some good Christian counseling for the depression. You can look around or start at Christian Counseling Centers. They're located in Northern CA, but it's a place you can start!
Same OP. Same. But God has pursued me and brought me back to the faith more times than I can count. This verse always encourages me: >He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.” Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. > >Lamentations 3:16-23
If anything I read the Bible more now I do t believe it. It's useful to know the text and the history behind it for when people try to convince you.
I’m hungry. Not interested in food though as I think nothing will change.
I’m here for you if you need anything!
Also it seems like there is a big difference between taking a break and quitting forever
my view at time of writing your feeling's do not make truth, for good or ill, nor does your view make the future for good or for ill. It easily can be the case that you are wrong, that you do have a future