There have been times when I've been bitterly let down by God but I know my life is worthless without Christ and I would rather kill myself than live without that belief because I already know how futile life is otherwise.
The only thing that keeps me going is the belief that, in some way, God has a plan and a reward for me. If that's not true, my life was already wasted.
Well said.
The proper way, I believe, to express this feeling is: "There have been times when I have felt let down by God..." When God does not answer our prayers as we would like, that just means He has another plan for us - one which is ultimately for the best.
Some have abandoned their faith when things did not turn out as they wanted, or they felt that God did not help them out of some difficulty. There are no easy answers when bad things happen to us. In such times we can only trust all the more in His unfailing love for us.
All the best and keep looking up!
Actually you had every day in which you could have renounced your faith. Paul said "I die daily". He chose every day to renounce this world and embrace His Savior. His life was under attack daily (by Satan) as well.
“I’ve had several opportunities to renounce my faith in the past 20 years...”
I imagine very few Believers don’t have times when they doubt God, lack faith, etc. “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for they will inherit the Kingdom of God”.
I read on FR quite awhile ago where they found some letters of Mother Theresa, and how they showed all sorts of fears and lack of faith. I suppose that is sort of like that definition of “courage”. Courage is just doing want needs to be done in spite of being scared.
OTOH, I might put him in touch with a former pastor of ours that came new to our church. About a year in he gave a sermon on how Jesus was NOT born of a Virgin, “I grew up on a farm, that’s impossible”. We had him over for dinner shortly after that. I asked him “Well, I’m afraid I already know what you think about the Resurrection.” He of course didn’t believe that either! We told him to take us off the rolls as we wouldn’t be back. And take the choir books with you.
“The only thing that keeps me going is the belief that, in some way, God has a plan and a reward for me. If that’s not true, my life was already wasted.”
Having physically died and experienced Heaven during a bout of meningitis over twenty years ago, I miss that wonderful feeling of being home and have often cried in sorrow asking God to either use me or let me come home. It was through these many experiences that I realized that Jesus’ great sacrifice was lowering himself to our level to teach us, not going home to be with our Father. I have no fear of death now, and actually look forward to it. The only reason I have the willpower to stay here is that “in some way, God has a plan for me.” My reward is in going Home (again)!!
It’s not about you.
I’ve had several opportunities to renounce my faith in the past 20 years but I have not because, ultimately, the proof that God exists and is involved in our lives is everywhere.
There have been times when I’ve been bitterly let down by God but I know my life is worthless without Christ and I would rather kill myself than live without that belief because I already know how futile life is otherwise.
The only thing that keeps me going is the belief that, in some way, God has a plan and a reward for me. If that’s not true, my life was already wasted.
In my case it was not God who let me down but some how i did all of the letting down my self and don,t even know how it happened.
Some people live in pain, some brought on by them selves, others through some other means and i have to believe by my own experiences that it is all necessary for our salvation.
I could not help but think of the story about Job when i read your comment.
God bless and
keep up the faith.