do you ever wonder where God was?

[Trinity]

There was a man in heaven, and he saw his life as foot prints in the sand. As young boy he saw two sets of foot prints his and God's, and when he was about thirty he saw two sets of foot prints. When he was getting old and tired weary from the struggles of the world he only saw 1 set of foot prints...

The man asked God in a calm voice "Why did you leave me?" and God answered vary nicely "I never left you, I was carrying you in my arms." As I have told you "I will never leave or forsake you."

God said "Do you remember when you where poor and sick when you where old?" the man said "Yes, those checks of money coming in the in the mail, and sending food when I couldn't afford it, and a winter jacket, and friends to come visited and encouraged me" God said "Iv always been there with you."

[Guest Kandi]

Thank you omega

I am not sure how it works. Did God know that I would be abused before I was born. God knows everything - that is what we say. I would answer yes and I would say Jesus within me suffered the pain with me, for me(I didn't remember it until I was older). Jesus within me saved me and in the healing process I have become so close to God. I know God, not just believe. It was only through God that I was healed, actually am still healing. I would not trade what I have now for anything. I would choose to be abused again if it was the only way to have this. I am still healing and God is glorious. :dove

[Omega]

Hi Kandi!

Anyone who is willing to suffer for the sake of the Lord as God promised will inherit a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life. I Truly believe you when you say that you know God and I believe that you are extremely blessed and that these blessings will manifest as you proceed further in Life, but troubles will also increase. Many a times when one as a Believer is experiencing Trials in their life, the reason being is either one of two, they are either experiencing it because God is putting them through the fire to sanctify them or The Lord is in secret blessing the individual for their sufferings and their Loyal service and duty to Him.

Either way stay Blessed Child of God!

:hug: :il:

[wondering04]

Kandi, I am so sorry that you too had to suffer abuse! No one should ever have to undergo abuse! I am so glad that you have faith in Jesus to trust in his presence. That is awesome. I never really learned much about Jesus except what few times I heard about him on television when my parents had nothing else better to watch, so there wasn't a strong sense of his presence in my life.

I do try to give the pain to God, but sometimes end up taking it back, and sometimes it seems that it just falls to the ground. I guess something isn't wired right inside of me. I have to learn this stuff. Right now I am reading in Jeremiah, and seeing some of God's heart for the people. It is an interesting view, and is letting me see that even in the midst of a lot of grief growth can occur. I am still rather new to Christ, only about 2 1/2 years, so there isn't the solid foundation that some of you seem to have.

I suspect right now that the best way I see God is through my pastor and through kindness of people such as you. But I am struggling with this, and for that I am sorry.

Heather

[Guest Liv4Him2]

Blessings to all and Peace of Christ be with you all.

When we read the Bible, we should use the contextual approach to study when, where, why, and by whom the book was written to be able to recognize the religious truths being presented.

Sometimes people believe that they are hated or they don't have enough faith and that is why they are punished. (I used to be one of them) This causes us a great deal of harm.

The book of Job was written by an inspired poet who say the error of equating suffering with divine punishment.

In the story, God conforts Job with these question: "Who are you to question me? Could you create the universe? Do you govern the stars? Are you the master of life? Can you control the power of the untamed animals?"

We also learn from the book of Job that we cannot presume that suffering is a punishment from God. Also, when we are suffering only an encounter with the Lord and the awareness that God is close to us in our pain can bring us peace.

Also, by reading the NT we learn that Christ lives in us to such an extent that we may join our sufferings to his "for the sake of his body, that is, the church." (Colossians 1:24)

[Omega]

There are several reasons as to why people experience persecution, the persecution I describe is of the Believer and not the Unbeliever. When one is suffering not because of persecution of the Word as a Child of God, God uses that to strengthen the Christian and not that He is the cause of such sufferings, during the process of sanctification which all True Genuine Believers will face, God uses all sufferings to sanctify this person through the period of trial in their life or as it is called through the fire.

This verse will better explain it:Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called {according to his purpose.}

Ther sufferings Job endured was test which all True Loyal Believers will face according to the measure of faith that they possess. Other natural sufferings God will also use for His Good Purpose to strengthen the Believer and to help Him/Her increase in fruits of the Spirit and in turn strenghten others!

God Bless! :hug: :il:

[Kabowd]

Heather, boy do I completely understand your questions. Having expereinced the loss of both of my parents at a very young age and also abuse at the hands of a family member for years (as recent as this year)...I, too, have sat in the quietness of my room at times and wondered why God let this happen. Listen to this quote from C.S. Lewis: "Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world".

One of the things God reminds me of when I'm feeling alone and hopeless, is that everything is for His glory. Even pain. I don't fully understand how, but there is beauty in suffering. When we walk through trials and pain and maintain our faith, it's like Daniel in the lion's den, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego (sp?) in the fiery furnace, or even more relevant....it's like His Son bearing the cross. God knows what it is to suffer. I'm not saying God delights in causing pain, but nothing delights Him more than His children keeping the faith and clinging to Him when things are hard. And like the quote above, probably nothing communicates faith to a lost world better than believers who suffer with dignity and faith.

A couple of my favorite verses:

"Each heart knows it's own bitterness, and no one else can share it's joy." Proverbs 14:10

This is an odd verse to me, and I may not be understanding it correctly. But to me, it says...without pain, sorrow and suffering..how would we know joy? The things we walk through are our testimonies of God's grace. Without those things, we have not truly experienced who He is. We may "know" them in our heads...but until we've walked through trials...we don't "know" them as truth in our hearts. Know what I mean? Without dryness..how do we appreciate the rain?

Also:

"If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strengh!" Proverbs 24:10

Ouch. This one hurts. It's easy to trust in God and bless His name when all the world is right. Anyone can do that. It's when life sucks and all is going downhill when the rubber meets the road for our faith.

The last one I'll share for now:

Isaiah 61: 1-2..I don't have time to post the whole thing, so I'll post my favorite part:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me...to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

This tells me that one of Christ's purposes in coming was to comfort me, to take all the horrible things I've gone through and make something beautiful out of them. Please just know, that you are not alone and you never were. Yes, I understand it may have seemed that way...the enemy has a way of making us believe that. But the truth is, God has a new garment for you to wear instead of mourning. He wants to give you beauty for ashes, just like He does for me.

[Guest Kandi]

Your belief in me means a lot omega

My fear of telling is lessened, almost gone, maybe all gone because of your sincere belief. My closeness with God gives me a great deal of strength. I have felt God's touch. It was so glorious, I would have died happy at that moment. I begged to feel it again many times to no avail. I realized then that God gives me what I need when I need it.

May you always feel God's presence

wondering

you must first be humble in God's presence. And you must truly believe without a shadow of doubt that God is right there with you and truly believe that he will take your pain. You see, that is what He wants to do, so that you can get on with your life and feel His love. Believe wondering, believe with all your heart. God is right there where you are just waiting for you to ask. He said to me "You forgot to ask". I don't forget to ask anymore. He always provides - not always in just the way I want. I have to be open to see what He has given. :dove :dove

[Adstar]

If I don't sort out this situation there will always be a dark shadow there, and doubt and unbelief connected in this area. I guess I am going to wrestle with it, but I also think God would rather have an honest doubt than mouthed words.

Why all the "I's"? Do you think that You must sort out this situation on your own? Call out to God from your heart for His help in this thing. Ask for peace and guidance and be open to the Words and loving thoughts coming to you. There are many people on this forum that have gone through troubles in their lives and have been freed from the hurt of their experiences through their acceptance of Jesus, just read some of the testimonies in the forum and you will see this.

All praise The Ancient Of Days

[Adstar]

Your belief in me means a lot omega

My fear of telling is lessened, almost gone, maybe all gone because of your sincere belief. My closeness with God gives me a great deal of strength. I have felt God's touch. It was so glorious, I would have died happy at that moment. I begged to feel it again many times to no avail. I realized then that God gives me what I need when I need it.

May you always feel God's presence

wondering

you must first be humble in God's presence. And you must truly believe without a shadow of doubt that God is right there with you and truly believe that he will take your pain. You see, that is what He wants to do, so that you can get on with your life and feel His love. Believe wondering, believe with all your heart. God is right there where you are just waiting for you to ask. He said to me "You forgot to ask". I don't forget to ask anymore. He always provides - not always in just the way I want. I have to be open to see what He has given. :dove :dove

Thats the right Spirit shining through you Kandi :hug:

How sweet are the words of the saints. :il:

All Praise The Ancient Of Days