How do you keep the faith when the lives of all of those around you (parents, siblings, etc) are crumbling?

Question

My parents are in their 70s and 60s and they are going bankrupt after a 2 decade battle to stay afloat. They are about to lose their house, car, EVERYTHING!!!

My sister has a master's degree, a phd and has won international awards but because of some stupid time rule she has lost her job. Now she has nowhere to go with her 11 mo, 28day old baby. These are basically GOOD human beings, who are charitable, hardworking, honest and who would never do anything to harm anyone. I feel God has failed us and I feel bad about the way I feel but I can't shake off the feeling that we've been dealt a bad hand. How do I keep the faith???

love2bcurious: Yes, my sister is married. To a wonderful, hardworking man and father.

You sound a bit too judgmental to call yourself a Christian. Is that what they teach at the church you go to??

He who not has sins, cast the first stone...

Must be nice to be you... By the way, I do agree my family's problems are not the worst there could be. But if you cannot be sympathetic to someone who is trying to reach out and become a better person (me), then please refrain from answering. If you can't be nice, just don't take the time to "help".

Oh yeah - if you had confirmed your email address I would have emailed this to you instead of posting it here.

Sorry, I can't contain myself... TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION;;; Good, hardworking, honest, CHARITABLE... that has EVERYTHING to do with Jesus's preachings.... What new testament have you been reading???

Answer 1

By what I call the power of one - one thought at a time, one prayer at a time and one answer from God at a time. I'm 42. I had a stroke May 8, last year, while in the hospital they found an inoperable brain tumor, since then I have seizures, up to 4 or 5 a day - but you know I can say with assurance the last year has been the hardest and happiest year of my life - why - because I do everything by one prayer, one step and thought at a time, and always just one step behind what Christ is leading me. We're too busy trying to get ahead of him and he never said go ahead of me, he said Follow Me. He also assured us that God knew our needs, he said his ways are not our ways. Because of what has happened in my life I have more empathy and understanding for others than I can express. People call me wanting answers as to how to get by, when I'm wondering the same thing. No it doesn't sound like a fair hand, but I promise God doesn't deal bad hands, he deals us opportunities to make our lives a living example of faith in him. It's up to us to take it or not. I chose too and it's been more than worth the sacrifices, the fear, and guilt, the conflicts, and the anxieties. I'm growing and learning as a Christian in a way I never dreamed possible.

Answer 2

Good, hard working, charitable, honest? What have these adjectives got to do with God and His son, Jesus Christ? Many people have these qualities you mention... and a lot more. Man alone cannot "earn" good favor with the Lord for "ALL" have sinned and fallen short of grace! Without repentance, and total surrender to the Lord... you're just spinning your wheels! God hasn't failed you! God said, "My people perish for lack of knowledge". And what He means here is that He gave us the Bible, with everything in it that we need to know while here on earth, and still - we refuse to even open it up and read it! What you do with your life is your choice, but don't blame God for your bad choices in life... the ones "you" made! There are consequences for everything we do and say! Take an "honest" look back at all the things the members of your family have done to arrive at their present situations and you'll find the reasons that they are where they are. (Example: Is your sister married?). Man's laws are NOT spiritual laws. Don't even begin to suggest that you know difference, because I can tell just from reading your question that you don't! You don't know God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit! You don't even read the bible!
Hey, when all else fails, blame God! (Right!)
Get off your pity pot and start getting right with the Lord...
or else keep on doing your own thing and continue on in total wonderment?!

Answer 3

This is hard because somebody can tell you to just believe that God is watching out for you. But maybe there is a reason for this because there is a reason for everything. I know that you don't understand the reasoning and may never. But you got to realize that God is always there God isn't going to turn his back on you or your family. I know that it seems like the good people in life always get the rough end of the deal but in times it makes them stronger people and they can help someone else in there past situation. Don't give up your belief and don't give up your love for God. I'm sorry that this is happening to your family. My parents have recently gone through a bankruptcy and they seem to be coming out of it for the better.

Answer 4

Praise to God for a Living Hope
1 Peter 1:3-9 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Keep praying, keep persevering. Read the book of Job. He was one of the godliest men alive and he lost everything. He lost his family, his home, all of his posessions, and even his friends mocked him and tried to get him to mock God. Job kept the faith and God gave him a new life.

Answer 5

It is called faith for a reason.

But do keep in mind that bad things happen. And bad things do happen to good people. The Gods don't hate you and yours. It seems difficult but these are the times when we need our faith the most. Just hold on to it.

However if you just cannot shake this feeling then think about this - maybe you are following the wrong faith.
~Gypsy~

Answer 6

Well..if you think God is to blame..even more reason to keep the faith..cuz if ya lose it..he might not be there for you later. He'll turn his back on you..as you have done him. Also..another good reason..I believe Christ is coming soon..dont wanna be left here..do ya?

Answer 7

God never gives us more than we can handle. We all go through trials, it is Gods way of testing our faith. You have to rely on Him to give you and your family the strength to get through hard times. Faith-I truly believe that it is that simple. God bless you and your family.

Answer 8

It's called 'faith' for a reason: it's illogical and useless. Faith kills. Get rid of it and start looking for real-world solutions to your loved one's problems. I don't mean to be cruel but this is real life we're talking about here, your loved ones seem to have some real problems.

Answer 9

The devil will attack, he is not fair at all, you keep your FAITH no matter what, GOD has not done any of this, none!!!!!! The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy-----NOT GOD. Find you a BIBLE BELIEVING SPIRIT FILLED Church, and get other Children of GOD to PRAY for all of you. Ask GOD to lead you to one in JESUS's NAME. Hope this helps, and read your BIBLE everyday, FAITH come's by HEARING the WORD, when you READ your BIBLE, you HEAR those WORD's of GOD in your mind and you get FAITH. It will make you strong to read the BIBLE every-day.