keeping the faith-

Ladybug, I share your feeling, I have been there many times. I found that this is the times when you need your fellow believer's support, not counsel, just support. Ask them to for you and believing with you, please not to counsel, unless you feel you need counsel from them. Good time also to give praises to God for the good things, that helps to take your focus away from the bad. Unfortunately we go through bad times, but you find that when you get through it your faith is stronger and you are closer to God. Bad things make us strong if we cling on to God in faith, we sometimes cling on for dear life, but we know that we will not be tested above our strength, and God will give the outcome. My prayers go out for you. Blessings.

And Jesus said pray for anything in my name and the Father will grant it. It is amazing how you can pray and your life is falling apart. Are you praying incorrectly? or you had stopped praying?

Just keep doing what your doing, keep hanging on. I have been where your at many times, I am there right now. I know the circumstances are probably different. Just keep praying and holding tight to your faith, things do have a way of working out. I know at the time its seems like nothing is going to change or get better, but if you hold on it will. I am not just telling you this, I am telling myself this. Also I think it helps to lean on your friends here on mylot, we do care about each other. We all have a unique relationship, we are friends but being online does make it different. I don't know if that makes it easier to open up or harder. May God keep Blessing you Darlin.

I have been struggling with some major issues lately and I found that finding at least one other Christian woman to talk to helps a bunch..In fact we were talking and she made the comment that women need to fellowship with other women more than men need other men to fellowship with..Not that men don't need someone to tak to, but women need it more. And because I have been talking to a couple friends, things have started getting better or at least it is getting me through it..

"Christian life is too hard",you will hear that statement to some christians compared to other people who doesn't know the real meaning of christianity.From the time we became christian satan will hate us most because it is our opportunity to get closer with God,like the situation that happens to JOB,if you him God permits satan to do all the things that he wants to do to test the faith of JOB but his trust is in God and he never quit his faith even though he is experiencing difficulties in his life,most of the things of Job lost even his wife and sons whom he loved so much but he remains faithful to God,sometimes God permits us to experience those trials and problems to know if we are faithful to him,and God will not give problems to us that we can't carry,the reason that why he gave it to us because he knows that we can overcome it through the help of our faith in him,those problems that we encounter in everyday life are other way for us to get stronger and to cling him most,God knows everything and it is a matter of testing coz sometimes he do test us to know until where we are and what will be our response to those situations.The good thing about it you can share it to your co-believers so that your burdens will be lessen and you can ask a prayer request to your churchmates even pastor or elder of the church so that many people will pray for you,you can also ask advice to them,but you and yourself will be the one to fight for that problem so keep holding and cling unto him,Trust God He will never leave you nor forsake you.God Bless

All that I can do when times get tough and I see no light at the end of the tunnerl is to keep on praying. Good luck and I will keep you in my prayers. God Bless

ladybug565, In the first place, I feel that it is very important to remember that Christians like everyone are not exempted from problematic and tough times. However, as the word has taught us, that these trials and tribulations are there not to defeat us but to let us remember to seek God and His ways all the more (2 Corinthians 4:8). We need to realize that there is a purpose for these times and like good times they are from God. Spiritual growth I am sure that you are no stranger to, tells us to look up to God and seek His ways all the more instead of giving in to despair, doubt God's existence, or strike out at some innocent person. I hope that you will realize here that I've mentioned that God is present all the more in our bad and tough times. As C.S.Lewis once said in his book The Problem of Pain: "God whispers to us in our pleasures . . . but shouts in our pains." Yes, like all laymen we always forget about God during good times which are from Him and only to turn back to Him at the eleventh hour of our distress. Again, "Yes" at the eleventh hour where God is shouting at the top of His voice as we are self doubting, giving in to despair and doubt His existence. It happened to the Israelites. Although God had given them "a land flowing with milk and honey," they turned from Him, so He caused "calamity to come upon them" (Jeremiah 32:22-23). So, in times of trouble, never ever forget that the Lord is with us as He has promised. Most importantly tough times teach trust! Take care and have a nice day ahead.

I remember hearing someone once say, "The closest a believer in God will ever get to Hell is here on earth, and the closest a nonbeliever will ever get to Heaven is here on earth. Maybe you can withstand all the bad if you put everything into perspective.

In my opinion, faith is not important. I feel that spirituality is very important. But for spiritulality, faith is not required. Spirituality is nothing but finding out who and what you are. Spirituality is the science of discovering yourself. A spiritual does his best by anaysing himself through total awareness and that is how he discovers his self.

It is not at all easy when people I love die and my children have to suffer for things that should not happen and why HE allowed it to happen. The saying "Everything happens for a reason, we are all part of His plan and though the reason may not be known to us at the time, and we arent given more than we can handle though alot of times it sure left me hanging by an emotional thread,I get through it one thing at a time and each time come out a little stronger and wiser. Most of all very thankful because I know there alot more people worse off than I am and for them I pray.

I try my very best to handle this things with care. Even though it is really hurting I still believ in God whatever trials come up to my life. I know this is only a test to us where and how we do it. I just dont forget God always in my mind I know He is always be there for me especially in difficult times.

We have the same situation my friend. i also suffered that much last year 2008.. i was operated with my ruptured appendix on may 20 and after that my father got stroke on august 1.. i don't know what to think and what to do those times when my mother worries about all our expenses in the hospital. i am an engineering student but i stopped because of these events in my life. Many people say "how unfortunate are you who has been very intellectual yet don't have the chance to continue studying." but i'm not affected.. i was a scholar in our university but with terrible things that happened in my life, i can't imagine how to recover with this crisis.. my father is a manager of a company but he's not that healthy enough to be stressed by his work everyday.. so we're having a hard time right now.. but i still hold on to my faith.. faith is enough to conquer all the challenges you face and believing in God's will is the best thing to think..