Looking For God...Again!

By Pat

Okay, I admit it. I'm struggling again. Struggling with finances which is forcing me to struggle with decisions, among a few other issues, and therefore struggling with my faith. I know I'm not alone; we all have our moments, our days, even weeks and months, don't we? After all, God never promised a trouble-free life for any of us.

Looking back through the Bible, we recall David, Paul, Peter, just to name a few. Even Jesus! They all had their problems. In fact, thinking about the problems they faced make mine seem kind of, well, petty I suppose. And yet, I still struggle. Am I a fair-weather Christian, relying on everything to go my way in order for my faith to be strong? Why can't I hear God? What am I doing wrong? Where is that window God's supposed to open for me when it appears there is a door fixing to slam shut?

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A God Who Allows Us To Struggle

By Pat

I have to admit something that I am really ashamed of: God scares me! I know He loves me, because if His redemptive love shown in the resurrection of His son, Jesus, for us. The Bible tells me from Genesis to Revelation that God is loving, forgiving and merciful. But in reading the Old Testament, we find many accounts of God's vengeance and punishment upon His people for the disobedience and disrespect shown to Him. Plagues, diseases and famines sent to cause suffering, destruction and death, in hopes that the guilty offenders will repent and turn back to Him. Even the killing of infants and children. I don't understand.

Is this a loving God? I get angry sometimes. And no matter how hard I try, my feelings do not waver. Although I pray about it, the anger remains. The doubts. The FEAR. But luckily, we serve a God who understands our confusion and our fears. He knows our struggles, and when we feel angry, He allows us and even invites us to struggle with him. To become angry. To wrestle. He hears us when we say "Why, God?" And He does have an answer for us.

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Where Are You Running?

By MAD21

A recent story posted on Sloppynoodle entitled "If you are Real" by Suzanne Eller is one of the most beautifully written descriptions of a woman's journey through life I think I have ever read.

I think too many adults write-off the struggles that some teens go through as if they weren't real. Like, "Wait until they are adults in the real world, then they will know what struggles are." Adults tend to forget what life was like when they were young, and how it felt to be helpless, hurting and alone. While some teens struggle with normal everyday life stuff like friendships and grades, others have struggles that run deep into their souls.

I encourage you to be that person who reaches out to someone who looks like they need  a friend. Someone to not only tell them that there is a better way, but show them as well.

Read the story for yourself. I hope it changes your life.

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