The Christian life is hard

[BK1110]

Praising God for this wonderful update!

The more we realize how involved God is with us and the world, the better. God wants every part of us and our lives and thoughts and heart and desire.

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” -- Colossians 1:16-17

Let that rolls over you in waves again and again. Tell it to yourself over and over in times of doubt: "I was created for God. FOR GOD. He made me FOR HIMSELF." That is infinite purpose and value! You will never cease to exist. God purposely made you, exactly the way you are, for Himself, to be in His kingdom, for all eternity. There will never be a time when He grows bored of you being in relationship with Him, providing for your every need and (holy) desire and receiving heartfelt love and thanksgiving from you. NEVER.

[farouk]

On 12/30/2024 at 5:17 PM, Thewhitedove said:

Gosh, I'm rereading this almost a year later and in a different place completely. At the time I wrote this, I was going through an incredibly stressful time, and, looking back, a lot of spiritual warfare. 

I don't think I can tag individual posters but someone said that I'm not saved, and I don't think that that was true at the time. I was under a lot of duress. Someone else said that I was having a bit of a tantrum and that I would despise them for saying it: I absolutely do not despise you and you were right- I was throwing a hissy fit in that moment of weakness. 

Another poster mentioned how I was believing a lot of lies, and that was actually true. 

To give some context, I was raised Catholic and got saved 6 years ago. The reality of the crucifixion and the Gospel being the truth hit me on a cellular level but I've had to relearn everything I thought I knew about God. 

I just didn't believe He loved me. He did give me an experience recently that shook me, one of those 'this cannot be a coincidence' moments and I have been learning about His love for me. I'm not seeing myself through a Catholic prism of being an inherently bad person, period, but as a sinner that God loves immeasurably. The story of Hosea's wife moved me to tears as I finally saw what it's all been about. There was no tenderness in my relationship with God, or none that I could see at least. I've learned that God is interested in every small detail of my life and cares about the little things that I care about too.

I have been hearing His voice more too. A few days ago I was praying to him and remembering how for so long, I had felt like my life was meaningless. God responded in my mind, Immediately:

'Of course your life has meaning! I made you!' 

This is sinking in more and more, and my heart is melting little by little, as the axis upon which all of my faith rests upon, is starting to shift. 

Hi @Thewhitedove Payer and the Scriptures daily for daily encouragement and blessing............

(Plus the encouragement of other Christians....)