Lost Faith?

[howdyall18]

I usually don't like to get into spiritual discussions with people-especially strangers. It is something I keep very personal and private. But, I am just wondering- have any of you had an experience, tragic or not, that makes you question your faith in God and why He would let some things happen? If so, how do you overcome it?

[Wilson]

Going through this now and wish I had an answer for you...

[FamilyGal]

I've never questioned God as far as if I believed in Him or not. But, I have questioned many times (including recently) why He allows things to happen. Why He allows people to hurt us. I rarely question my faith in God, but I frequently question my faith in humanity. Which is probably why I struggle. I don't think we are supposed to have any faith in mankind. We are all only human.

I know I will never understand why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. We live in a world that we think is "supposed" to be fair, when in reality, rarely is life "fair". And, truth be known, most of us have been blessed far more than we actually deserve.

How do I overcome this? I really don't. I just keep taking it one day at a time. Some days I have better understanding than others.

[eaglesprings]

I usually don't like to get into spiritual discussions with people-especially strangers. It is something I keep very personal and private. But, I am just wondering- have any of you had an experience, tragic or not, that makes you question your faith in God and why He would let some things happen? If so, how do you overcome it?


My best friend just lost her son last week. We just returned to town yesterday from the funeral. Why did it happen? How could God allow this to happen? We ask those questions, yet it was the very faith we might question that saw everyone through.

I think questioning one's faith is very normal, and very natural. Tragic things happen, always will. As someone said before, we're all only human. We can't even begin to comprehend why some things happen, we may even ask God, "Why!" We might not get an answer, but we can ask, and we are free to ask.

My friend's son was 18 years old, a college freshman, and nobody expected his sudden death. He had suffered with Chron's Disease for many years, but nobody suspected that complications from that disease would take him. He had such a bright and promising future! I suppose we'll always ask "why," but God sees us through, anyway. This young man's strong faith, as well as the faith of his parents, saw them through this very difficult time. I'm sure it was shaken (as my own faith was) but that faith did not fail. Actually, I should say, God did not fail! He is faithful, when we have no faith.

[LarkinJoanna]

Jane, your friend's son was a Christian. Where he is now he would not want to return here. However, there are those of us who have friends and relatives who when they die we will truly have to grieve for them if they do not have the faith your friend's son had . They will not be where your friends son is. Those are the ones you should truly grieve for.

Just remember God is the creator. He didn't even have to create us. He never had to have a plan to reconcile us to Him. In all things we should give thanks to Him.

For all those who lose their faith or doubt you may want to read the book of Job. This is a scripture I like to remind myself of often from that book:

Job 1:21

And he said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Romans 9:20

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'


Psalm 39:5

You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”

[Wilson]

ES, I'm sorry to hear this.

[baby duck]

My husband's short answer to this is that we live in a world twisted by sin. This is what man (referring to the whole race, not the individual) has rendered for himself because he has free will.

That answer won't make anyone feel better. I am blessed to have a different perspective because I wasn't raised in a Christian home. Trials I go through now only make my faith stronger.

[turtle]

As humans, we want to have free will, yet we also want God to stop bad things from happening to us. We can't have it both ways. Sometimes our suffering is God's will and sometimes it is against it and due to the choices of man/woman. And if he did stop bad things from happening we would be left with no freedoms and no personal responsibilities. Also, unfortunately, if it was not for pain and suffering, many people would start thinking they don't need God's care and guidance in their lives. When we experience the low points in our lives, we have to rely on God to grow stronger and grow closer to him. The fact that he gets us through these times, strengthens my faith. Though it is often hard for us to understand, there is a plan and a reason. Unfortunately, we won't always get "let in" on what it is. It could be that a death leads someone to the motivation to find a cure and save others. It could be that a hard time helps someone to build strength and charactor. It could be that a bad situation brings a group of people together. It could be that God wants to draw you closer to him. And sometimes it is something that we will never understand, because the meaning is for someone else.

1 Peter 5:6-10
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

James 1:2-6
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

[Wilson]

Turtle, this really makes sense to me and I appreciate you taking the time to write that out. It helps.

[LarkinJoanna]

Turtle and BabyDuck, those are wonderful pieces of advice. This world is but a shadow of the one to come.

Revelations 21:4 " And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”


A book which is a wonderful expertise on pain and suffering is C.S. Lewis'
The Problem of Pain.

[eaglesprings]

Great thoughts here! Thanks, all!

Sometimes I think what we see as "losing faith" isn't lost faith, at all, but growing pains. It is only natural to ask why things happen, and to grieve. Even Jesus wept. When our faith is shaken, our faith grows. We just don't always realize that is what is happening.

Wilson, thanks for your sympathy toward my friend. Yes, I do know he is in a better place -- we still wish he was still with us. But, God can see things we can't. One day, we'll understand all of these things we can't possibly understand on this earth.

[howdyall18]

I appreciate the toughts, too. I am greiving myself this week, due to some family stuff that happened Tuesday. I was left wondering why God would let somthing like this happen to my family. I doesn't make sense. It's good to know that I'm not the only one who's felt this way, and that it's okay.

[baby duck]

Jane and Howdy - Sorry to hear that you both are grieving. Wishing you all the best.

[FamilyGal]

Sometimes I think what we see as "losing faith" isn't lost faith, at all, but growing pains. It is only natural to ask why things happen, and to grieve. Even Jesus wept. When our faith is shaken, our faith grows. We just don't always realize that is what is happening.

I really like what you said here. The counselor at my twins' junior high found out she has Stage IV colon cancer. She has a 15 week old baby and a 2 yr old (I think). I just have a hard time accepting why this young mom (31) is going to die and leave those babies behind. :(