Losing faith in God

Lately I feel like I'm losing my belief in God. I'm not sure what to do. I guess I could say some if it is due to having a therapist who doesnt believe in God though she doesnt push that on me. SOme of it is due to not finding a church that i indentify with and realizing the abuses of my previous church. I also just feel like no church seems to have the answers for me. I feel so discouraged. I'm not sure what to do. In the past, I would have openeed up the bible and tried to memorize a whole bunch of versus on faith. Now .. I think I just am like an observer of the world impartially trying to figure out whats going on.. what is true, and what is hype. Its so disconcerting.

((((((((((((EV))))))))))))))))

I get like that a lot - am in the same spot right now, so I do understand (well, the observing part).

Don't have any solutions for you, I'm sorry.

I lost my faith in the god I was brought up to believe in. It happened ages ago. My religious upbringing was somewhat traumatic, so I didn't find it distressing to let go of those beliefs. I actually found it quite freeing. I'm as comfortable with my doubts as I am with my beliefs. I don't need things to be drawn in black and white for me. My personal form of spirituality works for me. That's just me, though. I don't expect others to feel the same way.

It sounds like you're missing your faith and you want it back. If you don't want to lose your belief in God, then it might be good to find ways to rekindle it. If your faith is something that used to bring you comfort, I hope you will find it again and it will bring you comfort again. Perhaps it's just the religion you were part of -- and that religion's interpretation of God -- that doesn't fit with your beliefs now. Perhaps you could research some religions and find one that fits you better. Maybe talking to a pastor of a church that interests you (rather than just reading the Bible) would help. Having a conversation with someone about what you believe and what you question and how you're feeling might be helpful. It's great that you have a therapist, but if you need to talk specifically about God and your questions about faith, a pastor or minister at a church might be the person to talk with. Just a thought.

Best of everything on your spiritual journey.

I've been struggling with this, also.

"They" say to find your faith or testimony of God

Pray
Read Scriptures
Attend Church
Serve the Church

I know I'm just not ready now to really do any of these. I'm kind of black and white, so this grey stuff of struggling is a bit unsettling to me.

There are some web sites you can go to...checking out what the church as a whole believes. Pick a religion and google it. There may be some web sites for local churches also.

Hope you find what you are looking for...

Faith IS the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seeen... so if you aren't seeing things -good stuff - happen in your life, then of course you would be losing faith...

God is still there. It's good that His faithfulness is not hinged on our ability to believe...

Don't doubt in the darkness what you knew to be true in the light.

Hi,

I was listening to Dr. Dobson on the radio last week, and he said he believes that every Christian reaches the point at least once in their lives where things they don't understand happen to them.

When God doesn't rush in with things that we as humans naturally like, the Christian can be attacked with doubt that God still loves him/her.

It's normal, but hold onto your faith. God is still with you, and still loves you.

Even Job in the Bible, thought God had abandoned him, when He hadn't. Job was just being tested.

Hugs,

EJ

There have been some excellent and helpful posts in this thread. I want to add a few things.

No church is going to solve your problems, although fellowship and teaching are very important. Your personal relationship with God, is just that; personal. Talk to Him just as you would your closest friend. Indeed, He is your closest friend. When everyone runs away, He always, always stays.

Sometimes you can't hear Him or feel His presence, but that means we are upset and not listening. That is where the faith comes into play. Even if you can't feel God's presence, know in your very heart of hearts that He and His angels are there with you, watching over you and loving you.

Know also that God doesn't make bad things happen to you. Mankind was given the gift of free will. Men and woman choose whether to do good or bad things. However, God can take a bad situation and make it better. Tell Him what you need and ask for His help and guidence. It will get better.

Hugs,

Jan

I am actually just looking for some support. I know that being honest about this topic may anger some people or make them upset. But I'm still going to be true to myself and not be squashed down.

((((((((( Esther )))))))))

"To thine own self be true."

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hugs,

Jan

(((Hugs))) I don't see anything wrong with your posting... and it hasn't offended me, nor been out of line, imo.

Psalm 56:8
<font color="purple">Thou has taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Thy bottle; Are they not in Thy book?</font>

Job23:8-10
<font color="purple">Behold, I go forward but He is not there. And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way I take.

EV, when I'm feeling like you are, sometimes music is the only thing that can reach me. Do you know any songs that you could listen to or sing that might help you to connect to your feelings and faith?

If you need some songs, I have some favorites that I could recommend. Some of them are rather dated. Amy Grant's spiritual music can reach me (Age to Age is a good album). Another artist that helps me is Micheal McLean. You may not have heard of him. I was thinking of one of my favorites of his songs, "Hold On, the Light Will Come." I thought I would search for the lyrics, and found out that now there is a book based on that song. I found a review of the book http://www.drlaura.com/reading/index...de=view&id=222 Whether or not you are a Dr. Laura fan, that review does a good job explaining how music can touch your soul.

The song tells first about a young woman who is afraid she will never find her true love, then an old woman who has been waiting for years for her husband to come to take her into the next life, and finally all of us who are waiting for our Savior to come. Here's what I can remember of that part:
"And for those of us still waiting for the healer of all wounds, it's not hopeless, it's just Friday, but Sunday's coming soon." The song also mentions "those who've been in darkness for a while kneel much longer when the light has come." That line always reminds me that these periods when we question our faith and whether God is really there can strengthen us, because if we never felt the darkness, we would not appreciate the light nearly so much. When you lose something and find it again, it is more precious than it was when you always had it.

Hang in there.

Love,
Rap

I can relate to your post esthersvirtue. This happened to be during a tragic period in my life. I was in despair over my own problems and looked to the church members as my guide. They failed me....and I thought that "they" also meant GOD failed me. I lost focus on God and started looking at wordly things. Although now I know it was not God that failed me at the time...it was the people. It has taken me 6 years to be able to go back to church...not that one..but a different one. I now am struggling with regaining the trust that I lost. I realize that it will take time to get back where I once was.
snow

Can't really add much to what's been said already... SOO much good posting.

I know how you feel. As a teenager, it's often nearly impossible to feel God working in my life, and questioning Him and Christianity as a whole sometimes much easier than trying to reconcile myself to faith.

That said, the basic message here is: IT'S OKAY. Not everybody can be 100% sure of God 100% of the time. The important thing is not to let this nullify the good He's done for you, or make you blind to the good He may well do later on, or be doing now. Don't stress, don't push yourself towards something you're not feeling. Just keep your mind and heart open, and don't stop talking to God every now and then. Sometimes it's surprising how much He listens, and what He's saying in return.

Luck and love,
~muse

P.S. Wander around outside on a beautiful sunny day. That sometimes helps me refresh my sense of wonder.

sorry i havent responded to all the posts. I thank you. right now. im just really overwhelmed so I will have to come back to them tommorrow or the next. but i do appreciate you thoughts and help.

Esther,

I remember being very angry at God just a few months ago. Recently I have begun to find my faith again. Only now it is richer and has taken a different form, less reliant on organized religion. I think that God is within all of us and sometimes when we can't actively find him (or her) and pray, he is there anyway, holding us until we find him again. Don't worry, you will find your way.

You can be angry at God, He can handle it...and even invites us... "Come now and let us reason together."

well... it is up to you what to do really.

some people do what they can to get their faith back...

other people find they lose their faith in god and they are fine with that. see it as similar to losing their faith in santa claws and such.

if you want your faith back then i guess it might be about spending more time with believers so you catch something of their faith (attitudes can be quite catchy)
if you don't... then i guess you spend more time with people who don't believe so you catch something of... where it is that they find peace and acceptance and all those things that you used to get from your faith in god.

<font color="purple">And my God will supply you with everything that you need, in keeping with His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.</font> That includes enough faith to see you through. TC