Falling away from God...

[edochick]

=( hey guys. I'm back with another request for you. For the past few weeks, I've really been attacked with this sense of hopelessness. I've been sick off and on, my grades are struggling, and it seems as though I've turned away the people I care about. I really don't like myself right now...

I've tried praying and reading the word, but the more I read, the less I want to. The more I just want to raise up my hands and say, "I quit!!" My mom's really upset that I won't just speak my faith about being sick - the thing is, I have been. Doubt just keeps coming back and fear takes place =_= I'm so emotionally tired of all of it. The thought that I'm a failure to my family and friends is overwhelming.

Also, about two years ago, I started having chest pains right about where my heart is. It left for a while, but suddenly out of the blue it's come back and I'm really afraid it could be something serious.

Please pray for me

Thanks and God Bless~

[PigtailsJazz]

I am definitely going to be praying for you.

I just went through something very similiar, and am currently either out of it, or still climbing out (not quite sure).

Keep in mind that these doubts are from Satan, because he wants to attack you. Pray against the spiritual attack, find any part of scripture that you can use as your sword against spiritual attack and repeat in your head or out loud whenever the attacks come.

Do not worry, God will not let you down (Deuteronomy 31:8, Romans 8:38-39)

[freerock1]

Lifting you up. I've gone through these kinds of struggles with my faith at times. I'm growing but sometimes I still have to crucify the fleshly mindset.

As far as "speaking your faith," I would be careful about putting too much emphasis on that. If we emphasize the speaking part too much and don't see results instantly, it can become easy for us to get discouraged, especially when Satan's already talking crap to us (which it sounds like he's doing with you). That said, the Bible tells us that the power of life and death are in the tongue, and sometimes I believe we need to speak it to align our own mindsets with the truth.

Also, the Bible says that if we ask anything according to God's will, He hears us, and if we know He hears us, we know we have what we've asked of Him. I don't believe God puts hardships on us, but for some reason He's allowed this trial. Just know that whatever the reason, God works all things together for good to those who love Him.

As far as feeling frustrated with reading the Bible, I'd recommend getting a good study Bible or devotional that addresses some of the trials you're going through. Right now I'm reading from one called called the Freedom in Christ Study Bible. The devotional readings in it really seem to address these kinds of frustrations.

I've also been reading the book Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer, which really addresses a lot of these issues with Scripture and real-life examples. I don't necessarily agree with every point, but she has a lot of good things to say in the book.

Anyway, I hope this is encouraging and helpful. I'm lifting you in prayer. And if you need to talk to someone who's gone through this kind of stuff, my PM box is open.

[VashTheStampede]

I'll be prayin for ya, I know how it is to go through things like that. [†]

[Doubleshadow]

Hey there. Hold your ground spiritually and don't let the devil take you down. He's sneaky and liar and don't let thoughts slip into your head that you know aren't true.
This to me also sounds somewhat like your being put through the refiner's fire. If so, you'll come out of this with a stronger faith and looking a little more like Jesus on the spiritual side of things as God clears out some of your failings. That's good news! ^_^ You may not be able to see much hope now, but hang in there. Learning patience and trust in the unseen is frequently unsettling at best. But if you hold on to your belief in Him, after its over you can often see just how awesomely He moved while you couldn't see Him. Don't forget to cling to things that affirm your faith and remind you of your joy.
I'll pray for your doubts and troubles and for your chest pains. We're pulling for you.

[kaiser]

You should try spiritual warfare (if you know how to it), that is what i do in this cases. By the time I am finished doing spiritual warfare (i do it mainly when i see a disbalance on certain area of my life, oppression or feeling like not praying / quitting), not only all those feelings are gone, but my strength, peace and faith are renewed.

I'll help you by prayer and spiritual warfare. Don't let the enemy confuse you, for the one within you is stronger than the one in the world...

[Rogie]

I wanted to comment on your physical pain, since it reminded me of something I endured early last year. I began getting very severe chest pains to the point that I had them almost nonstop. The doctors were finally able to say that it was not heart-related, but it was due to acid reflux and my not eating very healthy. I was eating tons of saturated fats, including brownies and other junk food every day. I'm a small person, so instead of building up visible fat, it just began building up and hurting in my chest. I'm taking Prevacid, which has been the only acid medicine to help me thus far and for this long.

Just thought I'd mention that; try to evaluate your eating habits and if any of this sounds like what you're feeling. If so, get to the doctor. Actually, get to the doctor regardless.

I'll be praying for you.

EDIT: And I forgot to mention: Stress furthers the chest pains, as it did with me.

[shooraijin]

Ah, gastritis. I get that too. It can be bad enough where I double over sometimes. Fortunately, I get attacks of it very rarely now that I take a whopping dose of Pepcid before anything I suspect will set it off.

[edochick]

^_^ thanks for all the uplifting comments guys! I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate it!

[Rogie]

Ah, gastritis. I get that too. It can be bad enough where I double over sometimes. Fortunately, I get attacks of it very rarely now that I take a whopping dose of Pepcid before anything I suspect will set it off.

... It took me a huge paragraph to describe it, and it takes shoo one word. *sigh*

Hope things continue to improve for you, edochick.

[Ryupower]

I will pray!
BTW: it's the devil, tell him to silence, and stop trying to suck you in...