I have been a Christian for four years (since I was 13)....I have been doubting my faith recently and tried to find peace with God elsewhere......it has not worked. God always drew me back to him.....I can't escape being a Christian...but I feel happy....I started to fast and seek God through reading the Bible and praying more......Can anyone give me some more advice or a word of encouragement?
2007-03-05 04:13:46 · 14 answers · asked by Aaron M 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sounds like you are on the right track. Find a group of Christian friends to fellowship with. We all struggle - thats what makes us special and better- we have the resolve and the perserverance to be Christians. Its a lot easier not to be.
2007-03-05 04:17:46 · answer #1 · answered by momof2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1st, a 17 year old's purpose is to question things. Faith irregardless of your belief system requires normal maturation. Whether you are Christian, Jew, Muslim, Agnostic, Buddhist or Hindu. At your age faith is not mature.
As a born again Reverent Agnostic, I don't doubt the existence of a higher power. I believe firmly that we all have a purpose, albeit a "small frog in a big pond" ..
In a sense, we need to ask for some simple things to guide our being, Serenity to accept those things we cannot change and courage to change those things we can and the wisdom to know the difference. It's pretty simple. Don't make a big deal, don't try to create a homily or reinvent the wheel. Knowledge of your higher powers will for you and the power to carry it out.
Fasting is kind of overkill. You are 17 and need to eat, not hallucinate.
2007-03-05 12:27:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus promised that the Spirit will always be with you, but He did not promised that You will ALWAYS feel hapiness and comfort. so Don't make your feelings as basis of Faith, as basis for Right or Wrong. Faith is believing the things that are not yet seen, and the Word should never be splitted nor changed by People, not a single word from it.
I suggest keep holding on and pray hard. Endure life and always trust in Him, not on to the things that people can do, not on the things that you can do. GB.
2007-03-05 12:26:11 · answer #3 · answered by theSeed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thomas doubted and so did all of Jesus disciples when they were crossing the the Jordan to the other side and if you look at the end results their doubts made them stronger because the sought Gods face.
Continue to seek Gods face and he will not leave you out to be destroyed.
God Bless you
2007-03-05 12:21:11 · answer #4 · answered by Commander 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here are some scriptures to help you out.
Matthew 21:2 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
In other words, keep praying and having faith. Soon you will have the answers you need.
2007-03-05 12:41:27 · answer #5 · answered by odd duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To doubt your faith is not a reason for alarm. Everyone, in my opinion, has doubts from time to time. I feel that its healthy, and drives me to look for answers to my doubts, thus leading me closer to God. For someone to be closed minded to the point of having ZERO doubt, causes me to ? wether they have truly come to Christ or not. Take tithing for example. Jesus himself said to test him on this. IMO, the presupposes a doubt that it will work. Dont fear your doubt, learn from it. It may also help if you dont look as other religions as an "escape" from Christianity. If you know in your heart that Jesus is the son of God, and is your personal savior, then there should be no longing to "escape" What your going through is quite common, and can build a closer relationship with you and your Savior. Be Strong, seek the truth, and God will reveal it to you. God bless you for having the courage to admit you have and will have doubts. Grow from them, learn from them, and dont stop seeking the face of God.
2007-03-05 12:24:15 · answer #6 · answered by Underdog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel: It feel like every time you want to go your own way, one way or another, you end up going back to God. The only advice I have for you is keep on doing what you're doing and just because God don't seem like He's moving in you life, doesn't mean His' not. If you keep the faith, I promise He won't fail you.
2007-03-05 12:22:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All that you are doing is good.
It helps clear your earthly mind and helps you to focus on what God has in store for you.
The only advice that I might be able to see from theoutside looking in, is to remember to act on what you have prayed about, read about, fasted about.
Once we know what Gods word says, we must go out and obey it, live it, breathe it, be it.
2007-03-05 12:24:11 · answer #8 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's nothing wrong with doubt, no matter what anyone tells you.
Doubt leads to questioning.
Questioning leads to truth.
And not the truth with a capital T and a trademark sign.
2007-03-05 12:16:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Find a strong christian ,that you like and trust. Or church. Beening a teen is hard enough today. GOD BLESS
2007-03-05 12:21:22 · answer #10 · answered by TCC Revolution 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋