Having a little trouble with my faith!!!?

Question

A few years ago I used to have a really close relationship with God...but through time I've sinned and became far from him...I've asked for forgiveness and tried to pray and read the bible when I have time...but I still don't feel that connection with him any more...do I need to give it time or is he punishing me...I'm also a youth leader in my church...and I feel like a fake...because I'm teaching the youth about God's love and word but yet I don't have a relationship with him...this is seriously bothering me...what can I do ?

Answer 1

It seems to me that you do have a relationship with God,but it also seems to me that you are letting feeling of guilt come between you and God. The Word says if we draw near to God, God will draw near to us... You have ask God for forgiveness and repented of your past sins, now you must forgive yourself and lose that guilt...No Christian is perfect, many Christian backslide and we all miss it from time to time, but when we do commit a sin we must go boldly before the thorne of grace and ask God to forgive us, repent and carry on with the good fight...never give up,never quit...

Answer 2

Have faith in yourself

Sin is a man made word to make people feel guilty we all make mistakes that is how we learn and grow through life so if you have learned your lesson forgive yourself and move on be true to yourself

If the shoe does not fit don't wear it

"God writes straight with crooked lines".

It is when you follow those crooked lines over time and see that they were for the best - that is when you truly learn to trust in the hand of Spirit guiding you.

Love & Blessings

Milly

Answer 3

Have you heard the phrase "If God seems far away - WHO moved"?

Well we all feel where you are sometimes.  You have a conscience and having sinned and feeling guilty you sound like you are not completely BELIEVING CHRIST when He said He died for your sins so that you would not have to suffer if you only repent.  Sometimes if the sin is heavy enough we have an emotional need to UNLOAD IT personally or confess to a real person - it is quite cleansing to do this but isn't usually required but helpful.  Maybe you should ask a trusted minister if you could unburden to them.  THEN you might be free to forgive yourself and move past this.

Christ already suffered for you - He doesn't require you to suffer additionally if you have turned from the sin and turned TO HIM.  Only you can decide if you have done so.  We certainly can't judge that. So if unnecessary guilt, remorse or self doubt are plaguing you then YOU need to either more fully CONFESS to the Lord and ask Him to take this "cross from you" or let it go somehow on your own.  BUT HE told us HE will carry it for us - so give it to HIM.  That's who HE IS that is why He suffered & died for you and me.  Remember He said "take up  our cross(es) and follow Him" -

You sound to me like you have turned your life in the right direction and you now need to ask HIM (believe Him) to take it from you so you can feel His love and know that He forgives and know that He loves you again in your heart. YOU are the one keeping HIM out - not the other way around.  He said "I stand at the door and knock" - so open the door my dear - He's right there and let it go and forgive yourself and COME UNTO HIM....  Your on the right path -  

Answer 4

You can pray the rosary.  Mary can obtain for you a strengthened faith and grace to sin less:

http://www.medjugorje.org/rosary.htm

The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against h**l, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.

9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Our Lady has 117 titles. She selected this title at Fatima: "I am the Lady of the Rosary."

St. Francis de Sales said the greatest method of praying IS- Pray the Rosary.

St. Thomas Aquinas preached 40 straight days in Rome, Italy on just the Hail Mary.

St. John Vianney, patron of priests, was seldom seen without a rosary in his hand.

"The rosary is the scourge of the devil" -- Pope Adrian VI

"The rosary is a treasure of graces" -- Pope Paul V

Padre Pio, the stigmatic priest, said: "The Rosary is THE WEAPON"

Pope Leo XIII wrote 9 encyclicals on the rosary.

Pope John XXIII spoke 38 times about Our Lady and the Rosary. He prayed 15 decades daily.

St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who so loves His Mother."

God bless!

Answer 5

I think us brothers and sisters in Christ tend to put too much emphasis on our emotional response to God.  If you have an outpouring of emotions when you pray or when you read the Bible or when you tell others about Christ... or whenever... that's great!  But surely you don't do any of those things for you.  We pray, read the Bible, tell others about Christ, etc., to glorify Him!  He gets glory even when we don't have an emotional outpouring.

Answer 6

You must first be sure that you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Then BELIEVE that you're forgiven.  :)  Because, if you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then you ARE FORGIVEN COMPELTELY

Jesus loves you so very much  :)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is this:  The only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal h**l is by believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe this and you are saved!

Please pray now: "Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and You rose from the dead. Thank You for eternal life!" You will be in heaven with Him forever when you die. :)

Answer 7

He doesn't respond because HE DOESN'T EXIST.

The bible is a bunch of fairy tales.

Answer 8

Get with some of your fellow christians and tell them that you need some spiritual support.

Answer 9

Here is the problem:

"tried to pray and read the bible when I have time".

Put Him first in your life.  Make prayer and scripture study the priority.

Indeed, pray every chance you get.  Thank Him for every good thing in your life, no matter how small.  Ask Him to guide you, and then follow the good thoughts that come to your mind.

Believe that He is a loving Father who wants what is best for you.

Finally, find someone who needs your help, and then provide that help, without expecting them to do the same for you.

Answer 10

Faith is overrated. Truth does not require faith.

Answer 11

You are going through a dry season. Get the people in your church to pray with you, or for you. Everyone experiences this at some point. Don't let your faith slip. That's what the devil wants you to do. Just keep praying!! I'll pray for you too. It's gonna pass.

Answer 12

www.theshackbook.com

Read it, it will help you. It's an excellent book for re-connecting with God and getting a better understanding of what relationship is.

Answer 13

It sounds like you are just developing an ability to think for yourself.

Try it out for a while.

Answer 14

What your saying do yourself if your preaching truth then follow what God says and you say

Answer 15

It sounds like a real one-sided relationship.  It looks like you're doing all the work trying to keep your relationship with God working, but He's not reciprocating.  I say, dump him and move on.  You deserve better.