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Switch to Forum Live View I am completely lost
4 years ago  ::  Sep 10, 2009 - 6:10PM #1
Safeshell
Safeshell
Posts: 1

So, as a child I never went to church or was taught religion. My mom grew up in a very strict christian home and didn't want me to feel like she did. But I feel lost now. I don't know what I believe in, or if I believe in anything at all. I find myself jealous of those who have such a strong faith. I have been to church a couple times, I've even been to a christian summer camp, but I never really felt serious about it. I have considered other religions too. But evertime I read about religion I don't feel faith.


How can I find faith? I am also always sad. I feel alone, or depressed and I feel like having faith could help me want to get up in the morning.


 


Anything anyone has to say is helpful.
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4 years ago  ::  Sep 11, 2009 - 12:53AM #2
birwin4
birwin4
Posts: 489

I feel for your position and experience. I, too, have been there.


One thing I have learnt is that no matter how hard you try you seldom, if ever, have feelings that even feel like faith. I have come to see that faith is an act of will and that is not always easy. In other words you accept the truth that God loves you enough to become a human being in Jesus Christ and live, die and rise again so that you and I can be free from the power and fear of sin, hell and death. This is a commitment to something that seems like a jump in the dark but once taken can be the means of growing into an assurance that it is true. All this takes time and there are, at least in my experience, times when it all seems like baloney, but as I have hung in there I get more and more the sense that it is true.


I hope this helps.
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4 years ago  ::  Sep 11, 2009 - 1:23AM #3
Beggarforpeace
Beggarforpeace
Posts: 7

Hi Safeshell and welcome to Beliefnet!


When someone such as yourself comes from a non religious background without any form of religious foundation, it can be extremely confusing and upsetting especially when you're trying to figure out what to believe but more importantly what YOU believe.


Though this is a Christian forum, I'm not going to tell you to go to church and never look back. Instead what I recommend you do is take the Belief-o-matic quiz on Beliefnet. It'll require you to think about what you truly believe and if you answer honestly you'll find the results and religions that best match your answers to be quite appealing.


What I will tell you however is that because you do realize that there is more to life than just the every day rat race, to pray. Prayer is such a powerful and useful tool to anyone who uses it. It doesn't have to be fancy or use the words "hath" or "thou", but tell the Lord what you want him to hear. When you have a spare moment during the day quiet your heart and mind and just ask God to help you on your path of discovering him. Granted, you'll have to some work on your part as well.


I won't say anymore for now except just to do some soul searching. Write down on paper, your computer or anything in bullet point form what you believe. Whether you say "I believe in God" "I believe we have a soul", or the exact opposite, being honest with yourself is the key to real religious experience.


Again, take the Belief-o-matic quiz. I think you'll have a clearer and more focused idea of religions that appeal to you after completing the quiz.


BFP


 


 


 


 


 


 
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4 years ago  ::  Sep 14, 2009 - 11:28AM #4
miami-ted
miami-ted
Posts: 981

Hello Safeshell,


The Scriptures hold the answer to your question.  Paul wrote to the Roman believers:


How then can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"


But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.  For Isaiah says, "Lord  who has believed our message ?"  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.


So let me encourage you to begin with prayer.  Sit down in a quiet place and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding of his word.  Ask him to show you that his word is the truth.  Finally ask him to give you an unquenchable thirst to know him.  After that open your copy of the Scriptures to the book of John and read what he wrote.  You see, John, is one who has been sent.  One of the few men who have beautiful feet.


God bless, and if you would like, feel free to email me at: miamimac@bellsouth.net


In Christ, Ted.
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4 years ago  ::  Sep 26, 2009 - 1:21AM #5
Fireinthebones
Fireinthebones
Posts: 3

I would suggest reading the gospels. In particular, I would read what Jesus spoke. Jesus says that those who have an honest desire to do the will of God will understand from the commands He gave and the words He spoke that Jesus was sent by God [John 7:17].


So, the above might seem a bit direct, but I do think it is the simplest way to arrive at faith. Read the gospels, and in particular Christ's own words, and decide for yourself "Do I believe that this Jesus guy was sent by God (and hence presumably knows what He is talking about), or am I unconvinced?"


That is really the core of the Christian faith: That Jesus was sent by God, and don't let others tell you differently. This is the belief the Jewish leaders of His time could not accept but that His disciples did [John 17:8].


Of course, there are other things that you will come to believe and have faith in based on your reading, but the simple question to answer is 'Based on the gospels, and Jesus' words captured therein, do I believe Jesus was sent by God?' Or was He a charlatan or delusional?"
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