and cant seem to find it anywhere?
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| Celtic Radio Community > Kirk and Chapel > Loosing Your Religion |
| Posted by: dundee 20-Oct-2006, 11:21 AM |
| ever feel like you have lost your faith? and cant seem to find it anywhere? |
| Posted by: haynes9 20-Oct-2006, 11:57 AM |
| Been through times when I wondered if the Lord knew what was going on in my life (Foolish, I know, but I'm just being honest). I find that many of the Biblical heroes we look up to went through similar times. Jeremiah was, by all accounts, a man of great sorrow. His book of Lamentations is truly heartbreaking. The one thing I have tried to do, Dundee, during those times, is to remember that even though everything in my life seems out of control, God has not been taken by surprise, nor is He out of control. I look at Job and wonder how he was able to keep his faith in the face of enormous trials and tribulations. There's an old saying that says, when you have a roof over your head, money in your pocket, and food on your table, God is in control. And when the roof is leaking, your pockets seem to have holes, and you don't know where the next meal is coming form, God is STILL in control. I have to take comfort in knowing that He allows nothing bad to happen to me in the light of eternity. The song Rejoice in the Lord says, ". . . but when I am tried, and purified, I shall come forth as Gold." Have a great day, my friend, and know that I am praying for you. Lord bless. |
| Posted by: Ceciliastar1 21-Oct-2006, 07:22 PM |
| I know I haven't been here in a long time but this is a question I've been trying to figure out for quite a while. Over the last few years I've pretty much lost my faith. I am Catholic. I deep down believe that Truth and believe in God, but constant hypocrisy and contradictions have caused me to question. Also a few tragic events have hurt a lot. I was married in July and soon after became pregnant. I believe that I need to get my faith back because I feel that a child should be raised with some form of religion. I believe that my child needs to have faith as well. But how can I teach my child when I still don't fully accept? I wish I could get back to the point where I want to practice my faith not because I HAVE to, but because I WANT to. I feel for my sake, my husband's, and the sake of our unborn child that we all need to find our way back. But where and how do you start your journey home? |
| Posted by: stevenpd 21-Oct-2006, 07:47 PM |
| One night I had a dream-- I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. "I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." ...Mary Stevenson |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 07-Nov-2006, 12:21 AM |
| I have been wrestling with this very question, and I fear that I have lost the battle. My recent separation from my wife has literally destroyed my faith. I was convinced, absolutely positive, that the Lord would save my marriage. Even 2 weeks after leaving I was still convinced and had absolute faith that everything was going to be okay. But when she moved her new boyfriend into our house and bed, it completely destroyed my hope and - along with it - my faith. I hope that someday my faith will be restored, but I fear it will be a long time in coming. There is simply too much anger, hurt, disappointment and bitterness for a quick resolution. |
| Posted by: dundee 07-Nov-2006, 09:18 AM |
| dam wiz..... i am truly sorry for your hurt and pain... i wish i could do something for you. i hope your pain heals quickly... seems funny what i am about to say seeing as i started this thread. but she made the decisions ... not the Lord. God wont twist anyones arm... not even mine. now if i can just hear what i just wrote. peace to you wizard. |
| Posted by: sisterknight 07-Nov-2006, 09:58 AM |
| sometimes we lose our faith because our heart is so heavy with the hurts of the whole world we seem to shut down, we can't take it all in...it's not really lost just misplaced for a while...sometime this is our test that god in his wisdom has set for us....when all is in doubt we look deep within ourselves and there it is waiting for us. |
| Posted by: LORD RHYS 09-Nov-2006, 02:06 PM |
| I have heard this analogy.. The Wife says to the husband when we were dating we always sat next to each other in the seat and I cuddled as you drove we dont do that any more he repies " I DIDNT MOVE " The Lord is always right there we are blinded by our daily trails and tribulations and try to do it ourselves and we forget he is always right there and its us that moves away not him!! |
| Posted by: gwenlee 20-Jul-2007, 05:53 PM |
| I think all of us at times "lose our religion", but I can honestly say I have never lost my faith and belief that in all the stuff that happens in my life God doesn't have some plan. God is always with us. I remember when my daughter first got sick with multiple sclerosis she was only 17, but she told me don't ask God why, she said that God was going to use this as a witness to others about Gods grace. The term losing your religion shouldn't mean losing your faith in God. Religion for the most part is tradition. But our salvation is only through Yeshua (Jesus Christ). I know people think religion and faith are the same. But they are not. Wizard I am so sorry on the break up of your marriage. I can't imagine what you are going through (I've been married almost 29 years) but I have seen so many of my friends go through a divorce for various reasons. But I can assure you that God is there, seek out those is your congregation who can give you support. I know a lot of churches in our area have divorce support groups. Its sad that believer have a divorce rate that is almost as high as non believers. I agree with the others that God would not force or twist someones arms, but through it all he is with you. God bless you Gwenlee |
| Posted by: Robert Phoenix 20-Jul-2007, 07:20 PM |
| I went through the same thing with a womanyers ago. e had dated for two years and I would have married her in a second. That's all we talked about at times was our marriage and our ministry since we were both heavily involved with our churches. Then she met some idiot who would give her all the booze and drugs she wanted and since she was a rebelling pastor's kid she went with it. Actually broke up with me at the first Cornerstone Christian festival. She married the idiot two weeks later with her preacher dad doing the ceremony. The only thing I got was a permament ulcer from the worry and stress. I thought for sure the Lord would put us back together at some point. At one point I realized the Lord wass still with me even though she wasn't. Still didn't help with the pain and anguish. A bit later I remet my future wife (we were friends during the first two years in college but had not seen each other in two years and now 21 years later I'm still maried to my wife and the old girlfriend is on her fourth husband (2 divorces, one death, and she now married to a prision minister). I know this is a late post but I can totally rellate to what you are going through and I hope you haven't given up on God just yet. With free will it's not always God's fault. I always thought that "losing your religion" was slang for losing your temper. |
| Posted by: Shadows 20-Jul-2007, 08:41 PM |
| One does not lose one's religion, but one's faith in a religion... Life's beliefs are a continuing journey of faith in the divine creator be it the "God" of the Jews, the risen "savior" of the Christians, the Earth Mother of the begining faiths or the gods of the east... It is when we all come to the common belief that we are one in the universe with every living thing that our lose of faith will become a trivial thing, no one organised religion holds all truth for all. We are beings created with free will and free minds, what we do with that gift is how we will be judged. |
| Posted by: Tassiecelt 22-Jul-2007, 09:37 PM |
| The time IS coming when we will all come to a common belief, Jesus is returning to establish His Kingdom for those who are faithful to the truth. Then all will worship the One True God, the only God, the God of the Bible through the Son, Jesus Christ. Worshippers of false religions, dark arts, pagan religions and atheists will not be part of that Kingdom. They disqualify themselves through their disobedience. Rev 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is. Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city. Rev 22:15 But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie. Rev 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you over the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star. Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one hearing say, Come! And let the one who is thirsty come. And he willing, let him take of the Water of Life freely. |
| Posted by: Robert Phoenix 22-Jul-2007, 09:44 PM |
| With all the bad luck I seem to be having lately I am definitely thirsty. You hear me Lord!! Yes-it has been one of those weeks-not giving up on God although I'm really puzzled about the way God gets things done sometimes. |
| Posted by: Tassiecelt 23-Jul-2007, 02:11 AM |
| Robert, God really is amazing..when we trust Him. An old pastor of mine used to have a saying "Work, don't worry". It was a simple way of thinking, he said 'just get on with the work before you and leave the worry to God'. We don't serve some obscure 'force' in the universe, and idol made of stone, a human leader or a multi-headed deity. We serve the Creator of all that is, Who has a great and personal love for all His creation, including Man, so much in fact that the Father sent His own Son to pay the price for our disobedience and to bring us back into His love. So God does listen to us, as a Father does. Wiz, you are very much in our prayers, those we love often let us down, but Jesus never does. |
| Posted by: gwenlee 23-Jul-2007, 06:23 AM |
| Amen Tassiecelt. We don't serve some obscure god, but the one true God. My pastor has said that God is never late he is always on time. Another pastor once said when someone asked why doesn't God answer my prayers? God answers all prayers, sometimes its not the answer we want to hear. Gwenlee |
| Posted by: oldraven 23-Jul-2007, 10:18 AM |
| I don't think God has ever promised to make our lives easy or fair. Just to be there when all is said and done. |
| Posted by: oldraven 24-Jul-2007, 07:11 AM | ||
TC, I realise we're in the Christian Corner, but don't you think we can be a little more inclusive? There was a fair amount of spite in that post, don't you think? One man's truth........, right? In the words of Ben Harper (a Christian, for anyone willing to listen), "I try to keep things simple, but you always need the works." |
| Posted by: Shepherdess 24-Jul-2007, 08:04 AM |
| Well this is a surprising little corner to find! My faith has had its ups and downs but I've been blessed to feel that it was there at the hardest times. Nothing really awful compared to some, but I nearly lost a leg in a car wreck that also seriously injured my two year old son; I lost a good friend to leukemia, slowly, a couple of years ago; and around the same time my marriage almost ended when my husband developed PTSD after the accident and we developed severe financial problems and I lost my farm and had to sell a lot of things that were important to me, basically to save our family. I guess I'm the most pedantic of people, but what I reach for in the blackest times is the simple knowledge that it all fit together when life DID make sense, so I trust it will still work even if it takes a while. Assuming, of course, that I don't muck things up myself. God's fairly clear about the things that will do that - and they are surprising - running my mouth whining and gossiping is right up there. Another is being too much of a busybody and not being happy with the simple things. As my friend Jock from the Borders says, "Ony day I'm a six feet up's a gude ane." He usually says that to me when I greet him groaning (greet him greeting, lol) first thing in the morning before a training session. I am not a morning person, a characteristic he does not understand. "A bad habit," he says. Indeed, it can be a convenient excuse. Excuses are another thing I don't think God likes, also. Here's a couple of helpful books: A quick read with lots and lots of awesome references for further purusal: http://www.amazon.com/Case-Faith-Journalist-Investigates-Christianity/dp/0310234697/ref=sr_1_8/102-2864207-8440953?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185283524&sr=1-8 Lee is a journalist who started out an atheist, then journeyed gradually to a firm faith in Christ. This book addresses some tough questions - the unforgettable image at the very beginning is of a weeping woman holding her dying child in a famine striken country, up to the sky, as if pleading for some sense from the world, from the gods, from anyone. An old classic but still worth it: http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-2864207-8440953?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185284757&sr=1-2 Hey, he's Irish, too! This little book came about when Lewis gave a series of talks during the darkest hour of the second world war. It's about the basics of faith delivered in a kindly, sympathetic manner with the needs of the unbeliever and the wavering in mind. And every word is still amazingly relevant. Did I mention he's Irish? Speaking of Irishmen, if you are into a bit more heavy reading, there's a fellow named Os Guiness who has produced some good texts on faith and squaring away belief with the modern world. Yeah, he's a Guiness and yeah, it is that Guiness family - the patriarch of the company is his uncle. Obviously you needn't fear any Bible banging here - though he does, as I say, get very passionate. Did I mention he's Irish? http://www.amazon.com/Call-Finding-Fulfilling-Central-Purpose/dp/0849944376/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-2864207-8440953?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185285252&sr=1-1, http://www.amazon.com/God-Dark-Assurance-Beyond-Shadow/dp/0891078452/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-2864207-8440953?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185285252&sr=1-3, http://www.amazon.com/Unspeakable-Facing-Evil-Genocide-Terror/dp/B000EMSZ24/ref=pd_sim_b_2_img/102-2864207-8440953?ie=UTF8&qid=1185285252&sr=1-3 |