Have you ever walked away from your faith?

[Blik]

It is so evident that God created the world that constant faith in that is easy. What I have found difficult is to have complete faith in the ways of the Lord being superior to the ways of the world.

You can see, here and now, the admiration of people for your diamond ring, and feel pride in the home you acquired, but seeing that the homeless are fed takes faith in the Lord's ways, it is in the future we do not see except through faith.

The excitement and pleasure in our entertainment is here and now, the contentment and joy the Lord gives is sometimes hidden by our busyness.

 

[Runningman]

I've been a believer for many years and have walked away from my faith several times - although I returned; yet still I question. I know that down through the ages theologians have wrestled the deep unanswered questions such as suffering and promises that don't seem true.

Have you ever hit the wall with your faith? If so how did you move past it?

I know this isn't a nice topic and many believers gloss over it. I always avoided the Book of Job - but it is in the Bible.

God's glory is unbroken and has unparalleled excellence.

Maybe you're asking this because your faith is having trouble. You need to keep trusting in Jesus Christ. I know it's difficult, but keep pressing on. God has given you friends and family to support you.

Trust that Jesus Christ has a way for anyone who believes in Him.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

So....
At some point everyone has a crisis of faith...or due to rebellion walks away and conveniently forgets about their faith.

And I wish to this day I never had done so...I'm still paying heavily for my misadventures...so are those I love the most.

Sin is the gift that keeps on giving.

No one is exempt... everyone pays for YOUR sin. It's just the living with yourself afterwards that gets tougher and tougher.

yes God has always been warning us about sin and it’s consequences even since adam the very first man was warned “ don’t do it for when you do you will surely die “ but man did it.

the gospel says “hear me and believe my word and you will surely be saved and live , get baptized for remission of your sins come to me and learn of me and follow after me seek after my ways , treat people as I have taught you and you will be the children of God And have an everlasting home waiting just beyond sight.

I think often about the thief on the cross he was suffering the result of his sins and acknowledged it before God , but he still had a promise of eternal life in Christ.

often God is telling us about sin because it ruins our life on earth , it leads us away from all we could have been and done . It steals our time and ruins relationships through life, the longer we go on in sin the more damage and scars it leaves on our souls things that never quite heal completely.

it’s not for mankind to be servants of sin on earth but witnesses of his glory and servants of all that is good and right and true and noble and pure always in his name.

to act and live in Christs doctrine is the way to live and be seperate from that slow death we die in sin repenting when we have done wrong is one of those things he teaches that keeps us on the narrow paths before us

but we shouldnt forget that when we or another Sins tomorrow or next week or next month we do have mercy and an atoning sacrifice to cleanse that away when we repent

it’s much more about what we do in love for others now what good we do in life that’s not just for ourself about forgiving sin being merciful , not taking revenge and relating insult with insult but rather blessing . How we treat people in life representing christ is what really matters

the commandments “ don’t lie to one another “ “ don’t cheat on one another in marriage “ “ don’t steal from one another “ dont kill one another “ we’re always about how we treated others but speaking to us what not to do

now we can just repent and believe the gospel and learn what God wants us to actually do as his children and know that a Father doesn’t through out his children for making mistakes , but he also lets them choose where they want to be far from home or with him

 

[MatthewWestfieldUK]

um honestly I was taught there is a God from my earliest memory so I never can recall doubting he exists . I was only asking to try to understand your perspective . Not in any kind of judgement or anything

some are born into Christian homes where I think from very early on as far back as we can think we just believed and we’re told about Jesus from people of faith

what I have done is at different times in my life fallen away from following the lord as I should have at the time , I didn’t always live my life as if I believed many times I have made the wrong choices that conflict with my faith that he is and rewards those who diligently seek him

so I have failed many times in different ways as I think we all have if we are really Introspective and reflective of the entirety of our life’s work according to Gods word we’ve all fallen short and are in the same boat brother we just fail in different ways than others

thank God we have Jesus to atone for our shortcomings though

God bless your journey from here forward and strengthen those weaknesses in both of us in Jesus name

Did u get support after making wrong choices?

 

[MatthewWestfieldUK]

It is so evident that God created the world that constant faith in that is easy. What I have found difficult is to have complete faith in the ways of the Lord being superior to the ways of the world.

You can see, here and now, the admiration of people for your diamond ring, and feel pride in the home you acquired, but seeing that the homeless are fed takes faith in the Lord's ways, it is in the future we do not see except through faith.

The excitement and pleasure in our entertainment is here and now, the contentment and joy the Lord gives is sometimes hidden by our busyness.

Im finding that what i thought were friends, don't have time to talk.

 

[saintrose]

Dear saintrose, to follow Jesus is always a fight. One thing Jesus promissed his followers is to be persecution from those which avoid Him.
Since i became a child of God in 1987, i never doubtet the word of God and his promisses.
Pain, suffering, problems deseases are not different to believers then to unbelievers.
But the way to treat with is different. I always can come to my father. Till now I can say he carried me trough this years. Through my own faults and the faults of others. He never disapointet me, but I Him often.

It is a fight, isn't it? My husband & I were first generational Christians. I learned my great-grandfather was a pastor but somebody in the family tree didn't do their job and pass the faith on. It was more difficult than I'd care to say. What a fight! I was hit with so many things. I recall when I was coming to the faith I kept getting hit with the thought that God would send me to Timbucktu if I became a believer. Looking back I can see that it was the evil one using any means possible to keep me from the faith.

But now that pressures have mounted up I find myself questioning many times. Looking back I did have some remarkable prayers answered - and some that were not. It's hard when you know God hears you yet no answer comes. I expected help from God and none came. How do you still believe when you know He has the power to act yet does not?

That's my struggle.

 

[saintrose]

I recommend Job, Jeremiah, Lamentations & Ecclesiastes. God has been there with those he loves before.
I hope that doesn't sound like I'm trying to brush off your tribulations. I just know that it helped me to know
that God had experienced these things with people before & he brought them through. I hope that helps you too.
Knowing that you are not outside the scope of the experience of holy people.

I've never walked away from my faith but I have had times of struggle when I didn't understand what was going on.
I can't say I'm sailing along smoothly now either but it's myself I doubt, not God.

I remember you sharing that you are dealing with prolonged physical pain.
I'm not sure of the details but my own mother suffered with prolonged, intense pain in the form of rheumatoid arthritis
with some other complications for years. I am currently dealing with some health issues myself as well.
I'm telling you that because I don't want you to think I'm not sympathetic to the difficulties we can face.

((hugs))

I never liked the Book of Job and always avoided it - I always thought that God dealt unfairly with Job.

I'm dealing with severe, unremitting pain and many night prayed I would not wake up. I actually was going to end it myself if God didn't but one of my children started to cry - and I never ever want to hurt them. It makes me so angry that they have done this to me and my family. I've missed so much - so many milestones - laying in bed in pain. My husband just wanted me to go visit family and I just hurt too much to get up. The cold makes it worse and I feel annoyed towards him for not leaving years ago for a warmer climate. I can barely move because walking is intolerable. It's worse than I can even recount here. If I fight through it I can move but I'm tired. I'm tired of it.

Now I'm dealing with corrupt lawyers when I expected help from God. They completely broke the law and badgered, harassed, and vilified me to accept a low settlement. Pharmaceutical companies and some lawyers are the sickest, most vile, most conscienceless people - but evil people are in every walk of life - I just found lawyers and police to be among the worst for abusing their power. They don't care how much you're damaged, just that their bottom line doesn't shift too much in the balance.

I prayed throughout this ordeal for 12 years while enduring excruciating pain, surgeries, struggles, and desires to want to leave. I kept thinking God would help me - but no help came. The sleazy lawyer made a deal with the devil.

If you go to trial the defendant drags it out so that you're spending money - it's a sick sick game and they know it. So they give you a pittance - the lawyer takes his fat cut and the victim goes home to die when the money runs out. They're the realities that most keep silent about. The lawyer told me if I invest properly I 'should' have enough for my medical care. Bull. "IF" I invest well??? What a crock. And what IF my investments DON'T do well??? Sorry - you don't get medical care. I was prepped for critical surgery and the hospital stopped it until my husband paid them $500.00 copay. What happens next time when we don't have $500.00 sitting around??? It's a reality that Americans go home to die while immigrants on Medicaid get everything paid for. It's the genocide no one is talking about.

I went to the hospital for treatments (which I can't afford now) and the nurse told me she couldn't believe our insurance even paid a part of it (we paid $20,000.00 out of pocket for it) She said "I swear they want these older people to die."

The REALITY is: if you don't have the money to pay you suffer and then die. That's the reality in America today.

The son of the devil lawyer then told me he was going to court to have the judge give him even more - he's likely got a buddy from law school who will judge in his favor. Everything is corrupt. Everything.

I was so angry I cut loose on him. I'm dealing with pain and trouble that has me about to go over the edge and then he screws me over for a low amount which he knows is wrong - and then tries to take even more of what little I'm getting. Then he sent me an email and said I had to pay several thousand into some "lawyers fund." Yesterday a thought popped into my head about lawyers breaking the law and doing that (could have been from God) and I looked it up and sure enough - that money is to come out of the LAWYERS FEE NOT THE PLAINTIFF'S.

I do believe that God will exact justice on those corrupt lawyers but why is He refusing to help me? I won't be able to afford the intensive medical care I need. Those lawyers know it - but they play the game. Blame the victim because she didn't invest well. It's sick.

So right now I'm seeing a God who callously watched all this for 12 years and who sits idly by while sons of the devil persecute His child.

It doesn't make sense. None of it.

 

[JohnDB]

It is a fight, isn't it? My husband & I were first generational Christians. I learned my great-grandfather was a pastor but somebody in the family tree didn't do their job and pass the faith on. It was more difficult than I'd care to say. What a fight! I was hit with so many things. I recall when I was coming to the faith I kept getting hit with the thought that God would send me to Timbucktu if I became a believer. Looking back I can see that it was the evil one using any means possible to keep me from the faith.

But now that pressures have mounted up I find myself questioning many times. Looking back I did have some remarkable prayers answered - and some that were not. It's hard when you know God hears you yet no answer comes. I expected help from God and none came. How do you still believe when you know He has the power to act yet does not?

That's my struggle.

God is not Superman or Santa Claus or a maid or a personal assistant or a secretary.

And you have to answer that first question...Is God always good? His job is that of God...we serve him and not the other way around.

And the answer is one YOU have to know beyond all shadow of doubt.

God does not need me or you or a million billion other people. Just a simple desire to do truly good things for us and to us is what He owns.

 

[saintrose]

Are you talking about doubting God exists ? Or walking in faith ?

That's the struggle: I KNOW god exists yet He refuses to act. That's my struggle. I think it's actually worse on believers because they know they've been spiritually regenerated yet God sits and does nothing when they suffer.

 

[saintrose]

OP: doubting and walking away from God?

Precious friend(s), Trusting God And His Word Of Truth, Rightly Divided is key:

1) Re-examine our OWN SELVES to "make SURE we Are IN The Faith! (2 Cor 13:5)
God's Simple Will!

IF "we are IN The Faith," then TRUST God That HE "Did What HE Said HE DID":

2Ti_1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

IF we have this, then one might think, well "we Shouldn't doubt God And His
Promises," Correct?

2) However, due to babes In Christ suffering from "Every Wind of false doctrine,"
the doubt comes from ALL the Confusion Caused By ↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

God's Solution, "Approved Unto Him"? "study HIS Word Of Truth, Rightly Divided!"
(2 Timothy 2:15) THIS has Definitely done it for me = NEVER to doubt God Again!

Hoping it will Encourage others also:

God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels
Distinctions In God's Two Different Programs: Prophecy vs Mystery!

Finally:

3) For your Encouragement in sufferings, and understanding What God's
Purpose Is Today, Under HIS PURE GRACE!: GRACE Word for infirmities

Precious friends, please be Richly Encouraged And Edified, In CHRIST!

I'm glad you quoted that one verse: when I became a believer years ago I was badly misled by TV and radio preachers - 'every wind of false doctrine' - I never realized there was a verse for it.

But I'm talking about many years hence and not seeing God act when you know He hears.

 

[MatthewWestfieldUK]

That's the struggle: I KNOW god exists yet He refuses to act. That's my struggle. I think it's actually worse on believers because they know they've been spiritually regenerated yet God sits and does nothing when they suffer.

What is a brave thing to say most people are not going to be so honest

 

[saintrose]

I've never stopped believing but like many, I wondered about the same issues. I had an especially difficult time once. I blamed God for a situation that seemed to be His will but was a disaster. After 50 years in the Lord, I've quit wrestling with God. Jacob was nowhere near as stubborn as I was. These are the conclusions I've come to.

1. God is good. All the time. My perception is flawed and I see things from the wrong perspective and without understanding.
2. God is love. The cross shows how much God hates sin. The cross shows how much God loves sinners
3. God is wise. He sees what we do not and He knows how to resolve issues when we are clueless
4. God is powerful. God can do what He promises, even when it seems impossible.
5. God is dependable. He is faithful to all His promises. If we struggle to accept this, refer to points 1-4
6. God is patient. What human ruler would put up with such rebellion and arrogance of his subjects?
7. God is judge. Everyone will get to face God and be forced to account for their lives. How much better to be forgiven, justified, acquitted and declared righteous before that day!
8. God will prevail. The much mentioned Job said that the plan and purpose of God cannot be thwarted.

People rave on about sin and the law and how bad it is to break the sabbath and such. You may think this is heresy, but God does not care that much about such trivia. There is a sin worse than speeding, lusting after the near naked women on the beach or lying on your tax return. The greatest evil is doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief is a slur on the very nature of God and is straight from the pit of hell. Satan planted this seed in Eve's mind and she accepted it. Adam went along with her folly and the rest is the wretched history of humanity.

Whatever battle you face, whatever troubles you in life, however little you understand what you are going through, you may be sure that it's not God's fault. He's done everything necessary to reverse the blight that Adam brought on himself and his descendants. There is always a reason for our troubles. "Where did I go wrong?" is a great prayer. And God will show you, if you ask in humility and with respect. And you will see the salvation of God, if you will keep your heart right before Him.

I have a very hard time knowing when to fight and when to accept. How do you know???

I try so hard to tune into God and it's like I always miss the boat. Maybe it's because I'm undisciplined in bible study and not having my mind renewed. I long for Him - but it seems I"m always grasping at the air. I get blips of absolute holiness and nearness - but then it passes.

He is likely drawing me and I'm trying to get there yet the path is not so clear. I know studying the Word is crucial. Maybe that's where I'm taking the wrong turn.

I have a very hard time making decisions. I wrestled with God over whether to accept the low settlement or continue fighting the devils. Nothing came clear. Their harassment got so bad I warned them I would file a complaint with the state bar for emotional abuse. To do that to someone so severely damaged is vile. They stopped but I have a threatening letter from the pharmaceutical company and I don't believe I should roll over and "just forgive" or they'll do it again. It's ILLEGAL.

But it's down to where the rubber meets the road: do you just 'forgive' or do you fight? I don't know. When do you fight and when do you forgive? It's just not clear.

I guess it's like with the Israelites - God didn't deliver them - they were forced to fight enemies. But I'm weary.

 

[Aidan1]

It is a fight, isn't it? My husband & I were first generational Christians. I learned my great-grandfather was a pastor but somebody in the family tree didn't do their job and pass the faith on. It was more difficult than I'd care to say. What a fight! I was hit with so many things. I recall when I was coming to the faith I kept getting hit with the thought that God would send me to Timbucktu if I became a believer. Looking back I can see that it was the evil one using any means possible to keep me from the faith.

But now that pressures have mounted up I find myself questioning many times. Looking back I did have some remarkable prayers answered - and some that were not. It's hard when you know God hears you yet no answer comes. I expected help from God and none came. How do you still believe when you know He has the power to act yet does not?

That's my struggle.

Well, me helps to look back, see what he already did in my life and to know that he loves me. This helpes me in this way, that I know that he knows what is better in my Situation, even I dont understand it.
To trust God, sometimes against all logic and understanding I think this is one of the most important things to honor Him.

 

[Pureness]

I never walked away from my faith, and never will. I was always taught that God is a on time God. Ill always keep faith in the man above

 

[JohnDB]

Knowing the good thing you can and should do but not doing it is a sin.
Sin of omission....
Isn't it?

So are some accusing God of sin?

 

[Pilgrimshope]

That's the struggle: I KNOW god exists yet He refuses to act. That's my struggle. I think it's actually worse on believers because they know they've been spiritually regenerated yet God sits and does nothing when they suffer.

what do you expect God to do ? If he makes someone new it becomes this

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Also if we sit and complain and blame God for our troubles , we are doing exactly what the children of Israel did in the desert when they wandered in circles fourty years blaming God because the bread from heaven wasn’t tasty enough , or then the quail he gave them for meat “just wasn’t like it was in Egypt they feasted on everything they wanted
Then

now they just had this miraculous bread God sent them to sustain thier lives in hunger so they complained for meat , he sent them quail but there’s always another thing we don’t have or want or some other situation we get into that is Gods lack of care and intervention ….

eternity in a perfect world with Jesus is a pretty good reward but a perfect life and no problems or struggles or persecutions or consequences or trials or even suffering in this lifetime isnt what God promised

the truth is we had a perfect world he gave to us and we the operatives of the earth filled it with violence and corrupted all of Gods good ways We mankind did this

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-6, 11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The world is like this

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭

because of mankind we freely spread evil into all the world so , we have a world that is filled with evil . The result is a world of suffering , violence , deceit , scamming , because of the love of money , the lust of the flesh and heart , coveting ect

all the things God warned us not to do all along and we would not repent but kept on following the other guys ideas and desires for mankind.

point is the suffering we go through isn’t Gods fault it’s what man did to this world he handed us

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we corrupted everything and brought death and sorrow violence , suffering upon our own self as a species in a world corrupted by us

it’s not Gods fault , but because he’s good he’s promised once we come through this corrupt world filled with all we caused the tribulations and sorrows we brought into creation , he will have another better place without corruption or sorrow or death waiting for us to dwell Forever

we caused it all and he’s saving our souls for a new world. this world promises sorrows and struggles but it is 100 percent not Gods fault , he has promised to go through the world with us and never leave us but he also told us tthis world holds sorrows , death , tribulations and struggles of many kinds for us especially believing in eternity

Maybe it’s about what we do or don’t do in life as believers that blessed or curses us ?

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Did u get support after making wrong choices?

naw I suffered for the choices I made mostly not all but most and struggled because of them for a long time pretty much had ruined my life , severed good relationships with people ect but what happened in the long run is Ive learned to make good choices and have blessings come rather than curses as a result of my choices

so now I’m in a much better place I feel still not perfect and make mistakes in many ways but I’ve learned about Gods longsuffering and forebearance towards us to bring us to repentance , through our life and time spent really seeking after the gospel and applying it to life’s many various situations we face everyday

life is good but I know I’m not incapable of making a wrong choice or decision I’ve done it and been through the results several times in life , I can never claim anything of my self because I failed many many times and Jesus stuck with me through the worst of it

I guess what I found was support from the gospel and Bible study honestly eventually it took awhile but I’m learning my conclusion is we have a lifetimes walk and will grow and face greater struggles and obstacles as we do it’s a journey

 

[Icedaisey]

I've been a believer for many years and have walked away from my faith several times - although I returned; yet still I question. I know that down through the ages theologians have wrestled the deep unanswered questions such as suffering and promises that don't seem true.

Have you ever hit the wall with your faith? If so how did you move past it?

I know this isn't a nice topic and many believers gloss over it. I always avoided the Book of Job - but it is in the Bible.

You might consider all that you describe there may be God getting your attention.

I can understand how you'd arrive at the conclusion that there are questions. Because if we read just the first few chapters of Genesis, in the awareness of the NT Gospel, there can but be a reason to question.

Generations have accepted the claim that the Bible is the inspired words of God.
We take that to mean something akin to God speaking to people who copied what they heard.

But is that it? Or is the phrase more like, people were inspired to write a book to control people using their concept of God.

God can't be contained in churches, structures built by human hands.
Why would we think God's messages to us is only found in a book?

Maybe don't hold to preconceived ideas of other people as to what it means to be in faith to and in relationship with God.
Put down the Bible, and find your quiet place and meditate. Or take a long walk, with no expectations, and let God find you. Because God is everywhere.

If you release your expectations as to what it means to be in Christ, you may find the personal answers in your personal relationship with God.

You'll be fine. God knows you.💕

 

[p_rehbein]

Regarding the question in the OP Title:

No

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

I have a very hard time knowing when to fight and when to accept. How do you know???

I try so hard to tune into God and it's like I always miss the boat. Maybe it's because I'm undisciplined in bible study and not having my mind renewed. I long for Him - but it seems I"m always grasping at the air. I get blips of absolute holiness and nearness - but then it passes.

He is likely drawing me and I'm trying to get there yet the path is not so clear. I know studying the Word is crucial. Maybe that's where I'm taking the wrong turn.

I have a very hard time making decisions. I wrestled with God over whether to accept the low settlement or continue fighting the devils. Nothing came clear. Their harassment got so bad I warned them I would file a complaint with the state bar for emotional abuse. To do that to someone so severely damaged is vile. They stopped but I have a threatening letter from the pharmaceutical company and I don't believe I should roll over and "just forgive" or they'll do it again. It's ILLEGAL.

But it's down to where the rubber meets the road: do you just 'forgive' or do you fight? I don't know. When do you fight and when do you forgive? It's just not clear.

I guess it's like with the Israelites - God didn't deliver them - they were forced to fight enemies. But I'm weary.

Precious friend, so I take it that you could Not "access" this link?: GRACE Word for infirmities

A Bible "study" that shows God's Purpose and Actions when we suffer?

You do understand that it Does Not Matter "what EVIL men do" to us on earth.
Some GLAD Day, HE Will Deliver us from ALL of this EVIL, and, As HE Says:

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, VENGEANCE Is Mine, Saith The LORD, I WILL REPAY!" (Romans 12:19)

God Is A "God Of Action!" whether we "choose to BELIEVE HIM, Or not." Just sayin...