My life is out of control. I need to be closer to God, but how?

Question

I've been pushing God away for years now, consuming myself with drugs, partying and negativity. My soul is aching. I'm struggling not to break down at work. I need Peace for myself. I need to be a better person for my daughter. I don't know where to begin. How do I leave this life alone and move forward for the better? Please help.

I understand people may not believe in God. I do. I'm going through a really tough time right now and, while I respect your individual opinions, I respectfully ask you to respect mine. In all seriousness.

To all my fellow believers: During my lunch, I went to my truck and sat inside where I could be alone. I poured my heart out to God and asked for forgiveness. I left with a feeling of calm and purpose. It's one day at a time. I feel really good. Thanks for all the encouraging words.

Answer 1

Sunny, I respect you for wanting to change, and being so open about what's going on in your life. You're right, you won't be satisfied until you get closer to God. Even if you get your life totally cleaned up, your soul is made to want a relationship with God, and you won't be truly fulfilled until you have it. So will you let me share with you what the Bible says?

It says, first of all, that God is perfectly good, and that we are sinful. We have a natural inclination to do wrong, and we sorta like doing it. We don't want God or anyone else to tell us what to do. Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

God is not just perfectly good, but He is a good judge. His sense of justice is perfect- He won't sweep things under the rug. And since we're sinful, what we deserve from Him is to be separated from Him and His goodness forever in a place of punishment. "The wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23. We are incapable of meeting God's standards, and we're incapable of making things right with Him. We just can't be good enough on our own.

But God is also perfectly loving. He had compassion on us. He wants to have a relationship with us. So He made a way for us to be forgiven, while still satisfying justice. He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth in a human body. That way Jesus was still God (so He was perfectly good- and didn't deserve punishment like we do) and He was also human (so that He was capable of dying). The reason He came to earth was to die on the cross for us. He willingly paid the death penalty that we deserved, and God raised Him from the dead. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8.

All we have to do in order to receive God's forgiveness, and start a personal relationship with Him, is to trust in what Jesus did for our sake. We just need to trust/believe that Jesus paid for our sins (He took our death penalty) when He died on the cross, and that God raised Him from the dead. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved," Acts 16:31.

This is the only way, the Bible tells us, for us to have a relationship with God. "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me," is what Jesus said in John 14:6. But the best part is, it's totally free. What could we pay God? We have nothing He needs. Instead He is offering forgiveness to us freely, and all we have to do is accept it.

Sunny, having a relationship with God is the best thing you could ever do. It doesn't mean your life will be perfect and easy. But it means you're not alone anymore, and the deepest desire of your soul can be satisfied. God is better and deeper and greater and more loving that you can possibly imagine. You will not make a mistake by trusting in Him. Take it from someone who has. And with His help, then you can work on the other stuff in your life.

If you want to talk with me or ask questions or throw rotten tomatoes, you can reach me by email (see my profile).

Answer 2

Come to grips with yourself. You've realized you have a problem, now fix it.

You want to be a better person for your daughter, then put her first. Instead of going out partying, stay home and do something with her. Depending on how old she is: if shes just a toddler or younger, she'll just want you there. Be there for her. If she's older and in school, play a board game with her, ask how class went, do something fun like preparing dinner and watching a movie together. Your daughter is a perfect place to start a change in your life. You also need personal strength to get through your addiction. If you need God to help you do that, then start reading some Bible excerpts that mentally prepare you for it. Pray to him to help you. But ultimately it will come down to you. You have to get yourself to change your life around, even God won't magically fix it for you.

Answer 3

Begin with a heartfelt talk with the Lord. He has been waiting for some time now for you to come to the end of yourself and turn to Him. He died for all those things you see wrong in your life and paid the penalty FOR them already. He also put all those things out of His sight forever, and will never again bring them up..isnt that wonderful news?

The really good news is that He Rose from the grave to make it possible for God to give you a right standing with Himself, and all He wants is for you to acknowledge the TRUTH of what He has done FOR YOU, that you couldnt do for yourself. Tell Him that you believe in his death, burial and resurrection as being all you need to enter into a relationship with Him.

Once you DO...He has promised to make you a brand NEW CREATION by placing you INTO a living entity called the Body of Christ. You will have not only peace WITH God , but the Peace OF God.

That is just the beginning...as you study His Word and find out all that transpired the minute you believed, you will be amazed and awestruck.

But you must begin where we all do...He only asks that you believe that He paid the price He did not owe, for YOU, who owed a debt you could not pay. He LOVES you enough to have placed Himself in a human body and come to earth to pay the price for your redemption HIMSELF. HE bought you back with His own life two thousand years ago.

That is the gospel of our salvation today...He will move INTO your very being and take up residence.

Ive known Him for over 37 yrs and its the best decision I ever made. He loves you...please respond to what HE did, by believing the good news. That is the only way to know God.

Answer 4

Just pray to God, the Creator of Universe!

No doubt, all Religion teaches mankind to be kind ~ but, Religion today has become very symbolic that you can't tell which is which.

One day, there will be Public Listing, and later merger & acqisition and so on....

Too many people has become victim of symbols. they pray to God ~ but, God is almighty & don't need people to pray or worship God ~ you worship God, God worship who?

Everyone race to display the most significant symbols which can be exchange for cash. Too many false prophets....

Don't believe in the priest - they make you more confused .... you pay and they pray for you. You'll feel good for that moment, and you felt that God has sent you this piggy bank to help you .... they're just juke box...

A while later, you'll feel upset ~ and, you approach that juke box again. But, you need to deposit some coins to get entertained. Each time, the music sounds better than the earlier one, you you get hooked - and, you find peace each time you listen to the juke box .... and you go on & on & on..

Too many s-whole wearing robe and wearing goatee nowadays - it's easy to look religious.

Don't get conned .......

Answer 5

Simply ask the Divine to help you, and listen for the still small voice. It may not come immediately, but it will. It may not be what you expect or when you expect, but it will come.

In the meantime, stop what you know is bad for you. Work on your thinking. Negativity is hard to let go. Take care of yourself. Get out into nature. Spend a lot of time with your daughter. Pet a cat. Study how they relax and go with the flow. All these things will help you at a soul level.

Good luck and I wish you well.

Answer 6

You are right you do need to be closer to God. Start praying. One of the best times to pray is in the middle of the night about two or three hours before dawn. This is a very powerful time to get in touch with God. He is your Creator and your Sustainer! Imagine that He is your best friend who is right there with you listening intently to every word that you say. Open up your heart to Him and tell Him what is in your heart. Tell Him of your pain, fear, and confusion.
Spend positive time with your daughtor. Think of her and her need to have a mother who is functional and responsible.
Get professional help from psychologists who would encourage you to have good relations with God.
Start doing things that you like to do which doesn't involve either drugs or parties. Stay away from friends who encourage you to do drugs or partying. Get new friends who would help and support you - and your daughtor.

Answer 7

You need to move only ahead, step by step. Try not to turn back even only to glance where you were. Remember the wife of Lot. There is only One who can heal your soul, the only One Who paid the price to redeem it. The Lord Jesus Christ. You have one more friend who want to help you if you will allow me. I was in desperate situation and the Lord helped me. You also have hope. Your desire to be closer to God already good sign. God will be glad to accept you again. Don't doubt it.

Answer 8

Have you accepted Christ as your God and savior? Are you willing to turn your life around for him?

Remember to pray, this will build your relationship with God, and you won't be as distant.

And one of the most important things is going to a church (modern churches are the best - reformed, non-denominational, inter-denominational) that has people who genuinely care about you, that you can talk to about your faith, and will help you when you're having a hard time. It's VERY important what church you go to - I used to hate going to church, now I go to a different church and look forward to being there.

Feel free to email me if you want to know anything else.

I will pray for you! :)

Answer 9

That probably no power on earth could remove our addiction but ,God could and would, if He were sought,rarely have we seen anyone fail if they are totally honest.You are not a bad person,who God has turned away from,you have a disease,which can be arrested.May you find God now,and let Him do for you what no power on earth can do.God Bless

Answer 10

It is in giving that we recieve!
Give praise to God, give your heart to God,
give your problems to God, give to others,
let God love you, let God give blessings to
you!
Also, faith comes by hearing and hearing
by the Word of God!
Just speak in a real, sincere way when
you pray as well!
The more you do that, the better it will get!
Don't expect overnight success, but expect
God to do abundantly above all you ask
or think or expect!
I hope that helped!