i am born and raised as a christian. i started going to church at 3 up until i was 15. i guess i never really understood what it takes to be a christian, but i believe in that one God.
three years ago i was faced with a difficult situation that sent my self-esteem to ground zero and since then i had issue with trust and became anti-social for nearly two years. it is not as bad now because i live with a group of lovely people. but i still avoid people if i could. since then my life has gone downhill, i almost failed university, lost all my friends, and remained unemployed since finishing uni a year ago. i have chosen to avoid problems than to face and solve them. in other words, it is hard to get on with life. i have hit rock bottom.
like a lot of people, i tried going back to church. many times, all of which didnt last long. im not used to friendliness of church goer anymore. im not used to being with people anymore. i prefer to pray at my own time at my own pace. when im alone
2007-10-07 02:19:10 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the past three years have seen the worst in my life. things only got worse.
somehow i just have a feeling that God intends this because He wants me to grow up and turn back to Him. but the question is... i have no where to start...
2007-10-07 02:20:46 · update #1
All of life entails discontent and suffering. Mine, yours, his, hers, its. That we are targets of a jealous and vengeful god is the lie of lies. We are punished by our sins, not for them.
Desire, discontent, aversion and attachment cause suffering. Not getting what we want, getting what we don't want, even getting what we want causes suffering because of attachment and impermanence.
It is possible to eliminate much of suffering - temporarily, even all.
The way to eliminate suffering is not through explanation. Words are abstraction, are conceptual sticks and stones of which we construct a model of the universe according to our hopes and fears. The secret waits for the insight of eyes unclouded by longing.
Characterization of things, events, people, and motivations comes of seeing the world through the prism of our prejudices, "as through a glass, darkly." Practice awareness of your psychical and physical states and how they color your experience. Practice non-attachment in order to gain understanding. Having gained understanding, and only having gained understanding, you can Love. (Note here that Love is a verb.)
To love is to achieve union with God.
(Love is kind, seeketh not her own, etc.)
2007-10-07 03:13:00 · answer #1 · answered by wordweevil 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Going at church is a plaster. You put something over a spot where you have been hurt. That means that you would find one way to live the present instead of the past.
A real solution isn't to jump into a religion and find friendship and peace within a limited group of people sharing the same faith.
You succeed at the university. Is that great? How many others things did you succeed? The real part of the solution: LIVE IN THE PRESENT, not in the past. You probably know that you are indeed a great person (in the present). You don't have to live with the regrets of the past. You have just be proud of what you are today then evolve as everybody from there.
Even some street gang members become some great persons then why you couldn't as well start from where you are today?
You don't have to be happy when you are in public. You can be happy when you are alone. But if that fear comes from the fact that you fear to be judged by others then you have to confront it. Second part of the solution: be POSITIVE. With a positive attitude, the positive will happen. That is not a wish .. that is just the plain reality.
Good luck!
2007-10-07 07:13:29 · answer #2 · answered by speakoutpierre 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to find out if there is a medical or psychological reason for your depression, but take medication only as a last resort. Think positive, look at life as an adventure, and be the best person you know how to be.
Is there a God, an afterlife? I think this wonderful world had to be created by an infinite intelligence, Who would also have the power to give us eternal life, but we will only find out when we die. So many religions in the world, and none of them has all the answers, if any answers at all.
If you find the answer to your question, please let me know.
2007-10-07 12:44:08 · answer #3 · answered by thom t 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to start looking within yourself to find God and it sounds like you have. He is not found in a church. Church is within. The personal relationship that you have with him begins with you. Read about many different religious faiths to help gain an understanding of All that he encompasses. No one particular religion is completely correct, for they all contain errors. Salvation is free to all those who believe in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a free gift from God and it will show you the way in which you should go. Read. You will find that the Spirit will teach you. Let go of any preconceived notions about what is right versus wrong concerning dogmas and creeds. By doing so, the teaching you receive from the Spirit will not be hindered by previous belief systems. You will be led into the truth and it does set you free.
2007-10-07 02:30:20 · answer #4 · answered by Soul Shaper 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Find a church that uses Acts 2:38. Get there and get involved in a mimistry of any kind. Keep going to church, that is where God does His best work. Keep praying to Jesus Christ. Rely on Him and let Him bring you out of your valley.
2007-10-07 02:26:33 · answer #5 · answered by michael m 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i hope i can answer this question.i was firm believer in god and all other fairytales.
i have faced exactly what u r facing now.all my beliefs were questioned.i lost all money became poor.i used to roam on streets without purpose just like mad man.
my self esteem is still zero and i am still anti social but i have recovered with time.religion will never help u but medicines and therapy will
2007-10-07 03:19:46 · answer #6 · answered by kkkk l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There will be those who goes to people like Job and say to look in their heart, but the heart is wickedly evil. There are those who say there's something physically wrong with you and not in spirit, but the problem is the power of sin.
Doing rituals and church activities only bandage and maybe even isolate you more if activities are only the thing motivating you. It may even fuel you into atheistic thoughts.
The thing is you need to be born again, not by decisions or such, but by God in your repentance and trust in the savior to save you out of this mess.
I recommend listening to the following sermons and cry out to God to revive you. Then socialize with godly people in going out to witness. I know, me saying, go witness is offensive, especially now. But if God truly saves you out of this mess, then you'll want to praise him. May God keep you.
2007-10-07 02:44:57 · answer #7 · answered by Sam L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I notice you speak of 'God' but not ONE TIME did you mention Jesus Christ. Many people think they are Christian because they go to a church and believe in God. This no more makes you a Christian than believing in Rolls Royce, and visiting a car lot makes you an automobile!
Christianity is relying on Jesus Christ to forgive our sins, and making Him Lord of our lives. This is accomplished by ASKING HIM!
2007-10-07 03:13:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look...honestly it sounds like you have some kind of anxiety disorder or depression. I think you need to address it with a competent therapist and deal with it that way instead of thinking spirituality failed you. They are two different things and you might be suffering needlessly due to chemical imbalances.
2007-10-07 02:24:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give up the god belief and look to yourself to solve your problems, for starters - praying is just talking to yourself anyway. Can't blame you for disliking the fake friendliness of churchies, find some real friends (maybe an atheist group?) and ease back into the world.
If the only life you have is "prayer life," you have NO LIFE!
2007-10-07 02:25:41 · answer #10 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋