God doesn’t want you to share your struggles

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Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
26,766
8,992
113
#21
The difference is the heart making the plea.

The extent to which we are anxious is the extent of our mistrust of God. We like to know the outcomes and the timing of things. We like to be in control. We believe this gives us security. But it is a false security. The only real security is found in simply trusting God. In this way, we can still have peace regardless of what we experience. If we believe that He is in control, that He loves us, that He is good, that He is working all things for good, and desires and works our highest good, we will simply rest in this reality. The truth is, we find that we don't actually trust God in all these ways. Our faith is weak and untested. So when a difficult time comes, we aren't actually in the habit of trusting God. We do not live as though all that is true of God is actually true of God for us.

Trials have a way of removing all the pretense and reveal who we really are. As we go through them, we actually find out who God really is in the process. And our faith grows as we find God to be even more spectacular than we ever imagined.

Waiting is the process by which God whittles away our fears. What seemed so dire in the moment, no longer appears so imminent. Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead before He went to see Martha and Mary. To them it first appeared He was too late, when, in fact, He was right on time. And so it is with us.

So relax. Make your requests known unto God. He already knows them; He is merely wanting you to draw near and know Him.
Yeah. That's why Jesus said it was hard for a rich man to get into heaven. The more you have, the more you become accustomed to relying on yourself instead of God.

That's why our current standard of living is a problem. Almost everybody has reached the point where we are getting used to relying on our own resources to solve problems.

Don't get me wrong. I kind of like being able to solve my own problems. But it doesn't do much for my faith...
 

jacko

Active member
Sep 2, 2024
370
187
43
#22
Yeah. That's why Jesus said it was hard for a rich man to get into heaven. The more you have, the more you become accustomed to relying on yourself instead of God.

That's why our current standard of living is a problem. Almost everybody has reached the point where we are getting used to relying on our own resources to solve problems.

Don't get me wrong. I kind of like being able to solve my own problems. But it doesn't do much for my faith...

Here is my problem. The Lord has humbled me and that's OK from a standard of living standpoint.
But I have a family with 2 kids and a wife and it's an adjustment which impacts their lives also from piano lessons to tutoring classes to eating out as a family, to family vacations, etc. I pray the Lord can change the heart of my wife, so can be more reliant on the Lord. She's not close to being there.


You can be changed in your heart..... but you need God to change the hearts of those around you also.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,383
6,669
113
#25
I fully regret sharing anything personal on the internet because not everyone who reads it is a brother or sister, far from it.
How will non believers see our love for one another if they do not see how we love each other?

Our Father will take what is not to bring down what is.
 
Apr 24, 2021
53
28
18
Scotland
#27
How will non believers see our love for one another if they do not see how we love each other?

Our Father will take what is not to bring down what is.
I believe this can be done without posting personal information on the internet.
It's just something i feel convicted of among other things, to be honest I've been feeling for a while that it may be better to get rid of the phone altogether. My thoughts here are who made these things and for what purpose? Does God approve? I'm starting to think not.
 
Jul 2, 2011
21,383
6,669
113
#28
I believe this can be done without posting personal information on the internet.
It's just something i feel convicted of among other things, to be honest I've been feeling for a while that it may be better to get rid of the phone altogether. My thoughts here are who made these things and for what purpose? Does God approve? I'm starting to think not.
Please forgive my misunderstanding of the point of your post. You make good sense here, thank you, God bless you.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
26,766
8,992
113
#29
I believe this can be done without posting personal information on the internet.
It's just something i feel convicted of among other things, to be honest I've been feeling for a while that it may be better to get rid of the phone altogether. My thoughts here are who made these things and for what purpose? Does God approve? I'm starting to think not.
The things in question are tools. They were made for the utility they provide.

How they are used determines whether they are good or evil, just like a hammer or a shovel.

The things in question are communication devices and programs that run on them. So what determines whether they are good or evil is, are our communications good or evil?
 
Apr 24, 2021
53
28
18
Scotland
#30
The things in question are tools. They were made for the utility they provide.

How they are used determines whether they are good or evil, just like a hammer or a shovel.

The things in question are communication devices and programs that run on them. So what determines whether they are good or evil is, are our communications good or evil?
I disagree, i believe these were made by evil for evil.
Don't most people seem to agree that times were better before all this new technology was introduced? It's driving people apart while telling everyone it brings us closer together.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
26,766
8,992
113
#31
I disagree, i believe these were made by evil for evil.
Don't most people seem to agree that times were better before all this new technology was introduced? It's driving people apart while telling everyone it brings us closer together.
Yes, and knives are inherently evil because some people in Britain use them to mug other people.

Personally I use this information technology for good things everyday. Just like I often use a knife for productive things.
 
Apr 24, 2021
53
28
18
Scotland
#32
Yes, and knives are inherently evil because some people in Britain use them to mug other people.

Personally I use this information technology for good things everyday. Just like I often use a knife for productive things.
Fair enough.
I'm not going to argue over it, plus i am still using a phone and do agree there are websites etc (this being one of them) that were no doubt made with good intentions.
 
Jan 18, 2016
6,955
1,574
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#33
I heard on youtube someone say that God does not want you to share your struggles outwardly. Also, they mentioned something about demons might pick up on this your feelings as it’s a public forum to attack you further.
I don’t know if there’s any biblical truth to this, but there could be, I just haven’t researched it. I know that God doesn’t want you to complain but since we are, we would be complaining to brothers and sisters in Christ. I don’t know if that’s OK or not OK any thoughts?
From the book of James....

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [m]anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will [n]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [o]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A [p]prayer of a righteous person, when it is [q]brought about, can accomplish much.
 
Sep 2, 2024
370
187
43
#34
From the book of James....

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [m]anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will [n]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [o]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A [p]prayer of a righteous person, when it is [q]brought about, can accomplish much.
Yes, agree, but maybe again there is a fine line snd we should not “complain” so it’s a matter of the heart in how you do it.
 
Jan 18, 2016
6,955
1,574
113
#35
Yes, agree, but maybe again there is a fine line snd we should not “complain” so it’s a matter of the heart in how you do it.
Yes, I agree with that. I don't think we should complain.... we should find joy in any situation.... but sharing your burdens with other brothers and sisters is very much scriptural... it's part of being in a family, or a body of believers.

I also believe that God wants us to be discerning when choosing who to "confide" in.... I don't think the idea is to have each person get up in front of the whole body and confess each and every dark thought we've had....
 

jacko

Active member
Sep 2, 2024
370
187
43
#36
The difference is the heart making the plea.

The extent to which we are anxious is the extent of our mistrust of God. We like to know the outcomes and the timing of things. We like to be in control. We believe this gives us security. But it is a false security. The only real security is found in simply trusting God. In this way, we can still have peace regardless of what we experience. If we believe that He is in control, that He loves us, that He is good, that He is working all things for good, and desires and works our highest good, we will simply rest in this reality. The truth is, we find that we don't actually trust God in all these ways. Our faith is weak and untested. So when a difficult time comes, we aren't actually in the habit of trusting God. We do not live as though all that is true of God is actually true of God for us.

Trials have a way of removing all the pretense and reveal who we really are. As we go through them, we actually find out who God really is in the process. And our faith grows as we find God to be even more spectacular than we ever imagined.

Waiting is the process by which God whittles away our fears. What seemed so dire in the moment, no longer appears so imminent. Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead before He went to see Martha and Mary. To them it first appeared He was too late, when, in fact, He was right on time. And so it is with us.

So relax. Make your requests known unto God. He already knows them; He is merely wanting you to draw near and know Him.
Thanks! I needed that today.