I'm struggling

[Biscuit]

My wife, son, and I have been going thru hard times for the last few years. My wife had a mental breakdown (or has been under spiritual attack). She has very slowly been improving. My autistic son was diagnosed a couple of years with Chrohn's disease. Our lives have pretty much slowed to a halt, due mostly to my wife's condition. I could write a book on what we have been thru. Since Katrina, we have been in a situation where we have not even been able to live together. I am trying to get us a place in Texas to live but is taking a little time.

Anyway, I used to feel much closer to God and much less condemned. Lately, I feel like I may have a bitterness toward God. I think about my wife, Katrina victims, earthquake victims, those in Africa who have no food or water, etc. I wonder why a loving God would create people only to see them suffer, be tormented, or destroyed. Why create them to start with? If God can see past, present, and future, and knew that Satan would turn bad, then why create the angel that became Satan? I am familiar with Job, how it rains on the just and the unjust, predestination, and scripture about chastening. But that doesn't really explain letting millions and millions go thru hell on earth.

Another thing.....

We are told in the Bible to humble ourselves and that pride is a bad thing...

Yet God requires constant praise, worship, attention, exhaltation, and adoration. Why would He need these things? Does God need His ego pumped up?

I guess I just have a bad attitude and don't really understand some things. Flame away.

Please pray for us.

[Leonard]

Will mention you in our prayers.

[jamesonlove]

My wife, son, and I have been going thru hard times for the last few years. My wife had a mental breakdown (or has been under spiritual attack). She has very slowly been improving. My autistic son was diagnosed a couple of years with Chrohn's disease. Our lives have pretty much slowed to a halt, due mostly to my wife's condition. I could write a book on what we have been thru. Since Katrina, we have been in a situation where we have not even been able to live together. I am trying to get us a place in Texas to live but is taking a little time.

Anyway, I used to feel much closer to God and much less condemned. Lately, I feel like I may have a bitterness toward God. I think about my wife, Katrina victims, earthquake victims, those in Africa who have no food or water, etc. I wonder why a loving God would create people only to see them suffer, be tormented, or destroyed. Why create them to start with? If God can see past, present, and future, and knew that Satan would turn bad, then why create the angel that became Satan? I am familiar with Job, how it rains on the just and the unjust, predestination, and scripture about chastening. But that doesn't really explain letting millions and millions go thru hell on earth.

Another thing.....

We are told in the Bible to humble ourselves and that pride is a bad thing...

Yet God requires constant praise, worship, attention, exhaltation, and adoration. Why would He need these things? Does God need His ego pumped up?

I guess I just have a bad attitude and don't really understand some things. Flame away.

Please pray for us.

[jamesonlove]

My wife, son, and I have been going thru hard times for the last few years. My wife had a mental breakdown (or has been under spiritual attack). She has very slowly been improving. My autistic son was diagnosed a couple of years with Chrohn's disease. Our lives have pretty much slowed to a halt, due mostly to my wife's condition. I could write a book on what we have been thru. Since Katrina, we have been in a situation where we have not even been able to live together. I am trying to get us a place in Texas to live but is taking a little time.

Anyway, I used to feel much closer to God and much less condemned. Lately, I feel like I may have a bitterness toward God. I think about my wife, Katrina victims, earthquake victims, those in Africa who have no food or water, etc. I wonder why a loving God would create people only to see them suffer, be tormented, or destroyed. Why create them to start with? If God can see past, present, and future, and knew that Satan would turn bad, then why create the angel that became Satan? I am familiar with Job, how it rains on the just and the unjust, predestination, and scripture about chastening. But that doesn't really explain letting millions and millions go thru hell on earth.

Another thing.....

We are told in the Bible to humble ourselves and that pride is a bad thing...

Yet God requires constant praise, worship, attention, exhaltation, and adoration. Why would He need these things? Does God need His ego pumped up?

I guess I just have a bad attitude and don't really understand some things. Flame away.

Please pray for us.

[jamesonlove]

]

hi bro

sorry 4 all that is happening 2 u and yo family but i want 2 encourage u that dont lose hope victory is ahead of u .the bible says in psalms 30;5 that there may be tears in the night but joy cometh in the morning .i want 2 encourage u that what yo passing thru is not permanent but God will see u thru and am praying 4 u yo wife and yo son the bible says in psalms 103;3 that he is the lord who forgives all our iniquity and heals all our disease.so be sure that healing is on its way 2 u and yo family.am really very sorry 4 all that is happening in yo country the storms ,eath quakes and everything but pliz trust in God alone jesus said in this world there is alot of problems,trouble ,persecution and suffering but take heart because i have overcome the world ,which means we shall also overcome.remember job the suffering servant and all that he passed thru but in all he said that naked i came from my mothers womb and naked will i depart praise be to the name of the Lord and in another chapter he said that ;though he slay me but yet i will trust him.

and i also want 2 tell u that read the word of God so much it will help u 2 stay close 2 God and always have time 2 fellowship with God in prayer he is waiting 2 hear his sons cry 2 him and he will save u from all trouble.david in the bible says that i waited patiently upon the lord and he heard my cry and rescued me from my trouble.i want also 2 tell u that u are not condemned .yo condemnation fell on christ .bible says there is there4 now no condemnation 4 them that are in christ jesus.the holy spirit only convicts u that u are the righteousness of God though u sin u are still righteous in the sight of God because of what christ has done 4 u on the cross.accept this its the word of God .dont believe in the wispers of the devil who condemns u but resist him the bible says and he will flee from u.

i want 2 tell u that sometimes God lets us pass thru all this 2 learn 2 trust him.bible says we should give thanks 2 God whether we are passing thru bad times or not in all situations we should give thanks 2 him.please dont lose heart.i myself i live in africa in the middle of peril,trouble,hunger ,famine,rebel attacks and death and my father passed away but i continue 2 love and trust God not because of what he has done but because of who he his.and i trully know that God cares and loves me more than anything he has created.brother i want also 2 let u know that God doesnt want his ego pumped up as u say but God deserves our constant praise ,worship,and honour not because of what he has done but because of who he is.think about his love and the sacrifice and suffering of his only one and begotten son so that we may not be condemned .bro God deserves praise in all circumstances.

lastly i know u have passed thru alot but brother dont lose heart God loves u ,he knows all that u are passing thru and he is just planning agood unexpected end 4 u.bible says in jeremiah 29;11 that he has wonderful thoughts and plans 4 us read this scripture.he cares and soon he will surprise u .but my advise is that in the middle of all this wait upon him silently and prayerfully trusting him 2 help u.psalms 62;5 says that my soul wait upon God silently 4 my hope and my expectation is from him.

God bless u am praying 4 u

bro jj{uganda}E.Africa

email;pastor_jameson@yahoo.com

[GodsCreation]

ill be praying for you and your family....

i do hope that you will stand still amidst all the trials that you are experiencing now. Certain things are hard to understand and only GOD knows why...but i guess thats the very reason why HE is GOD and we are not! Personally, i believed all things happened for a reason. GODs ways are better that our ways...HE's understanding is beyond what we could ever imagined or comprehend.

But one thing for sure, our GOD is a faithful GOD..HE is true to HIS words and promises! We just have to completely trust and have that faith in HIM.

[branchesofHim]

Another thing.....

We are told in the Bible to humble ourselves and that pride is a bad thing...

Yet God requires constant praise, worship, attention, exhaltation, and adoration. Why would He need these things? Does God need His ego pumped up?

I guess I just have a bad attitude and don't really understand some things. Flame away.

Please pray for us.

I've been in the same attitude. I understand your point. I've felt the same emotion.

God is good. God is love. There is no maliciousness in Him whatsoever. Yes, God knew the devil would be wreaking havoc on His creation.

Romans 8

18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25: But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

I once was speaking to my grandfather about God and his response was, "Well if God is so good why did He let that baby Jessica fall into that well?" My reply to him came immediately without thought, "That's because of sin in the earth, not because of God."

God created the world and gave it to man, who He created in His image and His likeness. God gave man authority over everything in the earth. Then man, through disobedience, gave that God-given authority to the devil. There's been evil present in the earth ever since then. We must remember though that the devil no longer has all of the authority. Jesus, the second Adam, said, "All power in heaven and earth is given unto me, therefore you go, you preach the gospel, you lay hands on the sick, you cast out the devil, you, you, you, you ... in My Name." The body of Christ has the authority to stop evil, but due to division and complacency hasn't been doing it's rightful job of ruling the earth.

There are many, many things that I could share with you. I simply want you to consider the following passage of scripture. Think about it in prayer. God doesn't need your praise. He offers us the ability to come into His presence as priests unto Him through praise. When we are in His presence He gives us the wisdom to stop the evil in the earth around us.

Romans 9

"14": What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

"15": For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

"16": So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

"17": For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

"18": Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

"19": Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

"20": Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

"21": Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

"22": What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

"23": And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

"24": Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

"25": As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

"26": And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Peace.

[Biscuit]

Thank you, Brother JJ and Godscreation for your kind words and prayers.

And thank you, abranchofhim for that scripture. I think that maybe I am one of the ones from Romans 9:18 that He hardeneth. I just don't feel anything in my heart anymore. I have held out for so long, hoping things will get better. I used to have zeal and now I feel so empty. I think this all started in 2002. I am so tired and feel so much like giving up. Thank you.

James

[babyspice]

My wife, son, and I have been going thru hard times for the last few years. My wife had a mental breakdown (or has been under spiritual attack). She has very slowly been improving. My autistic son was diagnosed a couple of years with Chrohn's disease. Our lives have pretty much slowed to a halt, due mostly to my wife's condition. I could write a book on what we have been thru. Since Katrina, we have been in a situation where we have not even been able to live together. I am trying to get us a place in Texas to live but is taking a little time.

Anyway, I used to feel much closer to God and much less condemned. Lately, I feel like I may have a bitterness toward God. I think about my wife, Katrina victims, earthquake victims, those in Africa who have no food or water, etc. I wonder why a loving God would create people only to see them suffer, be tormented, or destroyed. Why create them to start with? If God can see past, present, and future, and knew that Satan would turn bad, then why create the angel that became Satan? I am familiar with Job, how it rains on the just and the unjust, predestination, and scripture about chastening. But that doesn't really explain letting millions and millions go thru hell on earth.

Another thing.....

We are told in the Bible to humble ourselves and that pride is a bad thing...

Yet God requires constant praise, worship, attention, exhaltation, and adoration. Why would He need these things? Does God need His ego pumped up?

I guess I just have a bad attitude and don't really understand some things. Flame away.

Please pray for us.

hi my name is valerie.

just read your post. Sorry to hear about your wife and son. and also sorry you feel this way about god.

dont know the answer to all your questions, about the way your feeling towards god at this present time.

but from what I have read so far ,I understand what you mean. you feel that god is letting you and your family down,and the others on this planet. why did god create and destroy, dont know the answer to that. I think the same way as you on this matter,when we go through bad times we tend to blame god,.and lifes not worth living,.I am telling you this f rom my own my personal experience.

I went through some depression over the years ,because of whats been happening in my life.

but with help from christian friends ,and prayer it does help.

enyway i wont go on about my problems, but all i can say take it to the lord in prayer.

if you need somone to tailk to I am here

.

AND JESUS IS STILL WITH US.

I WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

PS GOD BLESS TAKE CARE.

from your sister in christ.

valerie

[InternalFlame]

Another thing.....

We are told in the Bible to humble ourselves and that pride is a bad thing...

Yet God requires constant praise, worship, attention, exhaltation, and adoration. Why would He need these things? Does God need His ego pumped up?

He doesn't need it; but think about it. How would you feel if your children, or your wife loved you, yet never said it or did anything to show that they did? Even if you know they love you, you still feel a bit dejected. Even worse, how would you feel if your child hated you, when you brought him life? I'm not saying that this is what God feels, because I can't know the mind of God, but perhaps this will help you understand. No one ever needs love or attention or praise, but a little of each for every person is healthy. People who are not loved can have problems with depression and so many other things.

What abranchofhim said is very true. God is not the reason for trials on this earth, but sin is. Sin is something we choose to bring upon ourselves when Eve ate the apple...it is often our own free will which causes so much suffering. Because God gave us the choice, we also can make the bad choices, and so many [people today make the bad choice. Not only do these bad choices make us suffer, but others as well. Such as a rapist, who chooses to do what he does...and because of his wrong choices some women would be scarred for life.

BUT, there is also vengence. Though the wicked seem to always flourish, in the end they get what is coming to them from God.

Deuteronomy 32

35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay.

In due time their foot will slip;

their day of disaster is near

and their doom rushes upon them."

36 The LORD will judge his people

and have compassion on his servants

when he sees their strength is gone

and no one is left, slave or free.

Romans 12:9Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord.

So while there is suffering on this world, there are also repprecussions for those who cause it. As for the natural things such as earthquakes ect. this world is dangerous any way you look at it. It will be dangerous until Jesus comes again.

Also, times of trial for beleivers can stregthen their faith. I know that well enough, I have had many emotional trials in my life, and looking back, no matter how miserable I was I am glad that I had them because I came out of it a better person. God disciplines those he loves so that they may become stronger

Proverbs 3:

11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline

and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.

Hebrews 12:

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The definition of discipline? 1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement. and 2.Punishment intended to correct or train. Interestingly enough the latin root of this word is disciplina “instruction given to a disciple,” from discipulus. So this word quite literally means "instruction given to one who is learning".

You can't spell discipline without the letters for disciple. Move the letters around and you get in disciple. Discipline means we are in discipleship with the Lord...he is teaching us, training us, so that we make work for Him, and carry out His will.

Don't look at your situation in despair - know that the Lord is simply training you so that you may be stronger for it. Like Job, who got back twice of what he lost, blessings may be just around the corner.

Hope this gave you some food for thought, and I will pray for you

Good luck brother, and blessings upon you.