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I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.

Monday, June 7, 2021

Do You Struggle With God?

 We must be honest in our relationship with God and admit everything isn't a perpetual spiritual high or some Cloud Nine!  Our walk of faith is not Polyanna!  We all struggle with our faith if it is genuine because it must be tested for its genuine grit.  It's okay to tell God like it is and be honest about your issues, problems, and trials.  The patriarch Job threw a fit with God and found out that it was his way of venting with God and his personal lament was finally recognized and God heard him. the struggle with faith is faith!  Doubt in faith is not just a Christian issue but a  human one. If faith were not difficult and it was easy, it wouldn't have much value (therefore it must be tested), and the only reality where faith isn't easy, can it really exist.   God has placed us all in the same boat where only faith pleases Him and we all have the ability to exercise some degree of faith.   We must take a leap of faith, not into the unknown, but into the light!  

We must learn to take our problems directly to the top and seek God's face in our deepest and lowest funks and when we are in the pits and have the doldrums. We have this privilege because Christ has promised He will hear any petition in His name.  We are not the only believers to ever suffer depression; if you read Psalm 42-43, 147,  and you will see how discouraged the psalmist got at times, yet he never gave up on God. God wants us to learn to turn to Him in our troubles; we will either become bitter or better by the process!  We cannot learn to trust God in the good times; in fact, these are the times we are likely to forget God. 

Did you know that honesty with God and not hiding our true feelings is a form of worship!  If we come to God on false pretenses or with some coverup, that is hypocrisy. Do you even think you have a case against God like Job did, well tell it to Him but don't turn to men for your answers; take it directly to the LORD in prayer. It is not a sin to be depressed but this is a matter of our disposition and can be because of circumstances that can befall anyone.  Don't be like Asa who sought not the LORD in his illness but the aid of the physicians! (2 Chron. 16:12).  We will find out that God is still with us in our time of trouble and that He is our Deliverer. We will then realize that the answer to our problems is not some philosophy or ethic but a Person.  Jesus is the Answerer! 

In the end, we will have a stronger tried, true, and proved faith that can face any problem because we've learned to go directly to God first and not as a last resort.  "If you do not stand firm in your faith you will not stand firm at all," (cf. Isaiah 7:9).  Soli Deo Gloria! 



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