Is it possible to be a believer in Christ yet feel like there's a hole in your life? These past 5-6 months I've had a lot happen and recently realized I could be suffering from depression. I plan on talking to a pastor from my church but am curious if anyone else struggles with some type of depression and anxiety like I do. I'm not as passionate with hobbies and interests like I used to have, and don't feel the Holy Spirit moving in me during praise and worship*like I used to. I also have a problem taking heart to what the Bible has to say and try to apply it to my life. Does this mean I'm not a true believer in Christ? Or that I am suffering from some sort of depression that I need to get some help? If anyone has had similar experiences I'd like to hear. Thanks!
Feeling of emptiness
- Thread starter jsr1221
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That's the thing. I just don't know how to get my way back. I'm absolutely terrible when it comes to trying to talk out loud to God to the point where I'm just babbling. I'm a deep thinker so it's better that I just dot down my thoughts. But then it's like I'm just reading to God. I'm at a loss at how I can make things right.
D
Hi jsr1221, I know what you mean. I'm a freshman in college and although I'm here with one of my best friends from high school, I still feel lonely or having that hole in my life at times. Being a believer in Christ isn't some complicated thing that you need to ask others about. Being a believer is simply just trusting that Christ is with you when it seems like no one else is. And in fact, I think that the people on this forum are an extension of Christ and in that sense you aren't alone. I've had times when I was really really spiritual, especially the first few days of college when everything was crazy and I didn't know if I could handle it. I prayed a ton, read the bible a ton, and honestly felt God helping me through the day. I've kinda eased into the weekly grind and am more comfortable with everything. Because of that, I have noticed myself not praying as much, not reading as much, and kind of feel like I'm drifting away at times. But, I try to make an effort everyday to connect with Christ and read a verse in the bible to try and live His word. It's hard feeling alone but I think that the challenge is gift from God that will ultimately help you and me and others on here in seeing him more clearly in the end. Jesus has and always will love you. Don't feel like you are obligated to meet any standards because He does not have any, all he wants is for you to trust and accept Him. That's it! Hope that helps, if you have any more questions, ask away!
E
It depends. How would you describe your salvation experience?
Some believers do struggle with depression. However, there are many non-believers who are convinced that because they have prayed a prayer, started going to church, and improve their morality that they have been saved. It is not uncommon for such people to go through an identity crisis after some time when they realize that they still love sin but their infatuation with church and religion is starting to dry up.
When God saves a person, they have to die to themselves. Does this describe your salvation experience? You put your whole life before the throne of God and He answered by fire. He changed you from the inside out through His Holy Spirit.
This is what makes Christianity different from every single other religion. It does not hinge upon people coming to a religious building, reading a religious book, and deciding to follow this religion as dictated by the prescribed book, church, and religious authority. It hinges upon God answering a sinner who can by no means help themselves.
I knew very well that I could not stop sinning. I had tried. God has to save a person or they will not be saved at all. You cannot save yourself.
Some believers do struggle with depression. However, there are many non-believers who are convinced that because they have prayed a prayer, started going to church, and improve their morality that they have been saved. It is not uncommon for such people to go through an identity crisis after some time when they realize that they still love sin but their infatuation with church and religion is starting to dry up.
When God saves a person, they have to die to themselves. Does this describe your salvation experience? You put your whole life before the throne of God and He answered by fire. He changed you from the inside out through His Holy Spirit.
This is what makes Christianity different from every single other religion. It does not hinge upon people coming to a religious building, reading a religious book, and deciding to follow this religion as dictated by the prescribed book, church, and religious authority. It hinges upon God answering a sinner who can by no means help themselves.
I knew very well that I could not stop sinning. I had tried. God has to save a person or they will not be saved at all. You cannot save yourself.
B
I feel the same way, When I was 18 I was sooo close to God, I read the bible a lot, went to church and wanted to grow in the Lord a lot. Then when I was 19 things just started going down hill.. I distanced myself because of the things I was going through which till this day I have only told 3 people. I went through depression and wanted to kill myself. I din't want to live any more more than ever before. I started getting better a couple of months after I turned 20 but by then I din't pray and feel close to God like before, I rarely read the bible. When I was 21 I fell in love with someone for the first time and around that time I found out soo many things and once again I went through a lot that I finally broke down and started having anxiety attacks, at first I din't know what they were I thought I was sick or something because I couldn't breath and every time I took deep breaths I felt like it wasnt enough. One night I ended up going to the hospital because it got so bad and thats when I found out it was anxiety attacks, That night I broke down and the following days I was sooo depressed from finding out my so called best friend never cared about me even though I did everything to help her since the age of 14, I even ended up fighting her sister because of the things she did in the past to hurt me, I fought in front of my house and lost so that made me even angrier and sad.
After that I just remained dead and numb inside, I was kind of out of depression but yet still felt sooo empty and numb inside I started going to clubs every weekend and doing things I shouldn't have. I still believed in God and even now I still do. Eventually I got better for a while. Now I'm 23 about to be 24 in January and I feel empty, lonely and angry inside. I have no friends, no boyfriend no family members that I am close to except for my mom. I like being alone, I tried making some Christian friends but I feel like I really am meant to never have a best friend or even friend for that matter so I just prefer to be alone most of the time.
I believe in God and am trying to read the bible more and be close to him like before but I still feel empty and alone. I am just tired of being alive and I have not taken my life away due to the fear that I will burn in hell for that.
I believe in God and I know I always will, Jesus is my savior and always will be, I just hope to one day be closer than I was to him when I was 18.
After that I just remained dead and numb inside, I was kind of out of depression but yet still felt sooo empty and numb inside I started going to clubs every weekend and doing things I shouldn't have. I still believed in God and even now I still do. Eventually I got better for a while. Now I'm 23 about to be 24 in January and I feel empty, lonely and angry inside. I have no friends, no boyfriend no family members that I am close to except for my mom. I like being alone, I tried making some Christian friends but I feel like I really am meant to never have a best friend or even friend for that matter so I just prefer to be alone most of the time.
I believe in God and am trying to read the bible more and be close to him like before but I still feel empty and alone. I am just tired of being alive and I have not taken my life away due to the fear that I will burn in hell for that.
I believe in God and I know I always will, Jesus is my savior and always will be, I just hope to one day be closer than I was to him when I was 18.
C
Most of the time I feel empty and alone I haven't seriously talked to anyone about it other than god he knows exactully what I'm going through I tell him like I'm talking to a bestfriend well he is my best friend I just feel like I have everyday struggles an maybe even depression I try going out doing things to keep me distracted but its like nothing helps I just need people to pray for me.
M
I very much understand your point here however... 1. If this guy is so concerned with his walk with Christ, this to me signifies his salvation, his desire, as is most of ours, to be satisfied fully in Christ as Christ surely promises (Matthew 11:28 - He is the rest giver. John 6:51 - He is the bread of heaven by which satisfies our hungry spirit. john 4:14 - Jesus offers us the living water for our thirsty spirit) thinking of Matthew 5:6 (KJV) here where Christ tells us "BLESSED are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they SHALL be filled." (emphasis added to display point) when we come to Christ dissatisifed with the spiritual junk food and poison that is sin knowing it will kill us and we desire to be filled and fed with His life, to eat of His flesh and to drink of His blood, that is when salvation takes place..for the sinner, believing in His heart that he cannot save himself but only the Christ, repents of His sin and inability for perfection, He confesses the Lordship of Christ in generality and now in His life, and requests that Christ would fill him with the Holy Spirit of God that convicts of sin and righteousness and to lead the now born-again believer to live a life of holiness before God. This does not mean that the saint now is perfect and will do no wrong forever more, however it means when sin creeps in, even the slightest of stain should fill with them with guilt and shame of falling short, and lead them back to their Father in Heaven, for His grace and mercy to strengthen him and for his sin to be forgiven.