[IslandMedic]

I grew up in a semi-religious Christian family. I attended a Chrisitan School from 5th through 12th grade where I participated in many religous groups and attended church regularly. After I graduated High School in 1999 I felt burnt out with the whole religious thing and just stopped praying or doing anything religious. Since then I have sometimes wondered if there is a God, if He cares about me, why he let things happen to me, and if I should try to go back to my old spiritual self. I'm so confused. I dont know where to begin...please help.

[Christina86]

(((((((((IslandMedic))))))))))))

I hope some of the people here can help (they've helped me), and I hope you find the answers you're looking for.

I know from my perspective: God loves you. He does exist, but sometimes it's hard - that's okay. Is there any sort of church or religious official you could talk to for guidance?

[BalishBun]

yes he does.

[bebop]

God never leaves us hon. We may leave Him but He is always there for us. Yes go back to your religous roots and pray.

[altonwoodsdrphil]

Dear IM, Yes, God does care about you! I hope that when or if you decide to resume your search that you will not be satisfied just to "have church" (to go thru the motions) and that you would be drawn to something thats not "static" or dead...but to a much deeper and real relationship full of the life changing power and unconditional love that you will find there.

[IslandMedic]

I will attempt to attend a church session soon but I want that deep spiritual bond that I used to have. I have no idea how to get that back. I tried to pray last night and I felt like I was talking to a rock (nothing or noone was listening). I miss that warm feeling in my heart when I thought God cared about me. I wont give up...I will keep trying to reach the REAL thing.

[Rapunzel]

I have struggled with the same question. It's hard to understand why God would care about someone like me. But I have felt His love, and you can too. If you ask, and listen, and are in a frame of mind and a quiet place without distractions, where you can feel His answer, He will answer you. Once you get an answer, it still might be a struggle to remember it. You might want to write down as much as you can. He is there, and He is aware of you, and He does love and care about you.

[Rapunzel]

You posted while I was replying. Keep trying. It's hard to open yourself up enough to receive the answer sometimes. You will get there.

[(JD)]

(((hugs))) It's very understandable to me of how one can burnout regarding "God" and His way. But it is very profitable for your well being to return to your Christian lifestyle, imo.

When we become depressed or disillusioned, it's more difficult to "hear" God speak to us. That's one reason why it's important to read His Word, the Holy Bible. As for praying, remember how we are told that the Holy Spirit mediates for us when all we have is words that cannot be uttered? If that's all you can say to God earnestly is, "Help me," He will.

Even the apostle said to Christ, I believe, help thee mine unbelief. And he had seen Christ do miracles, and was speaking with Him directly! How much moreso can we need help to find our way sometimes?

In your studies I'm sure you have heard about how even a sparrow doesn't fall to the earth without God knowing and caring about it. There are very few types of birds that are not covered by some law of protection. The sparrow is one of them...no one cares about them, they are often hated for their abundance and problems they cause. But God cares about even them. How much more He cares about you!

((((hugs))))

god cares about EVERYONE no matter what and its like the foot prints in the sand story. When you think god has abandoned you thats really when hes carring you.

[Christina86]

came back to make sure some people gave you advice.

(((((((((IslandMedic)))))))))))))

I know that some days, I'm so just praying or going to church out of habit, and not because I feel like God is there or cares... Apparently it's a spiritual slump some people go through. Perfectly normal. You are loved.

Actually, one of my friends made me say this to myself as many times as I could stand it - whenever I feel lost and alone (without God): "God loves me." Repeating it seems silly, but it's a nice reminder.

Anyone to talk to like a religious leader once you get to a church service? They're pretty helpful. I find singing (prayers, praise etc) are really helpful in getting me back to the spot emotionally where I feel God again.

Sending prayers for you.

[Fuzzybear]

[splitimage]

I really struggle with this question too. I was raised in a religious family, my Dad was a minister, which kind of turned me off of organized religion because I saw all of the church politics and hypocracy. Then when my Mom died when I was 13 I was really angry at God for taking her from me. But I guess I never stopped believing in God I just deliberately turned away from religion for a very long time. I'm still not ready to embrace any kind of organized religion, but I am trying to get in touch spiritually with God again. When I was little my Mom would say that the wind in the trees was God talking, and to this day I feel most connected to God when I'm in nature. I guess I just have trouble believing that God would care about someone as messed up as me. I've really managed to screw up my life through addiction, on top of my mental health issues, but then at other times I think that a higher power must have been looking out for me, becuase there are so many times I've done stupid and dangerous things while drunk that in many ways it's a miracle that I'm still alive. Now that I'm trying to get my life back together, I'm trying to learn how to pray again, but I've got a long way to go before I'll really believe that God really cares about me.

--splitimage

[nowheretorun]

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_Sky said:
(((hugs))) It's very understandable to me of how one can burnout regarding "God" and His way. But it is very profitable for your well being to return to your Christian lifestyle, imo.

When we become depressed or disillusioned, it's more difficult to "hear" God speak to us. That's one reason why it's important to read His Word, the Holy Bible. As for praying, remember how we are told that the Holy Spirit mediates for us when all we have is words that cannot be uttered? If that's all you can say to God earnestly is, "Help me," He will.

Even the apostle said to Christ, I believe, help thee mine unbelief. And he had seen Christ do miracles, and was speaking with Him directly! How much moreso can we need help to find our way sometimes?

In your studies I'm sure you have heard about how even a sparrow doesn't fall to the earth without God knowing and caring about it. There are very few types of birds that are not covered by some law of protection. The sparrow is one of them...no one cares about them, they are often hated for their abundance and problems they cause. But God cares about even them. How much more He cares about you!

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well said _Sky

God is always listening, always watching, always loving imho...

thanks for sharing your view.. I could feel uplift as i read the words ... Blessings....

[nowheretorun]

It was a morning we'd remember
Michael let it be
Bread and eggs,
wine and cheese
Something to believe
An orange full sun
stood on the line
sparking cheer
it was a time
When Peter gave a tip to all
watch Judas when the shadows fall
We broke our bread
and silence then
when Jesus spoke
we 'lowed our head
He said we came from feedom land
where spirits moved
cross shifting sand
The moment came
a sparrow sang
a song of hope
amidst the rain

[TYMBERWOLV]

I know god cares for me as he would care for any of his children

Just like any father would do he allows us to stumble .... cos he needs to know that we trust enough in his words that we can stand in the troubled times ...

sometimes being a father to many is hard .... u work tirelessly to meet all the demands

i seen God take my complacency and turn it upside down so i could just know that he is my father

i was luke warm and he spewed me from his mouth

so when u ask does god love u i will ask when did he ever stop ?????

[recluse1]

Beautifully said Tymber, Beautifully said.

God's love is pure, perfect, and from everlasting to everlasting.

[IslandMedic]

Thank you for all of the wonderful replies. Very inspiring for me!
I was just diagnosed with Severe Depression, Severe Anxiety, PTSD, and ADD. I've been put on all kinds of meds and for the first time in years today, I saw beauty in life again. It was wonderful. Hopefully this will carry into my spiritual life again. Thank you all again! I am getting the help I need to unclutter my mind.

[StayGolden]

IslandMedic, I was wondering if you like to read? I understand those struggles as well, but I have found that God's hand reaches you wherever you are, in the silence of your room or the chaos that's happening around you. I ask about reading because many times we pray and read our Bibles and just can't seem to get past that wall that hinders our climb. I you get that lost love feeling Max Lucado has a book called "A Love Worth Giving" that brings it close to heart.

Also, I know there are times when we are confronted by people who can cause us to question what we believe - that God is real, Jesus lived, died and rose again, etc. Recently my faith was reaffirmed during an Apologetics class I took. We had two books - "The Case for Faith" and "The Case for Christ" - that blessed my spirit. I would encourage any Christian to at least read the 1st three chapters.

I believe that you will reach your complete breakthrough and pray that all those meds will no longer be needed, because He will be your peace of mind. As you said, you saw the life's beauty again. I hope this gave you some encouragement and that you stay golden...

You said you missed the spiritual bond that you used to feel and you didn't have any idea how you could get it back. I'm wondering if you have checked out the thread here on what people find helps them feel spiritual. There might be some ideas in there of things that you could do, or things that you could reflect on to help you feel that spiritual bond again.

[coralproper]

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Court_Knee said:
((((hugs))))

god cares about EVERYONE no matter what and its like the foot prints in the sand story. When you think god has abandoned you thats really when hes carring you.

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I have always loved that picture of the footprints

((((islandmedic))))
I use to wish I was never born, and spent much time demanding answers from God, wondering why I had to live the life I was living, I never asked to be born

I feel God cared so much about me then, I now understand, he possibly was just molding me into a stronger person.

Though I still struggle with the same question alot still, when I lose my instinct , of the magnitude of his love for us all, while going through the "sometimes" monotonous motions, of being human, in my opinion