Having some hard times.

[Destroyer2000]

I'm having some hard times right now. It was a nice day until late yesterday, 6th period, when the yearbook editors called me over and chewed me out. I wasn't sure why, until I found out one of the members made some stuff up about me and caused some issues. I got home, I was ticked off, and then later on my sword broke half way through a swing, so that worked wonders for me. Sarcasm, of course. Then today, after we got back from the Local competition and I had cleared for state, the art project I entered broke. Atleast it stayed together long enough for it to be judged.

I'm having some hard times in my faith, as well. I figured that if I was really saved, I'd be fearless about Bible passages, but any talk of the end times scares the living mess out of me. I want to become secure in my faith, but I just can't seem to, no matter how many times I've gone to the alter. It gets tiring after a while, and causes me to wonder about my salvation, and if it's even attainable. The verse where God states he won't toil with a man's heart forever comes to mind.

I've also stopped doing a lot of thigns I used to enjoy doing, certain games and such, because they seemed ungodly, but I wasn't sure about them. I seem depressed alot...I'm going to see about going to a psychatrist finally, since my father was bipolar, I believe I may be, as well.

I ask that you please pray for me.

[Syreth]

I will certainly pray for you. Just because you wrestle with the scriptures at times does not mean that you aren't saved. Being freaked out about the end times is normal too... and so is being concerned about your salvation. Just remember to use scripture to interpret scripture and look to God's promises for assurance of your salvation.

[I]27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.â€

[Ryupower]

awww....I will pray for you.
And I'll pray for all those issues too. Just one more thing:
DON'T LET THE DEVIL LIE TO YOU!
He's a LIAAAR!!!
When a thought about your salvation comes to mind, read the gosspels and study, and say that you command the devil to leave.

[Sammy Boy]

I think all the greats of Biblical faith had doubts and were not afraid to voice them as you did. Doubt is a natural part of life. If you have doubts about your faith, read what the Bible says about that. God says you are saved if you believe in your heart and confess with your faith.

Often our feelings can mess us up. We need to realise they may not always be a reflection of the truth. As Syreth has suggested, give the book Romans a read.

Be praying for you.

[DaughterOfZion]

also,according to our paster anyways,thats after God comes to gather his children,will that stuff happen.but thats my pastors opinion

[Puritan]

I'll pray for you. Remember, everyone questions their faith at some point or another, everyone has problems with certain scripture passages at one point or another, and everyone questions whether or not they are saved at some time. Your worry about sin in your life and worry about your salvation is part of the proof of salvation, proof that you are not dead to sin. Salvation is not about a feeling, your works, a specific prayer, or trips to the alter, it is about faith and belief. Your faith and belief are shown by your worry about your salvation, and your worry that God has saved you. The one thing that has helped me rest assured in my salvation is that it doesn't depend on me or what I do. We couldn't save ourselves through our work, but God Almighty has finished the work of salvation, and that is what gives me strength.

[ssj2gohan61]

ill be prayin for you too bro

[Destroyer2000]

Thanks. They talk about a perfect peace, andf that one overwhelming moment when you ask Christ into your heart, but as far as I know, I've never felt that, and that bothers me. But your scriptures and assurance has cheered me up - I have a tendency to forget that emotions don't determine it.

[Puritan]

I know many people who don't have that moment of perfect peace and overwhelming feeling, and I'm among them. But I have seen God work in my life and change me, and have seen that He tends to work in people's lives in a long-term and constant fashion rather than a series of massive emotional epiphanies. While some people do have moments where they feel a massive change in their lives, I think that this emotional conversion experience has become too much of a focus for parts of the Church, which can make the people who don't have this moment feel like there's something wrong with their faith. As you seem to be realizing, this just isn't true. God brings people to Him down many different emotional and mental paths, all of which converge on the good news of the gospel of Christ, but all of which may look different in an emotional sense. Our faith is based on the rock-solid foundation of that gospel, anything else is secondary to that truth.

[Destroyer2000]

Yeah, thanks alot. I know I've grown; I know more know than I used to, and sometimes when I'm depressed or something I think to the fact that I know I have asked Christ into my heart. I grew up in a Christian home, so I believe it; besides, if I honestly didn't believe in Christ, I wouldn't care, would I?

Anyway, thanks to all of you. Some of my other problems may be stemming from chronic depression; I need to get the seen to.

[The Last Bard]

I'll pray for you! I know how it can be, feeling like you're not saved, and where is the peace God promised and all that. But what I tend to do is just relax. This life is only temporary, and no matter what you feel, God is always right there beside you.
And he always will be right there beside you.

Have some fun, talk to people when you can, play games, watch some funny anime...Read manga that you enjoy...And last but should be first, talk to God even when you don't feel like it. Just when you think of it each day, tell him a little something.

And once again, I'll be praying for you!

[freerock1]

It sounds like you know what's going on (that being that Satan's trying to put junk in your mind, that your faith is not based on your feelings, and that if you weren't a Christian you wouldn't care). Personally, I believe that's a big step in gaining victory over it.

There have been a lot of good things said in this thread that I would echo. I'm lifting you up as well, bro, and remember, if you need to talk to someone who's gone through a lot of this same kind of stuff, feel free to PM me.

[Destroyer2000]

Yeah. One thing, though...everyday it seems I get this feeling of hopelessness, like I'm not close to God, not saved, and can never be saved, and the preacher once said that God won't toil with a man's heart forever. Is there a verse that says you don't have infinite chances to be saved? I can't remember a time when I've ever not been somehow related to God; I was raised in a Christian home, and I've believed ever since I was little. There was a time after my grandfather died that I was very distant, that perhaps I blamed God, but I'm not sure. Anyway, this constantly returning feeling of having no hope is bothering me. It makes me feel as if God has given me all his chances, and all of my tries are in vain.

Also, there was this kid at school today who claimed he had a 'vision'. I don't know much about the kid, but from what I've seen, he doesn't act Christian all that much outside fo church, so I dunno, but that bothers me, as well. What would someone have a vision about nowadays (if he did have one) besides the end? As you probably all know, I absolutely hate people talking about the end. It scares me like nothing else, and that's another thing...I don't see many others who seem so scared by it.

Anyway, I'm sorry for constantly coming here and asking for prayer, but you guys are such a help, and I feel so pathetic.

[Puritan]

Firstly, DON'T feel pathetic. Approaching other Christians for prayer and advice is an extremly mature thing to do and is by no means pathetic. God has put Christians into the Church so that we can support one another in our walks with him, so asking for help is something we are supposed to do.

Secondly, every Christian sins but that doesn't make God give up on us. Look at Peter, he KNEW Christ and even said Christ was the Son of God, but when Christ was crucified he denied ever knowing Christ and abandoned Him. Yet, God didn't ignore Peter, in fact He brought Peter back to Himself and Peter became one of the great leaders of the Church. I am unsure what passage of scripture you are referring to, but I have mainly heard this type of passage about God not toiling over a man's heart forever refer to non-believers who continually reject God, and simply letting them know that they will not have the chance to be saved forever. People can die at any time, in fact it is only because of God's sustinance that we are still alive, so having the attitude that you can have fun now and make good with God later is dangerous and dumb. For a Christian to struggle with sin, however, is normal. Every Christian struggles with sin until they die, it's not a good thing, but God is merciful enough to put up with our sins and cleanse us from our unrighteousness.

As for visions, I won't delve far into that contentious subject, but remember that God has given people visions about many things, not only the end times. However, Satan can also give visions to people, and people can make up or imagine things. If an unsaved guy in you class had a vision, it could be any of these things, and if the vision wasn't something motivating the guy to turn to God and serve Him, then it was likely either something he imagined that seemed real, something he made up, or something that came from Satan. I think it is highly likely that he imagined something, had a strange dream, or is making this up for attention, so I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it becomes an issue, in which case you should consult a pastor about it.