r/Christian

Struggling to believe in God

How do I believe that God cares for me or has plans for me when God isn’t even doing what’s very possible in my life?

I’ve been struggling with my career for over 10 years now and have been struggling with my finances because of it. I trust that God can do the impossible… but will God actually do it is the real issue

How do I know what God wants me to do?

I’ve been mulling over being an atheist for two years now, but I still cling on to the possibility that God really exists.

I grew up in a Christian household and my dad is a pastor. So my worldview is around that. But I really don’t know anymore

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u/Last-Status-9301 — 6 days ago

any advice?

i’m a teen,

i feel exhausted

i struggle with religious ocd and i feel like i can’t have a “real” relationship with God or be a christian without feeling so much exhaustion and sometimes miserable.

everyday im constantly searching my heart,my intentions , and every thought
i wish i could just think and be myself.

God has taught me a lot but i wish it was like i am who i am but God is always teaching me things.which i think that’s how it’s supposed to be kind of.

but i just feel so exhausted how do i still maintain my relationship with God and be a true christian without feeling like i have to do all this or be super religous in order to feel secure in my relationship God and in to make sure i don’t go to hxll

when i try to back up then my mind tells me i must be lukewarm.

then it’s now convincing me that i don’t like God and im secretly evil and that God won’t answer my prayers because i have did something or i committed a unforgivable sin that’s why im not hearing God anymore i just want to be happy

everyday i get sad because it’s like oh i can’t do that anymore or oh i saw a video that says this artist does this or that so i can’t do this. i don’t not plan on leaving my faith i don’t want to be super religous.I LOVE God i don’t want a relationship without him but i just idk pls anyone some advice.

i know this isn’t what God wants me to feel but .. yea

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u/ReadyTry3623 — 5 days ago

Is it just me or does anyone else dislike how people nowadays turn Christian symbols into nothing more than fashion or aesthetic

I dislike how symbols like Saint Peter cross, rosaries and other symbols have just been perverted into something they aren’t and people have redefine what the symbol actually means or just wear it because “it matches my aesthetic” it’s one of my biggest pet peeves I have.

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u/thomistic-thinker — 6 days ago

Trying to Understand the Word of God

I am reading the Bible for a few months now and what I understood about the commandments is that God says that if you love me then follow my commands and when you follow the commands faithfully then you will live and if you don't follow any of the commands then you will be under gods curse and these curses are mention in Deuteronomy.

I want anyone of you to correct me if my understanding is wrong and if it is right or there is any correction needed then correct me

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u/SadPick5808 — 6 days ago
▲ 5 r/Christian+1 crossposts

Songwriting and worship

Anyone here tried worship songwriting? I’ve been talking with a lot of people about it and just curious if there are some Reddit people who are interested!

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u/Slow_Apricot_3829 — 6 days ago

Silence

Im part of the youth staff at my church, I teach and I'm the youth choir director but I feel like I dont know how to pray.

Not really pray, I guess, but listen.

I have so much trouble being still and being comfortable with silence long enough to listen. I have been praying less and less sinse I look on this ministry and I feel like im losing touch with God.

On the one hand, I'm feeling like he loves me for maybe the first time in my life but my mind is so loud on it’s own. I always have to be listening to a podcast or music because silence is so scarey to me.

Any advice?

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u/Consistent_Banana307 — 5 days ago

I hope God doesn’t answer my prayers

I always ask myself why I should even pray and I can’t help but find myself feeling incredibly selfish when I do, why is my test or my problems important when there are more pressing matters out there, I hope he answers the more important prayers out there instead of mine.

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u/solvenxn — 5 days ago

What are your views on the recent establishment of the 'office of religious affairs' in the US?

Pete Hegseth recently announced that he's creating an 'office of religious affairs,' which will report 'straight to the top' and 'will protect budgets, demand infrastructure and strengthen religious support.'

First, this is clearly unconstitutional, as our Constitution reads 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...', which has been interpreted for more than two centuries as 'the government cannot enforce any one religion's rules on the United States and its people and cannot make laws based on any one religion, though they also can't stop people from participating in their chosen religion.'

I know people believe that the US is a 'Christian nation,' not in the sense that the US has a Christian majority, but that the founding fathers wanted the US to have Christian rules, observances, laws, etc. That really just isn't true; the idea that they prayed before every meeting to write the constitution is a myth, created after various people painted them doing so for dramatic and artistic effect, not based on truth. Many of the writers of the constitution specifically stated in their political writings that they wanted freedom of religion, so that everyone could worship as they please.

But the main thing I have a problem with--because in the end the constitution is a document written by humans and that was and is flawed--is that this is just a very bad idea. Forcing a religion on people, in the form of laws or excluding all other religions by making a Christian only form of government is not loving of your neighbor or your enemy. The US was started on the idea of religious and personal freedom and of representation in government. Taking away others' right to representation and by using a form of government to 'strengthen religious support' isn't going to change anyone's minds. They're going to feel like they aren't welcome, or equal, or respected.

Forcing religion on someone isn't Christlike. It doesn't actually do anything besides make people feel like they have to change, at least on the outside, in order to feel safe, or accepted, or listened to.

Finally, I say that this will be a Christian-only office of government because in the end, that's what it's going to be. The people in power at the moment clearly don't know the first thing about other religions (or their own; here's a link to a YouTube video showing Hegseth reading a fake bible verse from the movie Pulp Fiction, apparently without realizing that what he's reading is not an actual verse, is from a 'book' (Ceasar) that isn't in the bible and was created for the movie, and that 'aviator' is not a word that would be used in any form thousands of years ago). They aren't going to learn anything about other religions unless it's to demonize another group of people they don't like or understand.

What are your thoughts on this establishment of a religious office in the US government?

u/sno0py_8 — 14 days ago

What does "Turn the other cheek" mean?

Does it mean allowing yourself to get beaten up like our Lord Jesus? Not fighting back when someone hurts you in anyway?

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u/PrideRepresentative6 — 13 days ago

Finding it hard to pray consistently. What helps you the most?

I've tried many things but think my ADHD makes it difficult, though sometimes it makes it deep and powerful, beautiful.

I wondered what methods you use to help this, not necessarily for ADHD but generally.

What's important for you- that you pray every day? What should I be aiming for? Is it right to feel guilt when I forget, or get carried away with other things?

Keen to hear your thoughts, and appreciate any help. Thank you.

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u/YentaAnna — 13 days ago

Am I wrong

Am I wrong for leaving a church because I feel excluded?
I’m using changed names and leaving out identifying details because I want to stay anonymous. I’m 26, and I’ve been feeling increasingly sad and uncomfortable at my church. I was baptized there, and there was a time I thought it would be my church for life, but lately I’ve felt like there are tight little circles among the choir, camera, and other ministry teams, and that people mostly talk to those they already know or consider important. I don’t expect anyone to be my friend, and I’m not trying to join a team or get special attention; I go to church to focus on God. But I do think people should make an effort to acknowledge and welcome others. One person, I’ll call her hazey , is on the choir team and is very expressive in worship, but I’ve experienced her as cold and dismissive outside of it i’m not the only person that has said that she makes faces like as in disgusted or doesn’t wanna touch your hand to greet you and she only is very welcoming to those that she considers her friends or those that she deems important at Church ,there have been times she walked past without greeting me, and when she has greeted me, I’ve felt unwelcome. Her sister, Kristy , is a lovely, warm person, which makes the difference stand out even more. Another person, Rick , is responsible for adding people to the congregation’s group chat. I’ve asked him several times, and he keeps saying he’ll add me but hasn’t. I asked the pastor for help, but he directs me back to rick.Being left out of the main church chat makes me feel even more excluded. I can’t know what either person intends, and I know they may see things differently, but from my perspective their behavior feels selective and inconsistent with the welcoming spirit I’d expect from people in visible church roles. Part of why this hits me so hard is that I experienced something similar as a child, from about six to twelve. At another church, I wasn’t allowed to spend time with the pastor’s daughter because my family was lower-income, and she was expected to spend time with children whose parents had more money. That left me with a painful association between church cliques and being treated as less important. I know that history may make me more sensitive to exclusion, and I’m not claiming I’m perfect; I have things I want to work on in how I speak and react. But I’ve tried to pray through my sadness and irritation, and I still feel that this church’s atmosphere is no longer right for me. My mom says to ignore the people and focus on God, but I’m finding that hard when the congregation itself is part of what’s hurting me. I plan to keep attending church elsewhere because my relationship with God matters to me, but I think I need to leave this congregation. Am I overreacting, or is it reasonable to look for a church where I feel more welcomed

CAMERA TEAM NOT MINISTRY SORRY

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u/bean_notsomean — 13 days ago

Moral dilemma

Hi everyone! I just joined and need advice.

I’ve been in the interview process for a job that I have no true experience for. My best friend works for the company and made my resume and referred me. 99% of the resume is a lie. I’ve had 2 interviews already and have my final interview set for tomorrow at 9 am.

I hate lying, and I try my best not to but this whole process I have had to lie. It has been weighing on me a ton and in my small group last night we talked a lot about your heart being pure in all roles in your life and I feel like I’m going down a bad path with this job interview process.

I had a baby 4 months ago and have not been working since then. My husband has been able to keep up afloat but financially we are not where we want to be. If I got this job it would drastically change our financial situation and for that reason my husband wants me to go for it and keeps telling me we are forgiven of our sins and that everyone lies on resumes but i can’t help but feel like this is a bump in the road and something better from god is past it. He doesn’t see it that way though. I told him I’d do the final interview tomorrow but I don’t want to lie during it so I’d try to avoid questions I’d have to lie about but I feel like even that is a form of lying.

I’m not sure what to do. I prayed about it and asked god to show me in his word what to do and I flipped to a random page of the bible and it was on Deuteronomy 30 and the entire gist I got was to follow his law and you’ll be prosperous…which is basically how I’ve been feeling but I know my husband will be so upset at me if I decline this job and if noting better comes financially it will not be good.

He says if it’s not from God I won’t get a job offer. I don’t know if I agree with that. What do yall think?

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u/Admirable_Barnacle72 — 13 days ago

I don't know how to rightfully ask God for an specific providence

I have a historic of receiving B, when I want A, from God. Indeed, A seems awesome, but B fits just right in the longterm (and not in a possessive way, but redemning one by shaping my character).

Upon being invitated for a job interview today, though, I couldn't bring myself to ask God for me to land it. The proposal is awesome, but I doubt I shall get it so easily. I don't know if it lack of faith...

I don't even feel entitled to want specific things anymore. Is it ok?

I need some advise in this aspect.

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u/Suyin_8 — 13 days ago

Lost soul seeking god

Hello Ive been away from the faith for many many years. Currently dealing with alot and im having a difficult time. Was hoping to turn to God to seek solace and find my way. Any advice or chat requests is happily accepted

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u/Aggravating-Peace-54 — 13 days ago