I am a Christian. It is, and has been for a long time, as simple as that for me. Until a little while ago, I would have said that my faith was strong, secure, and unshakeable. Don't get me wrong. I know there is a God. I know that without him, and all He created, I wouldn't be here. I believe in His son, Jesus Christ, and I believe that Christ is my Lord and Saviour, and there truly is none like Him. The basis of my faith is strong, and set in concrete. I guess then, that I am not having so much a crisis of faith, but a crisis of whys and hows.
Why, when I need Him so much, can I not see Him? Why, right when He has finally given me utter happiness and peace in the world, has He taken the source of my happiness away? I am struggling to understand.
I have prayed about this, and asked for peace. I have prayed alone, I have prayed with a friend, I have prayed in a group, and I have people praying for me. Why, if God is there, is he not answering my prayers? Why, if He loves me so much, as much as the Bible, His word, says, does He not want me to be happy?
People who love me tell me that His plan will be revealed to me soon... I hope and pray that they are right.
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4 comments:
Kit,
So sorry you are struggling right now.
Have you ever read Harold S. Kushner? The guy is a Jewish Rabbi who wrote several books that discuss the question of why bad things happen to good people.
These books are widely considered to be some of the best for getting to the whys and dealing with the feeling that you have somehow been abandoned. Might be worth checking out.
Take care of yourself and keep writing!
hi katie... it's tony here. I have a crisis of faith too... but my source is completely different. However i do know what you're feeling.
The questions you ask, i'm not going to answer, because i think you already know the answer. don't you?
In Christianity, as with any religion, crisis of faith are considered to be character building, and they're right, it does build character. At cross-roads like this, there seems to be two obvious choices, to put your trust in God, as you've always have done. Or to take your trust away from God. and you cannot really put your logic to it, because it doesn't work with logic. It only works with faith, which usually defies logic. Therefore, there is not much anyone can say to shift you one way or the next, because you already know what you want to do. Deep in your heart, you know you've already made that choice. If you haven't, then i think it's not a crisis of faith, but a crisis in self-identity.
But i don't think you have a crisis of identity, i think know perfectly clear what you want and needs to do.
and you know what... good times can never last, but bad times don't stay around either.
i'll call you about it soon...
tony
Thanks guys...
Tony, you are right, I do know in my heart that this will pass, and that my faith will be stronger for it. It's hard right now, but i will get through this, and with friends like the beautiful ones you know I have, I cant help but get through.
My response is late, but I guess better late than never! I have pondered this question personally as well, and the best explanation I've ever seen is that you cannot have good without bad, hot without cold, etc. (the law of opposites) otherwise you'd have no reference for comparison, therefore you'd be unable to appreciate what was good or enjoyable. The same holds true for why you are dealing with diabetes or anything else. There is likely to be a reason, perhaps you won't learn about it in this world.
Forgive me for replicating a sometimes over-distributed writing, but perhaps its relevant here:
One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to him and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He notice many times in his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened to be at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only ONE set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed You the most You would leave me."
The Lord replied:
"My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, When you see only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."
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