Are You There God?
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Seriously, are you there, God? I'd really like to know. I've wrestled with this question for years, and cannot come up with a definitive answer - I do know that I'm not alone with this. But I also know that the people that "believe" will tell me that it's "faith"...that's all it takes. Now, I would absolutely like to have that kind of unwavering faith - the kind that so many people claim to have. But how? In response to this, I've been told to study the Bible. I will tell you, that when I've been very sick, or beside myself with grief, I've almost always turned to prayer. Why do I do this? Desperation? Fear? A cultural habit? A sign from God? Who knows!
If God does exist, why must he be such a big mystery? Why doesn't he just show himself so that everyone knows without a shadow of a doubt? It seems to me that would solve a bunch of problems. Religion has been such a dividing factor between people. Just think for a moment about the holy wars. If God is all knowing, and all seeing, wouldn't he want to eliminate some of that? Why does he have to wait for us to come to him? I know that I'm going to hear from people that he did show himself - he sent Jesus and Jesus died for our sins. But what about now? Wouldn't so many problems be eliminated if he would just show himself now? Wouldn't God want to eliminate those problems that stem from religion? Wouldn't he want to show himself as the true God...the only God? Why, I ask, would he even have a desire to "test" our faith? What would the creator of man have to gain from that? Doesn't that short of test stem from insecurity? I'm asking again...why the big mystery?
Another thing I've read, but can't seem to get my head around, is the notion that God chooses only a handful of us. Now why in world would God create all of us, only to choose some us to be with him in heaven? That would be like having four children and only choosing to take care of two of them. Does that make any rational sense? I know that the argument is probably that it doesn't have to make sense, but why shouldn't it?
In spite of all of my questions and all of my doubts, when I am at my lowest, that's where I turn. I turn to that very same God that I can't see, or hear. I pray that he's listening to me and can make everything all better. I pray that he actually does exist, so that when I'm my loneliest, I'm really not alone at all.
I would love to hear from people from all different cultures and religions, all over the world. Please...educate me!
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Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I will check out those verses tonight.
Wow! Lovely Hub Katie--Very insightful and totally mind blowing.
Hi KatieE39,
Beautiful hub!
I agree with Lois there - yes turn to the Bible and you will find answers there. What I usually do if I have some questions is I pray and then leaf over the Bible and a verse usually leaps up to me as an answer.
Another thing I do is I turn to nature. I usually feel closer to God when I am with nature. I contemplate a flower, or a leaf, or a raindrop or anything natural and some insight comes to me after this.
God be with you in your search. Just call Him and you'll find an answer.
Hey, Katie,
I read this in my devotional a few days ago. It's by F.B. Meyer. 'Indeed, there is nothing God will not do for those who will dare to step out in faith onto what appears to be only a mist. As they take their first step, they will find a rock beneath their feet.'
Jill Of Alltrades: Thank you so much for you comment. Did you grow up Christian?
Kathy: I like that - it's beautiful. Thank you!
Draxoni: Thank you for the kind words!
Katie:
Your honesty is encouraging. You are not alone in asking these heart felt questions. Everyone at one point in their lives wrestle with the existence of God. For me it was in my teen years. But Personally, I did not wrestle long. God made himself real to me very quickly as I looked for Him.
I would like to encourage you in this. You are not with out faith. or else you would not turn to him in time of need. It is my prayer that your faith will multiply. That you too will be able to say with certainty that God exists.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
I loved what Lois and Jill pointed out. Turn to the Bible to build your faith I would echo their wisdom. For Romans 10:17 NKJV tells us:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith starts by reading and hearing Gods word. Then as you read it, do as it says and see if God shows himself through it.
I would also like to point out that reading God's Word develops our relationship with Jesus. John 1:1
teaches us that God's Word became flesh meaning that God's word is Jesus. purpose to read it , know it and learn to love it. You will be glad you did.
Lastly I would like to address that Idea that God only Chooses some of us. I do not believe this is the case. This subject in one of those that Christianity has been grappling with for centuries. Let me simply say this. Yes God Chose me. But I also chose him.
Thanks for your honesty, and thanks for letting me ramble on.
In Christ
ABrushing1968
I have to agree with everyone here about reading the Bible. I also agree that you are not without faith. My advice would be to start in the New Testament. My Dad would probably tell you to read the book of John first. But where ever you decide to start, my advice to you is to pray before and after each reading. Ask God to open your eyes and reveal Himself to you. Ask Him with everything you read to teach you. As you read and continue to read, God will show you more and more. As someone mentioned it may just be a verse that applies to here and now. God knows how to send those verses we need just when we need them.
I would also advise that you find a close friend or family member or even pastor if you go to church that can mentor you during this time. Of course, I am also here if you want to email me or chat sometime and I am sure many other Christians will hold out their hand for you as well.
I'll be praying for you as you seek the answers you are looking for. I believe that tug you are feeling, the idea to search for more answers is God tugging at your heart. He is choosing you and all you have to do is choose Him. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Abrushing1968: Thank you for your words of wisdom. I hope one day that I will have the kind of faith that you do. (-:
Impowelljr: Thank you for the support - I just may take you up on that!
I probably should have said this also. I believe that God chooses everyone. The Bible says, it is His Will that none shall perish (meaning Hell). That being said, He will give everyone the opportunity to accept Him as He has you. The problem is that not everyone chooses Him as you have decided to do.
Take heart, everyone struggles with Faith at times. Even seasoned Christians. It's easy to take back those things that you are supposed to give to God when things are really tough. We are all human. We just have to keep reading and keep reminding ourselves to let Jesus carry our burdens. In addition, the Bible says: "if you have the faith of a mustard seed (very tiny seed) you can tell this mountain to move from here to there and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you." From this verse, God is telling you that even a little faith is okay. Matthew 17:20
Oh and if you do not have a Bible and would like to see which one is easiest for you to read and understand, such as, a study Bible or student Bible. Check out www.biblegateway.com. That is an online Bible site that gives you scripture in every translation. Plus you can search for things in the Bible, such as Faith.
Impowelljr: Thank you again for all of the time you have taken leaving these comments. I would like to think that God chooses everyone, if He does in fact exist (and I would like to think He does). There is just so much in the Bible that is open to interpretation; it's sort of confusing.
Feel free to ask me anything. I'll try my best to help you.
Katie
Video that Scientifically exist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSNrINzqQVc
God is a great energy, if God does not 'hide behind the shadow', it may make our universe unbalance. So, God only sends messenger for us.
God's message can be read at The Holly Book. Holly Book is the physical media for us to have contact with God.
In the Holly Book that came hundred years a go, God tells that He creates the universe. His universe creation is consistent with our modern physical science.
This is a very complicated issue. All I know is, that God can not be seen which is a part of the faith: that is to believe in the unseen but true powers.
I have read on here quite a lot that god has chosen people, but he is actually inviting everyone to learn as I see it. He intends to bring Paradise to earth and to be ruled from heaven by a limited amount of people.... from every different time period on earth so they can understand the way to rule, as they have been on earth themselves...
Prayer is the best recomendation, as your link is directly to god, he will direct you in the right way.... that is my feelings on the subject any way.... It's just that we all get too busy to be bothered with religion. Anything that matters in our life requires time and effort I feel anyway.
Hi Katie39,
After reading all the comments above there is absolutely nothing that I could add, except, don't give up. Don't allow circumstances to govern your heart, and please do read the bible as often as you can; understanding will come as you lend yourself to it.
God Bless You
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian who was martyred by Nazis for his faith, once said, "The God who is with us, is the God who forsakes us." I appreciate your bold candid honesty. I too have experienced seasons of disorientation and disillusionment in my life. During these bouts of disappointment, the last thing I need are friends like Job. What I have learned in the process is to enter and embrace the pain of a broken heart. Christ can only bring healing when we come to understand where we hurt. Denial of the pain can only cause our wound to fester.
I also reflect upon Jesus alone on the cross. If there was ever anyone on earth who understood what it was like to be completely abandoned, it was Christ. He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34) Those who have wrestled with forsakenness find themselves in good company. By faith we know that God did not abandon Jesus to the grave, but resurrected him in His time.
In the interim period, I encourage you not to doubt in the dark what God has revealed in the light. Waiting for God in the valley of the shadow of doubt, I'd like to share a secret - wait with hope. It is a hope that does not disappoint. He will come back with a blessed breakthrough.
Eonfluxs7: I watched the video from the link you posted on here. Very educational and interesting. Does that then mean that you believe that God is energy and man then is only energy since it says in the Bible that we are created in God's image? I would be interested to know where you stand on this.
shamelabboush: Thank you for your comment. It is extremely complicated! How does one know for sure? I guess, like everyone says, that's where faith comes in. Someone that was, and guess still is a very important part of my life use to say that he was going to believe just in case it was all true - that is wouldn't hurt anything and the odds were better that way. (-;
Brenda Scully: I like the idea that God invites everyone to learn and doesn't only "choose" a select number. I also agree that anything that matters requires time and effort. I guess I just really want to know that there is something and that I'm not just chasing a dream. I guess that's where the time and effort comes in. Right?
Wehzo: Thank you! I will continue to read and research. Perhaps I should approach it as an intellectual quest.
Gicky Soriano: Thank you so much. You are very encouraging, and may I say, a very beautiful writer, too.
Katie,
Would you say you are here? And that I am here? And your family is here? Your friends are here?
Don't look for God, it's all around you. ;)
This is a very interesting comment. You say "it"...do you believe that God is everything? I would be interested to hear your opinion. (-:
Yes.
My opinion has been stated before...
http://www.thisislightspeed.co.nr (-:
I believe that we are just manifestations of God, of All. That everything we experience, touch, know...is energy, and mass. And that this is the explosion, otherwise known as the Big Bang, that created the world we live in.
We're just the reflection of a conscious trying to understand it's self, and know more about what it is to be.
That is pretty much what I have always leaned towards, but it sure would be nice to know that there is a "god" that is there for us.
Again...are you not there for others? I am always here for you, too. ;)
If God is All, what would we be? ;)
Yes, but nothing seems quite as comforting as the Jesus we read about. Do you know what I mean?
Sure. And he gave you his life, so you can look to him.
But...would you not want to lead by his example?
Of course I would. But if you believe that he gave us his life, then you believe that there is a god (his father)...right?
I simply believe in reflections of that which All wants us to be like.
I don't think in terms of male/female, they're human concepts.
-like the idea of time. ;)
Okay, sounds reasonable to me.
I'm not here to convince you of anything, I'm just here to be there for you. =P
Joan of Arc was beautiful, Cleopatra, etc. There's a lot of good to be had. Male and female..these physical shells belie our true selves, they're just our toys to explore the world that surrounds us.
My experiences seem to be completely contrary to everyone else who has posted on here. Having been brought up in a religious home I then started questioning things when I was in my teens. I came to the conclusion that I just couldn't believe in God, I found him implausible and to be honest I just didnt like the idea of God that religion created. Looking back now I think it comes down to faith. Like you said, some people have faith, they feel God around them. I just don't and I never did. As a kid I thought of God in the same way we think of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, I kinda wished and hoped he existed but deep down I knew he didnt.
At the end of the day you have to do what makes you happy. Don't force God into your life, if you don't believe then you just don't. But if you really can find him then good for you!
I appreciate you leaving this comment, Jen. I totally understand how you feel, though I do hope that there is a God. I'll let you know how my search goes. (-:
Good hub. We all come to a point where we question faith and God. Even some christians doubt what they have. But I want to focus on one part of your hub that stuck out to me.
You wonder if God really picks out only a handful of people to "save", and I can tell you that God is not like that at all. 2 Peter 3:9 (King James Version) says:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Did you catch that one phrase? "not willing that any should perish". God wants us all to be saved! It is us people who have the choice to accept Him or not. The whole "God chooses some and refuses others" is nonsense. The proof is there in the Bible.
Also a good book for those who are doubting or wondering, please read "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist" by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek. It is a thought provoking read (and no you don't have to be an atheist to read it lol)
Well, it certainly wouldn't make any sense if he was like that. I do know that a lot of people believe that he chooses and point out places in the Bible that are very convincing to them.
I will check that book out - sounds like it would be interesting reading.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
The kingdom of God is inside you. God will take care of all you mentioned, in the beginning adam and eve sinned this is why all the doubt and all the pain. and it is all based on faith. faith as big as a mustard seed, and if you keep going back to God when sorrow hits, you do have that mustard seed faith, when we read the bible and pray that increases our faith.
Jesusmyjoy: Thank you for the encouragment!
But God knows that Hope differed makes the Heart sick but when the desire comes it's a tree of life!am equally in a dire straight such that i need God to show up speedily to save a situation which i have long looked upon him for! Then Nothing shall seperate me from His love in Christ Jesus. i will yet Believe for with Him Nothing, Nothing Shall be impossible!
It sounds like your faith has brought you through some difficult situations - it's very inspiring. Thank you for the comment.
Cool Katie, nice hub.........I'm not religious at all but I always "keep the faith."GPAGE
GPAGE: Thanks, girl!
Katie: I am reminded of Roman 1:20
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" Telling us that deep down we all know God, although some may choose to deny him.
Human misery and pain is the result of our own choices, as God has provided us with freewill. To step in and save us from ourselves in our daily lives would go against the freedom and freewill God has granted us. Luckily he has provided us an safety net in Christ. Ultimately you are saved simply by believing and accepting. We (and religion) make things too complicated, the plan is simple - believe and accept Christ, thats it. too easy right? But while we are on this earth we have too endure the consequence of our own freewill.
Very good hub, I see it generated a lot of comments. You get a rate up from me.
Thank you, Sibajar. I appreciate the time you took to post this comment. I'll give this some thought.
Katie, it sounds to me like you have come to a place in your life where you are actually looking for God. This is a good place to be because it means you are ready to hear Him. I cannot possibly tell you what you need to hear. But I agree with most here, reading your Bible is a must. You say you find yourself praying, and I hope that your prayers are as honest as this Hub. That combination will get you some answers. Maybe not what you are expecting, but you will get there.
God is.
Very touching, truly loved it! A new fan
Thank you, DuchessOBlunt and Ladybird33. (-:
Sweetie, God created us to praise and thank Him. And to follow his Ten Commandments. If you truly want Him in your life, He will be there, but you actually have to ask Him into your life. You have to tell Him you are a sinner and you want Him to guide your life and your actions, and repent of all the wrongdoing you have done. God has always carried you your entire life, without you knowing it.
It is Satan making you believe He is not there. And this is what the evil one does best. He is trying to make people not believe in God. If you have (and I know you have) ever read the first part of the Bible and in Genesis where it speaks of the Garden of Eden and the unholy sin whereby it was lost to man...the entrance to it was guarded by angels after Adam/Eve sinned. With swords they would let noone enter.
The garden remained on earth until the flood of Noahs age and the great ark....men had sinned to the point God could not bear it anymore....the only people saved were Noahs family for they believed without seeing that God existed and had let them to build the ark when all around them said there is no God. You are foolish to believe in what you are unable to see. Yet they all died. The Bible starts out with a Garden of Eden, and in Revelation, the Garden is returned to Earth....for Jesus faithful followers. The rest are destroyed.
The entire Bible in between Genesis and Revelation is God desperately trying to have us believe on His Sons Name...Jesus....Ask Him into your heart Katie...He will come and believe if you follow His Word you will end up in a place such as Eden when He comes again and the time will be soon. Please accept Him. Please Love Him with all of your heart even tho you can't see Him...I know this post is written a while back, I just read it and I am sorry I am so terribly busy with stuff I neglected this. Jesus Loves you. Beleive me. But you must accept Him and Praise Him and Thank Him no matter what you are doing. The difference in your life will be immeasurable. Read the Psalms and Proverbs, Matthew 24 Psalm 119....Jesus is waiting for you to accept Him into your heart.
May you have a blessed day....
Thank you, Wealth, for taking the time to write to me. (-:
I can relate to your feelings about God, Katie. I grew up very religious, from a religious home. But life happens, and there are so many things that caused me to have to rethink everything I was told to believe.
I don't know that "God" as we have been taught, exists. Perhaps the universe is an awareness and consciousness, and we are a part of it. I don't know. I only know that in the silence, if I'm quiet, there is stillness, and in the stillness I'm not alone. I don't know what it means. And I don't believe what religionists say. My experience about spirituality is much different than what is preached. And for me, that has to be enough for now.
Nice hub. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
These days, it depends on which day you ask me, what my opinion of religion is. Thank you for sharing yours. It looks like you have lots of wonderful information! Thanks so much for taking the time to post here.
Lois 2 years ago
Hi Katie,
Lots of deep questions and probably too much to handle in a "comment". But it does sound like you are searching and that is a step. That is good.
I felt I spent quite a year with God in 2008. It was a hard year for me and I stuck pretty close to my Bible. (That is the key...in my humble opinion) The Bible is His Word and that is how He speaks to me. As I would cry out to Him and do my daily Bible reading it seems there was quite often a scripture that would just "reach" out to me and grab me. I don't know how else ot put it. I asked "why" did my brother have to die. He gave me Acts 13:36. When I was concerned about my kids and grandkids he gave me Matthew 18:10. In Ezekial 34:11-12 I learned how personal God is. "I myself will search for my sheep......" That one just touched my heart. I guess I am trying to say that it is a relationship. As I ended 2008 I knew that in 2009 I wanted to learn more about faith and trust. I read a statement in my study notes that said "Faith comes alive whn we apply Scripture to our daily tasks and concerns." It referenced Psalm 119:125
125 I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.
The notes went on to say how the Bible is like medicine...it goes to work only when we apply it to the affected areas.
I hope some of this speaks in some way to you.