So when does this big epiphany occur?

Question

Christians act like they can hear God talking to them. Like God implants thoughts into their head. When I hear a thought in my head, I'm pretty sure I thought of it myself, considering its in MY head. I spent a huge amount of time during my teenage years very active in a missionary Baptist church. I am now 25 years old. I am still waiting on this big amazing feeling where I can actually feel God's presence and know for certain he exists. I'm starting to get pretty darn sure it isn't going to happen. So what, then, Christians? Am I not somebody God wants in Heaven, is that why he hasn't given me a feeling of certainty within myself of his existance? What happened to you to make you so positive about your beliefs?

Answer 1

I'm a Christian and I'm the same way, in re your lack of inspirational "feeling."

Then I learned that those feelings were not for me. For me, epiphany is in my head, not in my heart. I've had experience of God's presence and know for certain he exists, but it was a KNOWLEDGE, not a feeling. It doesn't feel inspired. It doesn't feel warm 'n' fuzzy. It doesn't feel like a high. It feels like a knowledge. Almost the same way I know that 1 + 1= 2.

Of course God wants you in heaven. His grace (his movement, his epiphany) isn't contingent on feeling, at least it wasn't for me. Maybe God is trying to reach your mind, instead of your emotions. In my book, mind is much more dependable and reliable than emotions anyway.

Myself, I'm leery about people who "hear" God's voice in their heads all the time. I wonder if it's really God or just THE VOICES. ;) And I am very skeptical of people who go around saying that God has given them some kind of permanent high or warm/fuzzies in return for the honor of their acceptance. Something is wrong there.

Let me paraphrase one of my favorite writers, Flannery O'Connor: she said something like, Most of the time epiphanies from God don't feel like anything, and if you're feeling something it's very likely to be adrenalin or something else besides God.

Answer 2

I have had experiences I can only attribute God's hand. Two of them. Very difficult to explain. I just felt an overwhelming joy and a presence leading me to do things for God I had never considered before.

But let me also add that I have from time to time doubted my worthiness to serve God. There is a spiritual battle going on for the souls of everyone and satan's most powerful tool is doubt. That's why God puts such paramount importance on faith.

I didn't become a believer until I was 39. I spent the first 18 years of my life in a lukewarm religious environment and 21 years away from any hint of God. But the urge to know more about my God pulled me back. Now I will never leave.

Be patient with yourself, not cynical about your experiences. Give God a chance and you'll soon see the difference. And yes, God wants you in heaven. He makes that pretty clear. His will is that none should perish, but ultimately it's up to you.

Answer 3

It needs to be more personal, sincere seeking/asking,
not just going through the motions, not so formal at all.
Just be still. Ask yourself why and if you really want to
know at all. The more sincere, the better!
I have noticed that Batptist's can be bad about
only doing things externally - doing hard work being a
Christian and practicality seems to rule.
This is too rigid a way to be spiritually - it can be too reliant
on the mind/external instead of the spirit
revealing the heart of the matter, the truth.
It goes beyond the first step of salvation and
church going.

Answer 4

Try other denominations, and if you feel that Christianity isn't correct, then try other religions (even though I'd not advise it, some are scary). But keep asking God for help, you don't have to have the thought in your head, it can be a verse in the bible that stands out, anything, even ask God for a sign, but you must be willing to try. If you ask your parents for a lolly when your 5, do they say yes the first time? No, but if you keep on asking, then maybe the time will be right, and he will speak to you too

Answer 5

Well for me it was on March 24, 1986 at about 7:00 pm pst.

I wasn't looking for it. It just happened. I knew there was a God, and no I didn't hear a voice. Hearing a voice is usually a sign of needing meds.

Answer 6

Christian's aren't the only ones who go through that. They are just the ones who are the most adament about you feeling thier God and ONLY thier God.
I'll go out on a limb for my thumbs down record Hehe, maybe you are waiting on the wrong God. *whistles innocently

Answer 7

According to the Bible, every person is born with a "dead" spirit. That means the communication lines with God are down, and it is very difficult for him to talk or you to hear his voice. He can only talk from the outside, not the inside. So as long as you are in the condition, it will never happen.

What it takes a moment for surrender on the person's part. A moment in which they acknowledge that Lorship of Jesus over them, and believe that his resurrection unables the resurrection of their own spirit. (See Romans 10:9-10) That comes with a confession - a statement of dedication to him.

Then the spirit within is reborn, the communciate lines are opened, and you will begin to hear the voice of God from within. Its starts with the step of faith - of dedication to him.

Answer 8

People become so positive about God's existence, not because God revealed himself to relieve the person of doubt, but rather the "faithful" are so confident that their own opinions cannot be wrong that they refuse to acknowledge any other option aside from their own accuracy in belief. It is overconfidence, not warranted certainty.

Answer 9

It's like trying to explain the taste of a banana to a dead man who never had one. It just can't be done. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and cannot be explained to the spiritually dead.

In the bible there is a guy who wants to wait to follow Christ until after he's buried his father. Christ tells him, 'Let the dead bury the dead'. This is what I'm talking about. To look upon those who were burying the dead man, you would not understand because those people were physically alive. Christ's viewed them as dead however, because they did not have a rebirth in Him.

Answer 10

Seeking the truth. It does not come and knock you up side the head. Its all of our duty in life to seek knowledge and find the truth. If you want to ignore that duty you are free just don't whinge about the consequences...

PS I'm not a christian.