Maybe someone can help?

Question

I used to be Christian, but Cliche answers and unheard voices steered me away. I pray now sometimes "If you are there please just show me so I can have a LITTLE bit of hope" and I get no response. If god is real I want to know him again like I though I did before all the Confusion came in. It hurts me because it used to be a big deal to me. Now it seems to be nothing. Somehow I keep thinking about it though. If it didn't really matter I wouldn't be thinking about it right? Maybe I am in gods anger if he exists I dont know. I need some clarity, someone? And please no condemning answers...

Answer 1

Stop Praying
“Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22)

So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?” (Joshua 7:10)

When things seem to go wrong in our lives, and our hopes and expectations are not fulfilled, we often feel the need to pray more, like Joshua who “fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening”, thinking he could maybe twist the hand of the LORD to hear him and send him His deliverance. Yet the LORD said to him: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned.”

There comes a time, as God tells His people through Isaiah, that even though His people multiply their prayers, He will not hear them unless they first will hear the LORD and mend their ways and then - and only then - He will hear them.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear.
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:15-20)

So prayer, however important, is not always the way to see a change come to our lives circumstances and problems.

As it says in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear.”
Therefore the answer to our question “Why does the LORD not hear me and why do things not go right in my life” - is not always answered by just more and longer prayers. We need to ask God and be truly open to hear the answer to this question: “What, O LORD, holds up your blessing over my life and ministry? What is wrong with me?” Not what is wrong with the LORD for not yet answering me.

As David once prayed:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties, and see if there is any wicked way in me.” (Psalms 139:23-24)

If we ask that question honestly with all of our heart - we give finally - maybe even after years of praying - the LORD the right opportunity to point out in our lives what is hindering Him to fully answer us. Then we can repent and remove the blockage and, as He promised, then He will restore everything to us as He says in 2 Chronicles 7:14:
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.



Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
International Christian Zionist Center

Answer 2

look, buddy, we could be in the same boat. i used to be religious but not now. i am a christian (catholic) and yes, i do have some questions of my own too. it's interesting how u can easily change from being the most religious person in the church to someone who could hardly relate to other religious people. well, that's exactly what happned to me.

i'm not sure how i could help, but all i can say is that i don't think u should confirm that ur a non-believer (yet). ask the RIGHT or reliable people about ur faith first, or about other things that confuse u...and then, ask urself to reflect on those times when u were still a christian (since u said u used to be one) and what had caused u to reach this part of ur life. i myself have my own issues, and i can understand why i have questions, but that's me, and it's another story.

i won't tell u who God is, or if he exists. only u can answer that. whatever it is u find in the end, what matters is that it's a belief or a principle that u fully understand and u fully accept. and don't let someone else decide for u, because ur heart, ur mind, and ur spirit belongs to U, and to no one else's.

well, good luck. and God bless (if he still exists to u) ;)

oh and btw, i like to add:
different people find "god" in different places or ways. so if u continue to sort of embark on this quest to search for answers, do it in a way or pace u r most comfortable with.

Answer 3

A Christian is someone who has asked Jesus to forgive his sins and be the boss of his life. Have you asked God to do this? If you have then He did.

Please read the book called Gospel of John. It will help you understand.

God doesn't play games with people, no "hide and seek". He does just what He says He does.

There is a being called satan. He is even called "the author of confusion". He can't stop you from being a Christian, but he will try to confuse you and discourage you when you try and believe God. When you speak of "unheard voices", it makes me think of demons. satan's fellow demons are the ones who help him discourage people from believing.

God does what He says. Get into the Bible and read it for yourself. Going to a church that teaches the Bible will help you too. If you still have trouble think about going to talk to a pastor or some kind of Christian counselor who can help you work out these issues, Because God Loves You and He Will Never Leave You or Desert You!

Answer 4

First of all, being a Christian doesn't have to be about all the Cliche answers. You know what the basic beliefs are.. ie..treat others as you want to be treated. God often doesn't answer the way you want, yet that is his answer. Belief in God comes from within.

I was born and raised Catholic, yet find it hard to attend mass because of the issues surrounding the church, however I pray daily. Even if it is a small, I know you are there please keep me safe today. When I have really needed him, he has been there. One of my favorites is "Thy will be done" When I know what I want, but it might not be the right way, I pray thy will be done lord over and over. If it happens, it was Gods will; if not than it wasn't what he wanted for me.

Please don't give up your faith, it is ok to question.

Answer 5

You know, I feel like that most of the time too. what keeps me from going all the way away, is what I am hoping to learn in the quiet time.
How can I grow and mature if there is always a voice telling me what to do next. I think we learn the most about ourselves during the quiet times. Sometimes I feel so rejected that I am almost heart broken.
This must be the desert experience because we sound very dry and thirsty.
I am assuming you know a lot of scripture and felt really high in the spirit started your walk and now it seems unreal, because of the lack of feeling it. Being honest is making me irritated because I then have to remind myself , faith is the assurance of things not seen. (or felt or heard)

Answer 6

Don't let this confusion get to you, this is doubt, one of satans tools to sway you away from God, Satan knows How much God cares for and loves us, and satan wants us to suffer as He is and will.
God loves each and every one of us, the strands of hair on our head our counted, before we were born, God already had Plans for us, Do you know God does not like to lose even one of us, that is why God sent Jesus so that we could be forgiven of our sins and saved, I'll tell you what I told the other person a couple minutes ago,
We cannot used to be a Christian, Once you believe that Jesus went to the cross, and know That Jesus paid the price for your sins, you are saved, you have The Holy Spirit with you, that never leaves you, don't let doubt trick you.
God has never left you, why do I know that, Because God is your protector, and loves you, we struggle sometimes with our faith, but God is still there.
Do you know in The Bible, it says how much we sin, and at the end of each verse, it says Jesus Christs arms our stretched out still, that is because we are forgiven our sins, past, present and future.
It seems your missing the personal relationship with God, what you need to do is find quiet time with The Lord and Pray to God for faith, and strength, God will always be there for you, sometimes Gods plans aren't our own and we get discouraged, but God does know all and knows what is best.

Answer 7

The scriptures say that there is rejoicing in heaven when one soul repents and is saved. It sounds to me like that Lord is gently calling you back. I am not sure why you walked away from Him, but I think that we all at some time or another drift away in the walk. That is the beauty of Jesus, he forgives us and welcomes us back, do you remember the story of the prodigal son? That is the way that we are welcomed back. He loves us and there is nothing that you could do that would make him not want you. We are the apple of his eye. If you are bothered then the Spirit of the Lord is calling you home to where you belong. You are chosen! Now you need to answer the call. Remember Christ first choose us! What a privilege! I would like to say, Welcome back. Jesus Loves you, and It is good to have you back in the family.

Answer 8

Don j, the moment you are made to doubt Truth like Adam was , you will feel offended as Adam ;thinking God was bad and the enemy who whispered the words of lies as good . Adam exchange the words of lies for truth. Anger and resentment against God by believing in the Devil's lies will always do the trick.
Ask God for His forgiveness and give up your resentment, forgive God, your father and mother and all who have done you wrong seemingly or real and the heaven will be open again to you.
Ok - go to Him now will you ?

Answer 9

What if instead of thinking of God like a Magic Sky Fairy, you thought of God as being the sum total of all the stuff around you?
Maybe if you viewed your neighbours, the trees and the Earth as all little parts of God then you would understand that you can never really be separate from God because you are part of God too. So is the food you eat and the poop you excrete.

The retarded kid down the street and the barking dogs are just as much parts of God as you and the dirt under your feet are.

This is more of a Deist's view than Theist's. Kind of a blend of Buddhism, Gaism and Universalism.

Answer 10

my dear friend loose no more hope for the truth is here, i want to tell you that there is a God the is the alpha and omega he the past the present and the future.As we all know that we all have begining, imagine " How did the world begin" You see God created the heavens and the earth, created you and i, the universe and any thing we now call ''Nature" Those things you see are all signs that the lord is sending to you because he wants you to fulfill ur purpose for been on earth.Well if u want to know and testify what am talking about repeat after me" Lord i recieve u as my lord and saviour i open my heart for you come and make it ur home change me from what i am to what u want me to be, i asked this through Jesus Christ." "Amen"

Answer 11

Ask yourself what you miss about the fools paradise you gave up and work to make those things more actual in real terms . all the benefits translate if you seek in real terms . you will learn a mature way of dealing with death for instance rather than lying of a hereafter . Good can be furthered in our lives rather than waiting for the false promise of a judgment day . the bible can come to light in real terms less the child like understanding and you will still sow as you reap but in an adult understanding not in the darkness of a child . their are thousands of new and exciting revelations to unfold with the
child's persuasions.leave the things of a child behind from the bible paraphrased but it makes more sense now.etc....
seek and ye shall find ....I suggest you might try learning to meditate for a clearer mind .Also you remind me of when I was a child I had training wheels on my bike then I left them behind . the bike is confidence in reality and humanity ,it needs work and aint perfect but it is hindered by the training wheels at a certain point. hope you get your epiphany.