I am so done.

[JustinFoundChrist]

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. And you expect me to be GRATEFUL when my family is ripped apart, my mother having the possibility of breast cancer, and other negatives experiences happen? You've got to be joking.

I believed in God because I wanted to know and have the feeling that someone up there was looking after me and loved me unconditionally. Apparently not so, because after I prayed hard not to have homosexual feelings, I still have them, and practically just embraced them into the person I am, just not fully. After I prayed for my family situation to get better, it just gotten worse. Its like you guys want me to be giving credit to God when good things happen, but just completely ignore him when bad things happen and blame it on us. "He" knows i'm trying and he just puts even MORE on my plate?!

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

 

[penknight]

Have you ever picked up a Bible? People have gone through MUCH worse for believing. I makes me angry when take it Have you ever picked up a Bible? People have gone through MUCH worse for believing. Throwing a temper tantrum at God WON'T help you so knock it off. You're giving the devil more opportunities to mess you up. Long suffering is necessary for spiritual development, and we need spiritual refinement. So get mad at Satan, he's the one who wants to break you. Be hopeful and wait like the rest of us because we're suffering and have suffered too. And stop worrying about what you're going through and focus on someone's else woes so you can help them.

 

[penknight]

My copy and paste messed up. I meant to say this:Have you ever picked up a Bible? People have gone through MUCH worse for believing. Throwing a temper tantrum at God WON'T help you so knock it off. You're giving the devil more opportunities to mess you up. Long suffering is necessary for spiritual development, and we need spiritual refinement. So get mad at Satan, he's the one who wants to break you. Be hopeful and wait like the rest of us because we're suffering and have suffered too. And stop worrying about what you're going through and focus on someone's else woes so you can help them.

 

[ThomistColin]

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. And you expect me to be GRATEFUL when my family is ripped apart, my mother having the possibility of breast cancer, and other negatives experiences happen? You've got to be joking.

I believed in God because I wanted to know and have the feeling that someone up there was looking after me and loved me unconditionally. Apparently not so, because after I prayed hard not to have homosexual feelings, I still have them, and practically just embraced them into the person I am, just not fully. After I prayed for my family situation to get better, it just gotten worse. Its like you guys want me to be giving credit to God when good things happen, but just completely ignore him when bad things happen and blame it on us. "He" knows i'm trying and he just puts even MORE on my plate?!

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

Dear Child of God,

You need to know two major things. First, life is hard. At every turn someone will disappoint you or you will disappoint someone. It sucks having these feelings and falling in love with those that our Heavenly Father has deemed inappropriate and wrong. It sucks when life just keeps coming and coming with worse situations. It sucks being afraid to get out of bed.

Second, God does not make life easier, just fuller. With God in our lives, our joys become mountaintops and our sorrows the deepest of valleys. God tells us that we will suffer, and that we will suffer in His Name. We all know the troubles of life, and personally, I know the trouble of dealing with homosexuality. However, one thing that finally dawned on me, that put out the fire of my despair was when I realized that God had already chosen a Husband for me, before I was born. Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride. We may have to sacrifice sexual pleasure at the altar of our Lord, but we have the intimacy of Christ. God cries along with us, sobs with us, and feels everything we go through. So, do not turn from the One who loves you. Trust Him.

Yours in Christ,
Colin

 

[Ugly]

hi Justin.
I get where you're coming from. I have spent most of my life in bad situations as well. And i feel like you, as though things never seem to get better. But i think the problem here is you are viewing God as a genie in a bottle. Rub the lamp and submit your wish and it will be fulfilled. This is not the method we are to approach God or prayer. Or even our walk as Christians.
God never promises and easy life on earth. He never promised to make things work better. He simply said He'd be there for us when things are bad, but that's only possible if we go To Him first. Have you ever known a friend to go through tough times, yet when you try to help they reject all that you offer? But, see, that friend can tell us and talk to us all they want about what they're going through, but that's only half of communication. The other half is listening. And sometimes what advice we hear isn't pleasant or what we want to hear. But what's best for us isn't always what's easiest for us.

While it's not a Christian movie, really, have you ever seen Bruce Almighty? It actually has very telling points about the concept of God giving everyone what they want.

We live in a fallen world. Satan is part of that world, yes, but so is sin. God could remove Satan, but that doesn't remove the sin birthed within us all. That doesn't take away sickness, anger, bitterness, hatred, violence, alcoholism or any number of other issues. The plight of man is that we are fallen from day one. And in that fallen state comes sickness. Its unfortunately a sad aspect of our existence. I know, my mother became sick and died from it after years of suffering. I have health issues of my own.
God wants us to choose Him, and His way out. I get He wants us to have free will. Why did He makes us to begin with? Why doesn't He make bigger changes? I have no idea. Wish i had those answers, but i don't. At the end of the day we just have to assess our lives and our beliefs and determine if what we have experienced of God is greater or smaller than our doubts and questions. We don't have all the answers. So we just have to choose if we have enough of God in our lives to overcome our doubts. Some days yes, other days its not so easy. That's what faith is all about. And while many people are determined to have all the answers and proofs of God, that's not what God requires of us. He requires faith. And faith is not an easy thing sometimes.
I hope you can find some resolution in all this mess. I wish i had answers for you. For myself even. Try to hang in there.

 

[Ugly]

My copy and paste messed up. I meant to say this:Have you ever picked up a Bible? People have gone through MUCH worse for believing. Throwing a temper tantrum at God WON'T help you so knock it off. You're giving the devil more opportunities to mess you up. Long suffering is necessary for spiritual development, and we need spiritual refinement. So get mad at Satan, he's the one who wants to break you. Be hopeful and wait like the rest of us because we're suffering and have suffered too. And stop worrying about what you're going through and focus on someone's else woes so you can help them.

Kind of think the tone of this post may be more counterproductive. Sounds more angry and condescending than helpful. It has a more simplistic vibe to a complex question. Granted faith is a major part of our beliefs, sometimes people need more than 'nuh uh you're wrong, just shut up and believe'.

 

[JustinFoundChrist]

you are viewing God as a genie in a bottle. Rub the lamp and submit your wish and it will be fulfilled. This is not the method we are to approach God or prayer.

Well, it may seem like that based on what I said in the post, but it isn't like I wish for things about or for myself all the time. I just said what was relevant to what I was talking about.


Anyways, I've kind of calmed down since I made the post. I was just so angry at the fact I had so much on my plate that I exploded at everyone around me and just had to rant and find help some where. I'm hoping that my faith can excel what I had before and be around where everyone here is.

 

[penknight]

Kind of think the tone of this post may be more counterproductive. Sounds more angry and condescending than helpful. It has a more simplistic vibe to a complex question. Granted faith is a major part of our beliefs, sometimes people need more than 'nuh uh you're wrong, just shut up and believe'.

You're right Ugly. Sorry Justin, I snapped because of the tone you used, it makes me edgy. It seemed to me like you were just putting God down, it makes me upset when people do that.

 

[Ugly]

Well, it may seem like that based on what I said in the post, but it isn't like I wish for things about or for myself all the time. I just said what was relevant to what I was talking about.


Anyways, I've kind of calmed down since I made the post. I was just so angry at the fact I had so much on my plate that I exploded at everyone around me and just had to rant and find help some where. I'm hoping that my faith can excel what I had before and be around where everyone here is.

No worries. I think we all have those moments, some of us are just more public about it than others. But don't be mislead into thinking everyones elses faith is up high and yours has sunk down. Its just a natural progression of our walk and faith to buckle at the knees and stumble. Its not a matter of how strong your faith is. Look at Peter, Jesus said he would build his church upon that rock, but he was also the same man that denied Jesus three times publicly. Don't beat yourself up for having weak moments, nor be deluded into thinking few others have them.

 

[ji]

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. And you expect me to be GRATEFUL when my family is ripped apart, my mother having the possibility of breast cancer, and other negatives experiences happen? You've got to be joking.

I believed in God because I wanted to know and have the feeling that someone up there was looking after me and loved me unconditionally. Apparently not so, because after I prayed hard not to have homosexual feelings, I still have them, and practically just embraced them into the person I am, just not fully. After I prayed for my family situation to get better, it just gotten worse. Its like you guys want me to be giving credit to God when good things happen, but just completely ignore him when bad things happen and blame it on us. "He" knows i'm trying and he just puts even MORE on my plate?!

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

You are in the right path.All you did was being sincere before God.Just before things become Good,it will and must turn much worse.God looks for complete surrender inside each one of us.If you had the truly saved experience(it's personal) or God has really touched you,then He will visit you in His time.And about the various emotions you go through is because of satan influencing you.And yes,it includes the homosexual feeling you have.You are not a homosexual person.You are looking for solace.That can only be found in God and the Peace He gives.(suggest you to read Book of Job when you feel ok to read)
God just wants to make you still.When your mind is troubled,you cannot think properly.And you are not in a circumstance to be peaceful.I have gone through many worse situations in life.To my surprise when it got really worse,i found only God upholding me through my bitterness towards Him.Because if he left me then,i would have been long gone from this world.I tried to end my life at a very hard point in my life,and God pulled me up from death by His Spirit(literally).No man was there.God is able,but we are not.And He gives time,for us to change.
When we surrender with our whole body and soul,that God starts working.It's not like saying "Lord,i surrender" and do the opposite.It's a perfect surrender that you made when you are on the ground unable to move because of the overwhelming problems.It's Spiritual and physical.Don't think you should end your life.It's a choice when we realize that we cannot move on further with our strength.It's giving the steering to god.
Jesus is alive and Good, even if we believe or not.If you really want to change,then it might take time.When storm hits,if you haven't got Strong Faith you will sway.But since you make it very clear that you have been a saved person once,i would urge you to simply move on.God will bring you to Him in time.
I lost people in my family,went through so many struggles,day after day for the past some time(around 10 years).And the only reason why i move on is because God is alive and He didn't let me go.People always were looking for utilizing me instead of helping me fight the distress.Few who could still help,had their own problems to tackle in the long run.So eventually it all came down to Kneeling down and cry to God.That's how it always work.
There might come in life, times where you feel a little peaceful.Cry to God with your supplications then.If God has really touched you in the past,He will not let go off you.Its in spite of what you think.I understand your situation very well,because i went through worse.And Jesus knows more than me about you and more than you know about yourself.He created you.It's not easy to be with God when circumstances are pushing you down.But when God pulls you out of all of it,then you will REALIZE the POWER OF GOD.It's not your imagination.And when you had enough encounters with God,you will start believing in Him.It's not 'believing' then but you are learning to TRUST GOD.
Meanwhile,try to control yourself.People won't tolerate the bitterness.God will,if He has called you first.So let go of all your emotions in Him.He will take care of you.Taste and see that the Lord is Good.First you experience(it might take time,yes it will-talking from experience) His Good,then you follow Him more.That's how it works.
God Bless

Note:The worst thing you can do now is go to people for suggestions.It might anger you more.We are all imperfect.The guy next door you think(will give you some peace) is surviving on the Goodness God has given.If at any point God pulled out somethings from his life,he might perish.And you are still standing because you are stronger.Let go off your bitterness to the Cross.He is able to take it all.But when you have given it all,cry to God to change you(at that point where you feel really crumbled).That is Holy Spirit trying to interact with you.No matter who is not with you in this world,God will be.That's the Love of God.We are all selfish,and live with selfishness.That is applicable to people in family too.Your parents are selfish to see you happily living before they die but might have never really been there when you felt you needed a helping hand in some crisis situation.God sees and can help.But God wants us to be patient.So when we submit to God,God will eventually lead us to better and solve the problems that we cannot.That doesn't mean you might not go through losses.If you are serious about your mother's condition then earnestly Pray for her cure.If He wants to Heal,He will Heal.If she is saved,then she will Live in Faith no matter what.The only worse thing you can do now is become more bitter.Have tunnel vision and look at God or simply move on.I did,and am still alive and definitely feel better than what i used to be in past.It takes time.

 

[ji]

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. ------- and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

Also,try to be in the company of people(Christians mostly and others who lead positive life) who have gone through what you experienced and mature enough to lead you and share your pain.There are many,but hard to find.Pray and God will lead you better people.AVOID at all costs people who never had experiences that you have or who live forgetting the same situation where you are.They will poison you with their self righteous talk.And it will make you more angry.And it has got nothing to do with God.God will teach you to handle situations and will give you peace to Pray for any who have hurt you till now without understanding your pain.God is Love.
Read the Book of Job and see how people dealt with him and finally How God changed everything.God changes everything and people are always people(99% of them) with useless talk when compassion is needed.
May God Bless you.

 

[JesusLives]

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. And you expect me to be GRATEFUL when my family is ripped apart, my mother having the possibility of breast cancer, and other negatives experiences happen? You've got to be joking.

I believed in God because I wanted to know and have the feeling that someone up there was looking after me and loved me unconditionally. Apparently not so, because after I prayed hard not to have homosexual feelings, I still have them, and practically just embraced them into the person I am, just not fully. After I prayed for my family situation to get better, it just gotten worse. Its like you guys want me to be giving credit to God when good things happen, but just completely ignore him when bad things happen and blame it on us. "He" knows i'm trying and he just puts even MORE on my plate?!

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

Justin

Looks like I'm one of the older people posting here but I can't let you or this one go. I too have had many bad things happen to me early in life.

I found my mother dead when I was 8 years old and as if that isn't bad enough when I was 12 my father died of cancer. I can remember as a young child crying into my pillow at night saying I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me because I didn't have any parents. Nobody ever knew about me crying other than God. I got married at 17 and divorced by 24, I had a baby out of wedlock at 25 and attempted suicide at 40 and along the way I asked God why did I have to be born on this sin sick planet? Why didn't He just kill Satan when he rebelled in heaven?

I thought about these questions a lot and over time I have come to understand that God never wanted any evil to exist, but He created us and the angels to have free will the power of choice. Lucifer made some bad choices wanting to be equal to or above God and he got thrown out of heaven. Eve and Adam made some bad choices and sin and death entered our world. Since we now have sin and evil unfortunately it has to run its course and what a price had to be paid to ransom us God sent His own Son Jesus to die in our place because the wages of sin is death. God our Father has suffered more than any of us because not only did He have to allow His Son to be sacrificed, but God saw me crying into that pillow at night and I know His heart was breaking with mine just as I promise you He hurts every time you hurt.

Sin will not rise a second time because we will have learned the lesson of evil of going against what God has listed for us not to do. It is not because God does not love us but because He does love us... Example say I told my daughter not to go into the street to her it might seem like a restriction, but I ask her not to because I know it could cause her harm and I love her and that is why I restricted her.

I am so very sorry for you that your world seems to be falling in around you, that your mom is dealing with cancer, that you are having issues with a certain sin. All I can do is pray for you and encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus because He has promised to be with you until the very end. Pray to Him and tell Him your troubles, surrender your life to Him as He waits for you with open arms.

Dear Father In Heaven

Please be with Justin right now I pray. Help him to be aware of Your love and Your presence in his life. Give him comfort and peace and help him to surrender all his problems to You. Please be with his mother and help her as she deals with doctors and whatever treatments that might be needed. Please heal Justin's broken heart I pray and thank You for answering this prayer. In Jesus Name Amen

 

[Letheros]

Justin,

Hey man, Ive been in a similar boat for most of my life. One thing to make sure is to not blame yourself or God. I deal with a lot of stuff all the time namely depression and strong sinful desires and addictions. Ive lost many good friends defending my faith.

On the other side of the coin I have been able to see God move in miraculous ways. I have seen people healed and I have seen other miracles take place.

And still I deal with the same struggles. I fail a lot and sometimes depression takes a deep hold. But I keep trying and praying. Im still trying to turn my life around.

-----

Anyhow to my point. Your questions remind me of two things that I try to think of when I am going through struggles.

The first is in the book of John:

In chapter 9 Jesus heals a man that was born blind. The disciples ask him who's sin caused him to be blind. And Jesus tells them that the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Some of the things that I have dealt with all my life make me think of this passage with Hope. I feel that perhaps I am allowed to deal with such thing so that God can display Himself through my life. And Im reminded that the pain of this life is a temporary thing, but the bliss after this life will last forever.

The Second thing I am reminded of is the story of Job:

This is for those times that things seem to get worse the more I believe.

You see, there are two ways to approach the story of Job. One is that God was testing Job. The other was that God was showing Satan that for those that believe God is more important than anything. I view the story as the latter.

God knew what Job would do, but more importantly he knew why.

:::

Now to connect the two.

after answering the disciples question in John 9 Jesus told them that he was the light of the world. Its that light that can sustain us through the darkest of times. It keeps us going in those times when God looks at us and says no matter what happens my child will believe.

If we life off that light and the expectant hope, it doesnt as much make it easier as it makes it worth it. I went to a Christain school when I was growing up. My Bible teacher gave us a pivital anaology that helps me balance my hardships.

He said: This world is hell for believers, but for nonbelievers, this is heaven.

When you look at the world that way and then you look at your pain and the pain and struggles others go through, it really gives you some major perspective; because you realize this is as good as it will get for some people.

----

I know its hard. I live it every day. Somedays are a lot worse than others--I can think of 7 distinct times (there were a lot more) over the last 5 years that I considered suicide and 1 of those times I was literally standing on the bridge.

Live in the hope that God has got a breakthrough coming. Live in the light. And prove Satan wrong when he tells God that you only believe to get free stuff.

God Bless,

Travis Pendell
[email protected] (feel free to email if you ever need someone to talk to)

Im from Michigan if you want to hit me up on facebook and I'll share more insights or more of my life's story if you want

(The invite goes to others that read this; just make sure to mention Christian Chat)

God Bless

 

[Desdichado]

I don't know why either Justin. Sometimes you just have to take those wounds and accept them as part of your life. Use them constructively.

It's hard. That is a question we will not be able to have answered until we see Him.

What I can tell you is this: He came and took up the same suffering we feel. We do not live under a cruel God, but a just one who let cruelty fall upon us because we deserved it.

The fact he came and bore our punishment in full though says a lot about suffering though.

 

[tarzan]

This thread is preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Jda016]

I just agree in Jesus' name with JesusLives' prayer. I pray for the peace that passes all understanding for Justin. I ask that God's angels would protect and defend him and give him strength to bear up against the seemingly unbearable pressure that life brings. Be near to him Jesus and let him feel your great love and compassion for his soul. I bless you Lord and thank you for your death on the cross, because I know, that even when my own life is falling apart around me, I can always look to the cross and know that I have a place with You in Heaven. Thank you for taking my place on the cross and for the awful price you paid. Thank you that this world is not my home and I can look forward to the glory to come.

in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

[blue_ladybug]

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. And you expect me to be GRATEFUL when my family is ripped apart, my mother having the possibility of breast cancer, and other negatives experiences happen? You've got to be joking.

I believed in God because I wanted to know and have the feeling that someone up there was looking after me and loved me unconditionally. Apparently not so, because after I prayed hard not to have homosexual feelings, I still have them, and practically just embraced them into the person I am, just not fully. After I prayed for my family situation to get better, it just gotten worse. Its like you guys want me to be giving credit to God when good things happen, but just completely ignore him when bad things happen and blame it on us. "He" knows i'm trying and he just puts even MORE on my plate?!

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

Justin,

1.) First of all, your screen name "JustinFoundChrist" speaks volumes!! You HAVE found Christ or you would not have come up with such a unique name. Once you find Jesus, you can never lose him.

2.) I'm sorry for all the troubles you've been having lately. As a woman who has had cancer, I will tell you it is scary waiting for the results of any tests. God does not send diseases to us as a punishment, they come from how we treat our bodies. If we put bad stuff in, then bad stuff will result. If we put good stuff in, good stuff will result.
God gives us tests and trials to see how good or bad we deal with them. We can let them teach us and strengthen us or we can let them weaken and destroy us. Whether we advance or retreat is entirely in our attitude towards the problem.
You ask why does'nt god just get rid of satan, temptation, everything evil and messed up. He made this an imperfect world for a reason. He allows evil for a reason. Its not to punish us or because he gets joy out of it. When we cry, God cries. When we smile and laugh, he smiles and laughs. He knows your pain all too well--he died on the cross for the ENTIRE WORLD!! Put together a gazillion people's pain and that is impossible to bear for anyone--except Jesus!! On that cross he experienced every pain, emotion, disease that we've ever had. I pray your mom does'nt have cancer, but if she does, just know that Jesus too knew what it felt like to have the pain of cancer. He understands. He did not promise us an easy life, but he DOES promise us that it will be worth it.

All this anger, hurt, hatred at God comes from one source only: Satan!! He is the ultimate liar and deceiver. He wants you to think God has abandoned you. Dont allow his voice into your head! Dont let him alter your faith in Jesus. We have the power in Jesus name to rebuke Satan. From the sound of your original post, I think its time you do just that. There's no official prayer to be said for rebuking him but you can say something like this: "satan I command you in Jesus' name to leave my mother and I alone! I command you in Jesus' name to stop filling me with lies and doubt! I command you in Jesus name to get out of our lives and out of our house. I command you in Jesus name to go back to hell where you belong." Say it as often as you need to. Say it often, and say it LOUDLY. I really hope things get better for you and your mother.

 

[jamie26301]

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

This is a really good sign, believe it or not. You're asking questions! That's the beginning of an open mind, and an informed faith.

I would encourage you to do research and read Scripture if you're not thoroughly familiar with it. Supplement reading Scripture with online reading - look into ANYTHING you like regarding religion. You may want to search "problem of pain" or "problem of evil" in Google and see what pops up. You may want to pray, but if you're weak, that's ok too - God understands your weakness. If you're honest about your questions, you will seek an answer... and that can only be done through research and opening your heart! Trust me, you won't get the fullness of what you can learn in this thread. You may get good insights, but this is a VERY big and deep topic.

You are asking a question that is as old as sin itself - humans have been asking this since the beginning. So don't think you've stumbled across some great contradiction of faith that's never been tackled before by UNTOLD numbers of authors, philosophers, and Christians. There are explanations, though obviously not completely satisfactory, or there wouldn't be any atheists. I wrote an English paper on this topic that was like eight pages long, and I didn't even scratch the surface of all the work that has been done in effort to solve this problem.

This is something you will have to work out yourself. Seek advice and counsel, that's great! But if you want to have a real, living faith, it takes time, learning, and the ability to look within yourself as well as outward too. It takes self-examination. And just know this: There is no proof of God's existence, and it's even harder to prove that God cares (enter the Deists). But you can't disprove God's existence either. That's why it's a FAITH matter, and doesn't belong in science. Begin your quest for answers - but you will always have questions. The day we stop asking questions, we essentially admit that we know everything, and don't need God anymore. We are then essentially dead.

I wish you all the luck on your journey. If you would like to know what I think, just hit me with a PM and/or go through some of my old posts. I will share with you everything I know about this. God bless.

 

[AgeofKnowledge]

He doesn't. The devil and other people do. You're blaming God for what the devil and other people do to you. It's a common mistake, unfortunately.

I'm am so ticked off at everything right now. Some say that God puts you through trials. Why? Does he just want to make your life hard? I've prayed for things to get better and they've just gotten worse. And you expect me to be GRATEFUL when my family is ripped apart, my mother having the possibility of breast cancer, and other negatives experiences happen? You've got to be joking.

I believed in God because I wanted to know and have the feeling that someone up there was looking after me and loved me unconditionally. Apparently not so, because after I prayed hard not to have homosexual feelings, I still have them, and practically just embraced them into the person I am, just not fully. After I prayed for my family situation to get better, it just gotten worse. Its like you guys want me to be giving credit to God when good things happen, but just completely ignore him when bad things happen and blame it on us. "He" knows i'm trying and he just puts even MORE on my plate?!

And heres the thing, the past 16 years, i've believed but with question. If God seriously controls every aspect of every SINGLE thing, why doesn't he just get rid of satan, temptation, and everything else that is screwed up and evil? Does he just feel like seeing us perish and in pain? He, you, and I all know he has the power to make everything better but he chooses not to. WHY?!

I REALLY want to believe but i've seriously had enough and probably need true convincing to know that what i've believed in the past 17 years wasn't just a fake, mythical tale.

 

[Crazyteen]

Clarification!
God does not control every aspect of every single thing.
God does not put you through Trials (Only very very rarely)
This World puts us through trials.
He gave us the choice of everything we do.
God wants us to show him that we can be good without his help, then he'll let us go to heaven.
Bear in Mind: you reap what you sow, and often you reap what others sow,
Is it fair? Of course not, Life is not supposed to be fair, God wants us to rejoice in him NO MATTER WHAT.
The best thing you can possibly do is pray, pray for yourself, for others for your family. And then ACT on what God nudges you to do, Note that god doesn't tell you what to do in every situation, he just "nudges you" it's still your choice!
God gave us his divine Consciousness.
I'm Sorry to hear about your Family.
And about the Homosexual feelings: Just ignore them, Every 16 Year old has them. lol Don't let that get you down.
I'll Pray for ya.