I have been lied to!

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MainBrain

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First off, yeah I’m posting again. So don’t give me a hard time.
Second, I have been lied to by Christians. THERE IS NO CALLING! GOD WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAREER ON TRACK! THERE IS NO USE IN TRYING! I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF BUT I AM UNABLE BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE ABILITIES!!!
I guess agnostics and atheists are on to something when they say the religious community is out for money.
 
No, the Gospel way won’t help your career.

Christ promises a hard road and a bitter journey. It’s the royal road of the Cross. You should read the ‘Imitation of Christ’ by Thomas a Kempis.

‘In the world you will have troubles’…

The promises of Christ are fulfilled in the next world.

Nothing in this world lasts- it joys and sorrws are both passing, meaningless shadows. And, even if earthly happiness was worth pursuing (which it’s not), being successful doesn’t make you happy. Forget career. It’s a waste of time, and a mug’s game. The more ‘success’ you have, the more stress you will have, and the more ambitious you will become. Do any job that will give you enough money to buy food and pay rent…

It’s the next world you need to worry about.
 
Nihilist said:
No, the Gospel way won’t help your career.

Christ promises a hard road and a bitter journey. It’s the royal road of the Cross. You should read the ‘Imitation of Christ’ by Thomas a Kempis.

‘In the world you will have troubles’…

The promises of Christ are fulfilled in the next world.

Nothing in this world lasts- it joys and sorrws are both passing, meaningless shadows. And, even if earthly happiness was worth pursuing (which it’s not), being successful doesn’t make you happy. Forget career. It’s a waste of time, and a mug’s game. The more ‘success’ you have, the more stress you will have, and the more ambitious you will become. Do any job that will give you enough money to buy food and pay rent…

It’s the next world you need to worry about.
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As a matter of fact, I have Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis and I have been reading it. While it’s deep and beautiful, it won’t help me get out of this whole I am in. I have a family to take care of. There is nothing wrong with me earning success as long as it doesn’t get in the way of getting to heaven. I wonder if Kempis book is good for our time. Of course I know it is. But like I said, I need to get out of this whole.

It’s amazing how much of the Evangelical thought of faith versus Catholics is different. Evangelicals stress God will guide you to your successful life while Catholics stress suffering.

I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL! I WANT TO MAKE MONEY! I am sure there is enough suffering in that so my mind won’t be idle and tormented. Sorry for the caps.

Oh, and I tried any job. No one is hiring.
 
MainBrain said:
As a matter of fact, I have Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis and I have been reading it. While it’s deep and beautiful, it won’t help me get out of this whole I am in. I have a family to take care of. There is nothing wrong with me earning success as long as it doesn’t get in the way of getting to heaven. I wonder if Kempis book is good for our time. Of course I know it is. But like I said, I need to get out of this whole.

It’s amazing how much of the Evangelical thought of faith versus Catholics is different. Evangelicals stress God will guide you to your successful life while Catholics stress suffering.

I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL! I WANT TO MAKE MONEY! I am sure there is enough suffering in that so my mind won’t be idle and tormented. Sorry for the caps.

Oh, and I tried any job. No one is hiring.
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I am sorry to hear about your troubles. Hang in there…Good luck.
 
MainBrain said:
First off, yeah I’m posting again. So don’t give me a hard time.
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Why would I give you a hard time??
Second, I have been lied to by Christians.
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Yes - this can happen…
Thankfully you won’t be lied to my God.
THERE IS NO CALLING! GOD WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAREER ON TRACK! THERE IS NO USE IN TRYING! I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF BUT I AM UNABLE BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE ABILITIES!!!
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I wish I could offer you some solace but I cannot based on the above. All I can do is pray God will remain by your side through your troubles.
I guess agnostics and atheists are on to something when they say the religious community is out for money.
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I have no idea how this connects to the other things you posted above…but I suppose frustration can conjure many thoughts and connections…

Peace
James
 
MainBrain said:
THERE IS NO CALLING! GOD WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAREER ON TRACK! THERE IS NO USE IN TRYING! I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF BUT I AM UNABLE BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE ABILITIES!!!
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I think you have the stick by the wrong end. I have not seen any promise in the Gospels that I will have a career, money, success, whatever.

What I do see is the promise of hardship by following Christ. A cross, not a worldly career.

Yes, you have to do it yourself. Why would you think otherwise? You say you don’t have “abilities.” If you have absolutely no job skills, then perhaps you should learn some. If you can’t afford to go back to school, look around your community/city/county for free job training.

After being a stay-at-home mom for 25 years, technology has bypassed the job skills I once had. Right now, I think I’m barely qualified to be a greeter at WalMart. 🙂

But instead of feeling sorry for myself, I’m now trying to figure out how to sell the skills I do have in the marketplace. And boy, do we need the money! But God hasn’t materialized any into our bank account. So I need to work. Me. Not God.
 
MainBrain said:
First off, yeah I’m posting again. So don’t give me a hard time.
Second, I have been lied to by Christians. THERE IS NO CALLING! GOD WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAREER ON TRACK! THERE IS NO USE IN TRYING! I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF BUT I AM UNABLE BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE ABILITIES!!!
I guess agnostics and atheists are on to something when they say the religious community is out for money.
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I’m sorry you are having a hard time.

Some religious communities probably are out for money, but I don’t believe all of them are.

I think there are also gross misrepresentations of what prayer is for, and the gospel of abundance.

I understand your frustration with things some Christians have told you, and your failure to success in certain jobs and having financial security and success.

I have similar issues in my life.

many Christians have told me that sometimes rather than God giving them material wealth, prayer changes them so that what they have feels like abundance and wealth to them. They are transformed and what they seek and are fulfilled by changes greatly.

Still and all, yes we do need shelter, food, etc, and I have also been taught it is not wrong to pray for those things.

What happens when they are not provided, and surely we can see many examples of them not being provided.

Perhaps prayer brings the understanding of that as well.

There are real and true limitations in life, and we all have to accept some of them, or life a life of torment and distress. In some ways it’s a case of choosing our battles wisely.

I have significant worries about security as well, and it is something I often struggle with, and not always gracefully.
 
Main Brain! Your still alive! I was wondering where you were. Just recently I fell and received a major ouchy. I am not complaining because God is GOOD. I have food on the table, a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. None of it was given to me and I earned it the hard way. What I do have or try to have is a positive attitude with positive energy. ‘Yeah,’ you say. ‘People are probably helping you out.’ No. I have had a hard several weeks, but thank God for what I do have and able to do with one arm. I blame no one or God for my plight. It is as it is, and I am grateful that I can offer up my suffering for all the solders coming home with NO Arms or Legs or without homes or families to help them out. Christ wandered and preached in the desert for three years without a place to lay his head. Instead of thanking him for his sacrifice we tend to crusicify him over and over again. Please excuse my spelling/typing. One handed typing is not easy, but I thank God that I can do it.👍
 
Main Brain,

I can almost feel your frustration, you poor thing. Hang in there. x

My advice would be to pray for help and then take a step in the direction you want to go in. For example; pray for help to find a job and then get busy sending out CVs.

Years ago; Fr. Joe (best priest ever!) explained this principle by telling a wee joke. He wasn’t being impious; just engaging. Here it is:

A very holy and devout man from Kerry; we’ll call him a Paddy; lived a chaste and exemplary life. He prayed unceasingly and was a daily communicant. He was a pillar of his parish and was loved and respected by all he knew. He had but one request in prayer and that was to win the sweepstakes. All his long life, he worked and prayed and never lost faith that God would grant this single request.

Upon his death; Paddy arrived at the Pearly Gates, very irate. He asked God how He could have let him down in this one request, after decades of service. God smiled and said ‘Paddy! You might have at least bought a ticket!’

All joking aside; pray first; then step out in faith. God will take care of you. Does He not clothe the lollies of the field? He will help you in your career. x
 
Certainly atheists and agnostics aren’t exempted from the suffering that we all experience.

While I am unable to relate to all of your specific concerns, I do understand employment ones. My expertise is in landscaping/horticulture and I simply cannot afford to continue because it is - by nature(!) - a seasonal job.

To that end, I’ve enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program (6 months) which will give me a good paying entry-level job while I proceed with my goal of eventually obtaining a Red Seal Certificate. Temporary school (tuition expense) for a greater gain…

Perhaps there is something that you would be interested in that you could see yourself doing for now in a trade until more jobs open up in your field?

And I do get that one can’t always go out and get just any job. For example, because (prior to the one I currently have) my last two jobs were with a union. Therefore, Walmart et. al. would simply not hire me.

Anyway, my prayers are with you.
 
MainBrain said:
First off, yeah I’m posting again. So don’t give me a hard time.
Second, I have been lied to by Christians. THERE IS NO CALLING! GOD WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAREER ON TRACK! THERE IS NO USE IN TRYING! I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF BUT I AM UNABLE BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE ABILITIES!!!
I guess agnostics and atheists are on to something when they say the religious community is out for money.
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If you, as you say, Don’t have the ability needed for the desired career, than that is not your career.

God does say no sometimes. People trip themselves up with the idea that he will always say yes. I wanted to to the Navy, but failed the physical. Now that is having a big door slammed in the face. I had to discover what other options where out there and let that door close if I wanted to get anywhere.

God never said He was going to hand life to us on a platter or grant our every wish. His greatest concern is our salvation, not our career desires. Even if we want a certain career He may know that we will be no good at it, could be led astray through it, or that there is something much better out there for us. Your first step in understanding His will may very well be letting your career ideas go and opening up to something else.
 
MainBrain said:
First off, yeah I’m posting again. So don’t give me a hard time.
Second, I have been lied to by Christians. THERE IS NO CALLING! GOD WILL NOT HELP ME GET MY CAREER ON TRACK! THERE IS NO USE IN TRYING! I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF BUT I AM UNABLE BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE ABILITIES!!!
I guess agnostics and atheists are on to something when they say the religious community is out for money.
Click to expand...
I am sorry that you are going through such hard times. I will pray for you. Why do you believe that God is refusing to help you with your career?
 
Cricket2 said:
God does say no sometimes. People trip themselves up with the idea that he will always say yes. I wanted to to the Navy, but failed the physical. Now that is having a big door slammed in the face. I had to discover what other options where out there and let that door close if I wanted to get anywhere.
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I have a good idea of how you feel. My son really wanted to go into the Air Force. They turned him down because he was just a little too nearsighted for them. Same with the Navy, Army, Marines.

So now he’s studying accounting. 🙂
 
You are in my prayers, MainBrain.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
 
Bonnie said:
I have a good idea of how you feel. My son really wanted to go into the Air Force. They turned him down because he was just a little too nearsighted for them. Same with the Navy, Army, Marines.

So now he’s studying accounting. 🙂
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Off topic (sorry about possible thread derail! :o)… I too, tried to enlist a long time ago - before children, etc. - because I thought it would be a way of serving my country and gaining some skills. I passed everything and then failed the physical because I apparently have a heart murmer. Something I didn’t know and certainly doesn’t affect my ability to do manual labour!!!

And it’s a good point you bring up. If everything we are directing towards a particular endeavour seems to go nowhere, maybe a new direction is worth looking into. Like accounting… :eek: 😛 🙂
 
grasscutter said:
And it’s a good point you bring up. If everything we are directing towards a particular endeavour seems to go nowhere, maybe a new direction is worth looking into. Like accounting… :eek: 😛 🙂
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I would love to know how to do accounting … as it is, I pay someone since I can’t do it myself. But accounting is not a skill I’ve been blessed with.

MainBrain, you are in my prayers.

…
 
I know how hard it is. I am going through the same. And I am also not surprised you were lied to. The reality is, people I use to pray the rosary with were just so cruel to me when it came to my job situation, (dishing out advice that was useless that they never had to follow themselves, constantly asking about my qualifications as a pretense to help when they just wanted to judge) I had to quit praying with them

And then there is the totally annoying secular advice that tells you to network. I am sorry, but networking is just a blatant waste of time

So, I can’t help you but hopefully there is some comfort in the fact that you are not alone

Angie
 
God REALLY works in confusing and difficult ways sometimes.
Years ago I had to move 30 miles away with my grandparents because of an extremely truamatic situation with my dads mental illness.
I am not exaggerating when I say I to over a hundred places to work. I finally got a job, but only lasted a month. They didnt think I was strong enough so never gave me hours. Then I got a seasonal job but they didnt keep me after Christmas.
I applied to a hundred more places. I didnt have a car. On the bus home I got off and passed a place I never thought to apply before. I finally got a job as a waitress in which was steady and I earned good tips.
The miracle as that here I met my soulmate and now husband. We worked together and were friends for two years. Hes my angel and even though it seriously felt like going through hell to get to heaven I wouldnt change a thing as long as I could find him.
 
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