Free will often doesn’t play a part in our suffering. I’m bipolar. I suffer from severe depression. It isn’t a choice I made. And, as a direct reponse to the OP’s question, I have found that in my darkest moments I can’t find God anywhere. A real spiritual crisis, especially since my most severe depressive episodes have occurred when I was in a deeply spritual part of my life and was doing my best to follow what I discerned to be God’s will for my life.
We aren’t supposed to give up, but we are supposed to surrender everything to God. There is a difference. Giving up leads to despair, surrender leads to God.
Free will always plays a part in our suffering - even inherited traits like bipolar disorder. But that doesn’t mean it is because of our own personal free will choice, but it could be because of the choice of others.
I hope you include the element of the necessity to trust God in your rethinking. It can be difficult at times to remain faithful in the midst of adversity no matter how much we trust God in our walk with Him - even if that adversity lasts many years.Tempted to give up? You betcha. I haven’t though. But I am rethinking my beliefs about the nature of God and life.
The things YOU think are best for you aren’t necessarily the same things GOD thinks are best for you. Remember, you live in a physical world; he lives in a spiritual world.
I agree with what you say. But it isn’t easy to follow. It is hard when you see other people getting thier dreams and desires. I know a person that is young good looking and is living a dream I only wish I could. That makes me jealious but to rub salt in the wound this person is an athiest and living a lifestyle that isn’t pleasing to God from the Church’s teachings if you get my point. Yet me KNOWING not just beleiving but KNOWING he exists and I have nothing but trouble realizing my dream. No matter what people say it still psses me off to no end. I know it isn’t my business what other people get from God. but it’s God’s will and all that sometimes is not a good enough answer. There are times that I want more from God than just a no. I want a yes sometimes. I am having a little trouble lately accepting a no from God. I am never going to leave the church or disbeleive in God for it is too late for that I know he exists. Sometimes dissappointments are too much for me to deal and cope with. meanwhile this person that I am talking about can care less about God and is just happy as a honey bee in the summertime. He is buzzing around the barn and everyone is kissing his feet as to how wonderful he is. The Holy Ghost tells me to pray for him as penence for my jealiousy but I still don’t see my dreams being realized. anyway I am not going to beat this subject to death. been a rough year for me and I am alone no one to talk to so I am feeling alot of what the OP has described. I know the feeling of dispair and dissappointment. I am so sick of it that if Christ came to me and said take my hand and not look back come with me I am so so so so so so ready to go. plain and simple. Scoob.
A reason why this happens is because it is like a fish that just got hooked. It tags a little then a little more as you are, in saying that you want God more and more.
I often felt about it a lot. When I saw my friends get their dreams but in my turn I wasn’t able to get any. I got angry with God twice. I mean really angry, I sat at the church and angry with Him, I asked so many questions even I said that why it happened to me but it was not my mistake. Somebody mistake but I should responsible. But after that there was a very little voice said “Did I do any mistake so I deserved to be crucified?” then I cried but felt peace.
God cares about our body and soul. Everything God created is good. When things we experience in this life are not good, it can be easy to wonder why God permits the bad. It is important to understand however that God can make good out of bad if we allow Him to transform us.
2 and 3 are the best answers, I think, but they are half answers. The answer is God is testing you, and He will give you the grace to overcome.
It sounds like this person isn’t really living the dream then, is he? As a God-centred person, you are stronger than him, and are not living his overtly sinful lifestyle.
It’s spiritual warfare. The evil one hears your cries to God as well. Satan wants you to give up, not God. Satan wants you to feel abandoned by God so that you will abandon God yourself. But God will never never abandon you. The only way to combat it is to cling to the Lord ever more tightly. Pray for your enemies, give thanks for your struggles. This is the only way to combat Satan. God does not want you to get discouraged, Satan does. You really must pray more, because you are under attack, and prayer is your only valuable weapon in these situations. Believe me, I know how hard that advice is. God sees your struggles though, and He is always with you, even when you feel He’s not there at all. Remind yourself often through the day that God is your Father, that you are precious to Him. Pray unceasingly! Pray for all people who suffer the same trials you are suffering now.
first thing first one of two parts remember suicide victems dont go to heven and take your thorn out of your eye before it leads to suicide posting above your means to help someone CAUSES CONCERN