How to deal with self doubt about your faith?

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TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
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Brighton, MI
Ok here is the sin,
confess it to God, tell Him you are sorry that youve been holding back, that you have been afraid

There is NO reason to be afraid of Him.

its ok lots of people do this not just you. but you need to confess it to Him.

cos otherwise, on your deathbed or whatver manner that you die, when the angels come for you but you say wait. um I dont know if I really want you to take me, Im scared of you....well..., what is that? You not trusting Him?
I John 1:8-10
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
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Anything that is not perfect is sin. Sin doesn't have to be some outrageous thing. I think we often misunderstand what sin is. It is simply missing the mark of perfection. Being anxious is definitely missing that mark, as is pretty much everything we do, think and say. When we choose to be anxious about something we are missing out on the peace that trusting in God brings. We lose.
Your definition of sin is correct.
However you say being anxious is a sin.

I have to disagree here.

Before I give my thoughts as to why I just want to ask do you consider to be anxious to
be a situation you find yourself in, say like loosing your job or that God does not love you?

Is being anxious the same as fear?
 
Jul 28, 2021
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Your definition of sin is correct.
However you say being anxious is a sin.

I have to disagree here.

Before I give my thoughts as to why I just want to ask do you consider to be anxious to
be a situation you find yourself in, say like loosing your job or that God does not love you?

Is being anxious the same as fear?
In my experience, being anxious, afraid or worried is all basically the same thing. It amounts to not trusting God in your situation. I've been there enough times to know. :) The Lord put me through an extremely difficult and painful trial that basically forced me to trust Him. Now I am on the other side of it and it's light night and day.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
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In my experience, being anxious, afraid or worried is all basically the same thing. It amounts to not trusting God in your situation. I've been there enough times to know. :) The Lord put me through an extremely difficult and painful trial that basically forced me to trust Him. Now I am on the other side of it and it's light night and day.
Thanks for responding.
I appreciate that you are willing to talk.

For me to be anxious is not a sin full stop.
How we deal with being anxious could be a sin.
However how we deal with it can be a sin or lead to mechanisms to dull being anxious.

So once again is being anxious the same as fear?

I cannot recall Jesus using the word anxious but does use the the word worry.

Yet in

Philippians 4:6
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

David himself seemed to be display anxious behaviour bordering on fear.
Did Jeus himself have anxious thougts and fear in the garden of Gethsemane?

So as I said to be anxious is not a sin but the response to it can lead to sin.

It's a bit like if you have a sexual thought that comes to mind.
The thought itself is not sinful, it's how you deal with that could be sinful.
It's like a thought to lie is not sinful but how you deal with it could be sinful.
If you follow it through then yes it's a sin, but pray to God for help not to do it is the correct way.

Now I will give you my problem concerning anxiety.
I have been diagnosed with several generalized anxiety.
Basically this anxiety is constant and basically debilitating.
Had it for 30 years plus.
I continually seek God for healing, bring it to him.
Praise God I have been able to function.
Run a company of 30 people.
Do a ministry in church.
Have 4 kids all Christians.

I have every day prayed to God for healing, sought help in the church, been prayed over

No release has been forthcoming.
I refuse to take meds because I feel God can and will heal.
I do not believe it's medically related.

So am I sinning?
 
Aug 20, 2021
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Thanks for responding.
I appreciate that you are willing to talk.

For me to be anxious is not a sin full stop.
How we deal with being anxious could be a sin.
However how we deal with it can be a sin or lead to mechanisms to dull being anxious.

So once again is being anxious the same as fear?

I cannot recall Jesus using the word anxious but does use the the word worry.

Yet in

Philippians 4:6
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

David himself seemed to be display anxious behaviour bordering on fear.
Did Jeus himself have anxious thougts and fear in the garden of Gethsemane?

So as I said to be anxious is not a sin but the response to it can lead to sin.

It's a bit like if you have a sexual thought that comes to mind.
The thought itself is not sinful, it's how you deal with that could be sinful.
It's like a thought to lie is not sinful but how you deal with it could be sinful.
If you follow it through then yes it's a sin, but pray to God for help not to do it is the correct way.

Now I will give you my problem concerning anxiety.
I have been diagnosed with several generalized anxiety.
Basically this anxiety is constant and basically debilitating.
Had it for 30 years plus.
I continually seek God for healing, bring it to him.
Praise God I have been able to function.
Run a company of 30 people.
Do a ministry in church.
Have 4 kids all Christians.

I have every day prayed to God for healing, sought help in the church, been prayed over

No release has been forthcoming.
I refuse to take meds because I feel God can and will heal.
I do not believe it's medically related.

So am I sinning?
at time it's the sin inside us & not us at all.[Sin our not a sin] has 2 do with motive
 
Jul 28, 2021
1,226
406
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Thanks for responding.
I appreciate that you are willing to talk.

For me to be anxious is not a sin full stop.
How we deal with being anxious could be a sin.
However how we deal with it can be a sin or lead to mechanisms to dull being anxious.

So once again is being anxious the same as fear?

I cannot recall Jesus using the word anxious but does use the the word worry.

Yet in

Philippians 4:6
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

David himself seemed to be display anxious behaviour bordering on fear.
Did Jeus himself have anxious thougts and fear in the garden of Gethsemane?

So as I said to be anxious is not a sin but the response to it can lead to sin.

It's a bit like if you have a sexual thought that comes to mind.
The thought itself is not sinful, it's how you deal with that could be sinful.
It's like a thought to lie is not sinful but how you deal with it could be sinful.
If you follow it through then yes it's a sin, but pray to God for help not to do it is the correct way.

Now I will give you my problem concerning anxiety.
I have been diagnosed with several generalized anxiety.
Basically this anxiety is constant and basically debilitating.
Had it for 30 years plus.
I continually seek God for healing, bring it to him.
Praise God I have been able to function.
Run a company of 30 people.
Do a ministry in church.
Have 4 kids all Christians.

I have every day prayed to God for healing, sought help in the church, been prayed over

No release has been forthcoming.
I refuse to take meds because I feel God can and will heal.
I do not believe it's medically related.

So am I sinning?

What are you anxious about?

.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
113
What are you anxious about?

.
That's my point.
I have no idea.

It's called severe generalised anxiety.
It's constant and has no pin point.

So am I sinning?
Praying every day for healing and release every day.

I do have hope going forward.
 
Jul 28, 2021
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That's my point.
I have no idea.

It's called severe generalised anxiety.
It's constant and has no pin point.
The Lord knows what you are anxious about. I would ask Him to reveal it to you, no matter what it is.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
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The Lord knows what you are anxious about. I would ask Him to reveal it to you, no matter what it is.
Been doing for 30 years.

I was trying to make a point based on your post about anxiety being a sin.
I say it's not.

However I have hope.
I won't go into the full details and background but help is coming.
 
Jul 28, 2021
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Been doing for 30 years.

I was trying to make a point based on your post about anxiety being a sin.
I say it's not.

However I have hope.
I won't go into the full details and background but help is coming.
I still believe that being anxious misses the mark of perfection, which technically is sin. Also, the Lord does not stay silent when it comes to your desire to see what you are anxious about. I don't believe that. Perhaps you aren't listening. When the Lord tells us to be anxious for nothing, He didn't mean everyone but you. He will answer you if you really want to know.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
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I still believe that being anxious misses the mark of perfection, which technically is sin. Also, the Lord does not stay silent when it comes to your desire to see what you are anxious about. I don't believe that. Perhaps you aren't listening.
Perhaps you are not listening either.

Being anxious is not a sin.
What part of my GAD that I have sought God for release and the issues causing this is sin.

Why for 30 years has God been silent and why have I not been healed?
How many days are there in 30 years? Times the days in 30 years.
Those are the days I have prayed every day.
There is no technical sin. Sin is sin.

Did Jesus say being anxious is a sin?

No he did not.
He said do not worry, cast your fears before God.
That's what God wants us to do.
The fear, anxiety is not the sin.
 

Icedaisey

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
1,398
475
83
How do you know you have faith in Jesus? This is a question that has often bothered me. I understand the Bible speaks on the importance of believing on Jesus. Does the Bible tell us how we know we believe?

In my own life I can see my faith in Christ. I’m not sure how I should respond when I have self doubt about the genuineness of my faith.
"My faith", "My life", you're on the right track with your concerns because ours
 
Jul 28, 2021
1,226
406
83
Perhaps you are not listening either.

Being anxious is not a sin.
What part of my GAD that I have sought God for release and the issues causing this is sin.

Why for 30 years has God been silent and why have I not been healed?
How many days are there in 30 years? Times the days in 30 years.
Those are the days I have prayed every day.
There is no technical sin. Sin is sin.

Did Jesus say being anxious is a sin?

No he did not.
He said do not worry, cast your fears before God.
That's what God wants us to do.
The fear, anxiety is not the sin.
It's what I believe. You don't have to care about what I believe.
 
Jul 28, 2021
1,226
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Perhaps you are not listening either.

Being anxious is not a sin.
What part of my GAD that I have sought God for release and the issues causing this is sin.

Why for 30 years has God been silent and why have I not been healed?
How many days are there in 30 years? Times the days in 30 years.
Those are the days I have prayed every day.
There is no technical sin. Sin is sin.

Did Jesus say being anxious is a sin?

No he did not.
He said do not worry, cast your fears before God.
That's what God wants us to do.
The fear, anxiety is not the sin.
Also, I think it's important to point out that "be anxious for nothing" is a command.
 

Icedaisey

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
1,398
475
83
"My faith", "My life", you're on the right track with your concerns because ours
Now for the whole post.lol

How do you know you have faith in Jesus? This is a question that has often bothered me. I understand the Bible speaks on the importance of believing on Jesus. Does the Bible tell us how we know we believe?


In my own life I can see my faith in Christ. I’m not sure how I should respond when I have self doubt about the genuineness of my faith.
"My faith", "My life", you're on the right track with your concerns because ours is a personal relationship with God.


There is a book I recommend for such questions as you've posed. Misquoting Jesus, by Professor Bart Ehrman.

If you have a public library card you can also borrow the audiobook version via Hoopla. It's free.


The reason I recommend that book is because it traces the history of the faith, and how our canonized scripture came to be and, it also gives the history of how the creeds came about.


The point being, yours isn't a new question or concern. And I think the reason many go through that period of personal introspection is because we try to consolidate what we feel for Jesus(God) , and his leading us through his personal indwelling spirit, with what is on the page in scripture.


God pre-existed the Bible. Maybe, if you're arriving at this question after lots of Bible study, you might consider setting the Bible aside for a time. And let God lead you to the answers to your questions.


It's a relationship. Not a robotic journey by the book of man.


Christians were "People of the way", before they became, like unto the Jews earlier, People of the Book.


God writes his laws in our heart so we are never far from them. That's having a conscience.

God also speaks to us from within, so that we are not far from The Word, that is God through Jesus the Christ.


Remember, prayer is when we speak to God. Meditation is when God speaks to us.


Relax expectations. Be open, blank, without presupposing what it will be like when God guides you. It's God. Our suppositions, expectations, are limited in mortal imagination. God is limitless.


Stay open and when God speaks to you, you'll know it.

God knows exactly where you are in life. And just when you need God's guidance. He even knows your heart having asked this question. Maybe, he is the one that led you to ask it so that he can lead you to your unique answer.


Stay Blessed.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
113
It's what I believe. You don't have to care about what I believe.
No I don't, but I do because it affects others and me.

Just like you do with me.
Just like I do with you.
You don't believe what I believe for the same reason I don't believe what you believe.

Its not a salvic issue.
God's timing Is perfect.
You got release in Gods timing.
He is in control.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
113
Also, I think it's important to point out that "be anxious for nothing" is a command.
Not saying it is not.
But being anxious is not a sin.
Was not Jesus anxious in Gethsemane?
I did ask you that.

Yes or no?
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,022
4,441
113
Also, I think it's important to point out that "be anxious for nothing" is a command.
Side note,

Did Jesus command do not be anxious, maybe depending on the version of the Bible you use, others say worry.
 
Jul 28, 2021
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No I don't, but I do because it affects others and me.

Just like you do with me.
Just like I do with you.
You don't believe what I believe for the same reason I don't believe what you believe.

Its not a salvic issue.
God's timing Is perfect.
You got release in Gods timing.
He is in control.
What I believe has no bearing on you whatsoever. It seems to me that you are now getting defensive because you know you should not be anxious, but you are.

What does your anxiety look like and feel like? Do you act out in odd ways? Are you not able to sleep? What is a "generalized" anxiety disorder? You're just a nervous person for no reason? It makes no sense at all. You are worry about something.