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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Faith and Pain
        
(Message started by: pjbgravely on Sep 2^nd, 2002, 8:46pm)

Title: Faith and Pain
Post by pjbgravely on Sep 2^nd, 2002, 8:46pm

Once again I am questioning my beliefs in the face of pain and trials. I am a Christian and have seen many great things in my life. God has always watched over and protected me in times of trouble. For the last few years things have gotten worse and worse until everything is crashing down at the same time. I am almost to the point that if I could renounce Jesus and all would be better I would. I don't understand why I was healed of alcoholism but cannot seem to quit smoking without becoming nonfunctional. I was never scared of hell until I encountered the Kip 10 and now I can view hell as an endless 10. I am able to use my faith to encourage others but can't seem to use it to encourage myself. I am curious how others get by and hold on to what ever faith they have. I know that how I feel is probably temporary and a few days with only shadows will change my whole outlook. I am probably going to regret posting this tomorrow but right now I feel it is necessary. This is the place to say how mad you are at God for the pain we feel without being attacked by others.

No one is to attack anyone in this thread !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by Night_Owl on Sep 2^nd, 2002, 9:02pm

Well PJ,
I am not religious. However, I am open minded. I don't like to trust in something that I am not sure of, if you know what I mean. I get through it by what I love. I love music. I write it, I play it, I listen to it. I just love it. I also love art. I draw and paint a lot. It is an easy way to express yourself without offending anyone. I feel a bit alienated at the moment, because I am not sure where I stand in the world. I haven't found my place I guess you could say. I feel like I am the only one standing up and screaming about what I think is wrong. I always think of it as when I am suffering, someone else in the world isn't. I believe in balance. I think what goes around comes around. Eventually, you will be on the other end.

Night_Owl

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by catlind on Sep 2^nd, 2002, 9:05pm

I sure don't want to attack you or anyone else pj,
but the way I get through is that heaven won't have me and hell's afraid I'll take over LOL. At least that's the way I see things when I'm in an attack. I'm the last person around you want to mess with when my head hurts.

Tomorrow will be a brighter day for you I'm sure. Just hang on to what you need to until tomorrow comes.

Cat

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by NancyMcFree on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 2:57am

Den, I think that perhaps your note is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read.

PJ - God will love you tomorrow regardless of how you feel about him tonight. That's the whole beauty of it.
As far as the alcholism and the smoking ..... you quit drinking .... God just reminded you of the strength you have within yourself... but you did it. You are probably not at the crossroads where giving up smoking is something you really want to do ... when you are, you will quit, and again, God will remind you of the strength you have.

As far as the headaches go .... well, lets just say for now I am thinking that perhaps God wanted my husband to know what true hell was .....watching me thrash about has given him a new perspective on what hell can be .... and when the headache is gone and I tell him it's ok, its really not that bad.... I know that no matter what he is faced with he will be able to handle what life has dealt to him. He has a long road ahead of him and any peace I can bring is a gift. Yea, I just keep telling myself that God gave me a gift, just because I don't like the wrapping paper doesn't mean it's not a gift. That's how I hold on.

Peace be with you.

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by Drk^Angel on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 3:22am

I'm not a christian, and your beliefs are different from mine, but i thought I'd add this. You are human, and humans were given free will. That free will create temtations, and I believe most christians will agree that some temtations are considered tests of faith. Everyone has them. Your priest has prolly even had a few tests of faith. It's normal. It's how you deal with them that proves who you are, and how much faith you have. Have trust in your faith and you will follow the right path. You may even consider yourself blessed to have been tested this way, because in the end, it may make your faith stronger. Good luck.

PFDAN.......................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by Charlie on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 5:14am

I'll keep it fairly low key: ;)

More than 1/2 the planet are not Christians or Jews. The history of religions is murky and full of horrible death and brutal intolerance. "But god loves you........"

The intervention and meddling by gods speaks of incompetence. The biblical god is a sloppy manufacturer. He’s not good at design or execution. He’d be out of business were there any competition. CH may be a prime example of this icompetence. Lucky us.

If God wanted to convince us of his presence, he would have done a better job.

Still, I'd be the happiest creature in existence if in the very unlikely event, there is something more. Not a peep about it though.

Charlie

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by ShariRae on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 6:13am

Although I could not have put it as eloquently... I have to say that Den put it best...at least for me. That quiet kiss on my tear stained cheek is indeed the most welcomed feeling of peace and tranquility after a dance with the beast. Be well pj and know that rest, peace and tranquility will come soon.
Huggzzz
Shari

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by Slammy on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 11:16am

I don't think I have ever called in question my faith in anything ( be it God, fellow mankind, etc.,) in regards to pain that I have felt myself. I know I have asked God that if he ended my cycle, I'd be a good Slammy, but that's about it.

Things like Sept 11, and innocent children dying in the Middle East, and abducted and killed, right here in the civilized United States..... these are the things that make me ask "why?".

Slammy 8)

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by Ree on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 12:10pm

Sometimes I think people believe WE are the game of LIFE equipped with little game PIECES and that God's HAND is moving us here and there, doing this and that with us... We are here... We chose our lives, our destiny and the paths WE choose. We pray when WE need something and usually for nothing more. The majority of the people in America USE God to suit their needs ie: to have that beautiful church wedding, to have their babies christened... I find we wallow in hypocrites...

and I pray for them all every day... I have faith that can move mountains... and even while setting the hair on my dear sister in laws corpse did I ever ask why...

If you have never thanked God for your presence here on Earth, then why do you blame HIM when anything negative happens to you. Life is a miracle everyday. This life here is not the big picture. Life is much more than our time here on Earth... We will all see and it won't matter. Nothing will. It doesn't matter how big your house is... but that you are hospitable. It doesn't matter how much your car costs but that you drive someone somewhere that might need a ride... Do Gods work and he will notice you. That doesnt mean sit in a church somewhere... it means love people and smile once in a while. Life is your gift from God nothing more. Your gift to yourself is what you do with it... asking why is making you suffer more than the pain you endure now... hope i got you thinking.... (i know jonny shut up ree) love to you all ree

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by pjbgravely on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 3:28pm

Thanks for all the replies esp. the non christians. Iv'e got alot to think about when this ch goes away.

Nancy, I didn't quit drinking I just kept forgetting to drink. There was no work on my part just kept forgetting every day for a year. Now I have no desire for alcholol and I am glade of it. Before I was healed I couldn't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to get drunk. Now I don't understand why anyone would.

Ree, I never thought of thanking God for just living. I have thanked Him for my gifts and my family. Has it been so long since a prayer was answered or has been so long since I noticed a prayer was answered?

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by echo on Sep 3^rd, 2002, 4:25pm

I was raised to fear the greater power. "Do that and you will be struck down". Now in my late 40's and leaving the fire and brimstone church for the new style with the music and different pulpit style, I'm re-discovering what my faith truly is. It is wonderful to watch my children's love of God grow within them.
I believe He will not lay a burden on me I cannot handle. Why 9/11 is allowed to happen is beyond me. I'd just like to have the power within me to quit smoking.

Title: Re: Faith and Pain
Post by oringkid on Sep 4^th, 2002, 8:09am

As Ree said, life itself is a gift. What we do with it is up to us. If there was a God, what kind of parent would he be if he handed us everything we wished for, made our lives easy and sweet, painfree and perfect? What kind of children would we be then? What would we have learned? What would we appreciate? Anything?

Sherry