Christians how many times have you lost faith, then returned to God?

Question

I’ve known a few, and all of them have occasionally given up on the faith, and then relapsed back into Christianity.

For once I’m not trying to make salient points or flame anyone.

I’d like to hear your take on people that loose their faith.

Has it happened to you?
Is it happening to you now?
How frequently do these lapses of faith happen?

Etc.

Answer 1

Three times, I would say.

First time, because I decided I wanted to live life my own way and not be told how to live by some ancient book or some stodgy church people.

Second time, because I felt that no loving God could ever let me go through so much pain.

Third time, because I simply needed to let God out of my small little box and come to a deeper understanding of who God is.

All three times, I did eventually come to a new understanding of God. Hopefully I've gained enough wisdom now to let God enlarge my understanding without going through all the "adolescent" growing pains in my spirituality.

Peace to you.

Answer 2

It happened only once to me -- and once is enough mind you! First, I'm a catholic since birth and have received all the sacraments thus far, except two: Extreme Unction (Last Rites) and Holy Orders (becoming a Priest). That said, while I was attending Valparaiso University (a Lutheran school), I lost my faith for a short period of time (if I remember correctly it was only a month or two tops). It hurts me when I think about it now, but in those days (late 1970s) it wasn't "cool" or the "in" thing to do. Maybe it was the drugs, sex, or the Rock `n' Roll, but I eventually wandered back to where I belong, because their was an emptiness in my heart without God being there.

Answer 3

I have an interesting story I guess. I don't when exactly I gave my life to Christ, I was just a Christian, but then when I was 13, I was in 8th grade and my cousin was murdered in Philadelphia. The next year, around the same time as my cousin had died my grandmother and my uncle passed away a week apart. I had been struggling with my faith since Jen died, but after losing 2 more people, I was so angry and bitter. I rededicated my life in April of that year when I went to a concert called Battle Cry in Baltimore. After that I felt happier. So much more happier. Then I was diagnosed with diabetes. I didn't give up faith, I just had to struggle awhile with why God would make me suffer when I saw people who were doing less with their lives who were wasting their perfect health. Now I've come to realize that I can do grat things through my diabetes and I can be a center of outreach for many people.

Answer 4

Once.

Originally saved around 12ish.

Left the faith when I was 19ish. (Saw hypocrisy in Christian leaders that I respected... namely my dad... I'm a preacher's kid...)

Came back at around 27... Suicidal at the time and stopped at a local church... I say local... OK I drove from Kansas to Virginia planning on drowning myself in the ocean... Yes a little excessive... I know... This church I had attended when I was a kid and I thought I'd give God one last time before I did it to prove to me He was real. I stopped on Thursday night. The deadline was the Sunday service. What happened?

They called the cops on Friday morning. Didn't even talk to me. Had the pleasure of being taken...in hand cuffs... to the psych ward of the local hospital. Got coerced into telling my family I was there and came back home.

Well long story short... after a few more months I came back to faith in Christ because of the book "Evidence that Demands a Vedict".

I don't have anymore lapses. Everyone once in a while I do find myself praying something to the effect of, "Jesus, are you for real?" though.

Answer 5

Never have I lost my "faith" in God or Christ as my personal savior. I have been "saved" since I was 14 years old and I am now 40 and have been through many things in my life in which many people would think I might "give up" on God. God is still God and He always will be. My "faith is not based on what happens around me but who God is in me.

Answer 6

It happened to me when I was still a young Christian. I then ended up in a very bad spot and returned to God. Fortunately He is a God of second chances and he welcomed me back into His Bosom with open arms. All glory to Him in Christ as by His grace I never slipped away again. I have come to love God as Father Son and Spirit and I am simply nuts about Him. I cannot imagine my life without Him as He is the Essence of my being and the Reason why I am. We have a relationship and because of this I have no desire to grieve Him. I am filled with His Spirit and Spirit enables me to keep my eyes on Jesus and now my utmost desire to please Him in all that I am doing!!

Answer 7

Never lost faith in Jesus once I became "Saved & Born again", but God forgives even when we turn our backs on him and loose faith. Proverbs 24:16, " For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
God wants everyone to be saved it is us who reject him.

Answer 8

I've never lost my faith. But I have gotten so upset with God that I stopped going to church....etc.
I had a friend finally show me that this was normal, when we think God isn't listening or helping us. We tend to drift away. But later we find that God was always there helping and we were too self absorbed to see it!

Answer 9

It did not happen to me . One hand, satan is the great deceiver of mankind. He brings men to lukewarmness of their faith, brings hatred, anger, divisions, biases, prejudices, crimes, wars, terrorism, etc. Such satan is the author of all our sins and his demons are destined for perdition. But all men are saved by the blood of the LAMB OF GOD.

Answer 10

Perhaps this individual never had the faith to begin with.