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> Where Has My Happiness Gone.
Aaron
post Apr 23 2008, 01:16 PM
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Hello everyone my name is Aaron. I'm a 24 year old Navy veteran who is doing the best I can. My mother is deceased, and my father hasn't been much help. I've been off and on struggling, I was even homeless once. As a result of all my hardships, I'm no longer the carefree, happy go lucky guy i used to be. I want to be though. I found GOD in my life a year ago, and I hang on to him for dear life. Without GODs love I would be dead right now. I pray and pray night after hopeless night that I may find peace and happiness again. I've lost all my friends and my love life is pitiful. In the past I've always been the type to help others and I'm constantly giving. But when I lost everything, everyone just abandoned me. I'm back on my feet now, but the sorrow remains. People say I'm a tall handsome man, but why can't I feel like it anymore. regardless of how much money I get or how charming I appear i just cant get happy. Could anybody tell me why GOD hasn't been answering that prayer? Why do I have to suffer so much. I believe in GOD but I just dont know what to do anymore.
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semi
post Apr 23 2008, 02:06 PM
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These are hard times, Aaron - the sort of times that try men's souls.

This I know, you cannot find happiness by pursuing it. No, find something you enjoy or even love doing and pursue that instead.

Such pursuit may not bring in much income but you might be surprised. In the course of doing what you want to do and becoming very good at it , your opportunities to make it more rewarding economically will grow as well.

And in the course of doing that you will realize that you have been happy all along. But beware of concerns about not making more money. Because if your focus turns to how much money you can make, your pleasure in what you do will fade away and you will have lost your happiness.

Ask God to guide you to find that pursuit most suitable for you.

The girl? She will come along one day when you are not even thinking about that.

Shalom.

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Aaron
post Apr 23 2008, 09:50 PM
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QUOTE (semi @ Apr 23 2008, 02:06 PM) *
These are hard times, Aaron - the sort of times that try men's souls.

This I know, you cannot find happiness by pursuing it. No, find something you enjoy or even love doing and pursue that instead.

Such pursuit may not bring in much income but you might be surprised. In the course of doing what you want to do and becoming very good at it , your opportunities to make it more rewarding economically will grow as well.

And in the course of doing that you will realize that you have been happy all along. But beware of concerns about not making more money. Because if your focus turns to how much money you can make, your pleasure in what you do will fade away and you will have lost your happiness.

Ask God to guide you to find that pursuit most suitable for you.

The girl? She will come along one day when you are not even thinking about that.

Shalom.




Thanks for the advice. It really helps alot. Just the fact that you care enough to reply to me shows that theres still good in the world. Money and women really aint the problem though. There just a result of the real problem. Its like you said, "times like these try mens souls", and I feel like I'm fighting for my soul. I try to be a good christian, always doing for others, looking to help people in need. I go to church and I try to worship the lord everyday when I'm able, and I pray almost every night. But nothing seems to fill this void in my heart. Sometimes I think I can feel the Lords presense in my body, and those times I'm happy. But then I get weak and sin, and he goes away, and I'm right back miserable again. Dont think I'm crazy, I'll never hurt nothing. But I have been considering getting special help. I just dont wanna loose myself. I cherish life too much, and I just want to be happy in it. I feel like I just dont deserve this mental torture.
Is it something about me? I havn't been baptised yet even though I promised my mother. Could that have something to do with it?
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semi
post Apr 24 2008, 10:17 AM
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Aaron -

If you have a nagging sense of obligation (such as having promised your mother that you would get baptized) then maybe it would ease your conscience to fulfill all such obligations.

But don't get baptized simply because your mom wants you to - do it because it's what you want to do.

Worship is not simply something one does by going to church. It is your moment by moment relationship with the Lord through-out each day. It is keeping the line of communication open even when you are not talking to the Lord.

In the course of this, ask Jesus to come into your heart. Ask to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (not by any preacher/minister/pastor but ask God directly yourself.

After that you will probably be tested by the Devil much as Jesus was - not in the same way of course but you will be strongly tempted in those things in which you are weakest.

You will probably mess-up numerous times - everyone does. In that case ask God to forgive you - because God's Word says that if we ask Him for forgiveness, He is faithful to forgive us.

Being 24 might seem young to some folks but of Jesus' 12 chief disciples, John was the youngest when he started following Jesus - in his mid to late teens as was Andrew who was maybe a year older than John.

Shalom.

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Aaron
post Apr 24 2008, 08:01 PM
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QUOTE (semi @ Apr 24 2008, 10:17 AM) *
Aaron -

If you have a nagging sense of obligation (such as having promised your mother that you would get baptized) then maybe it would ease your conscience to fulfill all such obligations.

But don't get baptized simply because your mom wants you to - do it because it's what you want to do.

Worship is not simply something one does by going to church. It is your moment by moment relationship with the Lord through-out each day. It is keeping the line of communication open even when you are not talking to the Lord.

In the course of this, ask Jesus to come into your heart. Ask to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (not by any preacher/minister/pastor but ask God directly yourself.

After that you will probably be tested by the Devil much as Jesus was - not in the same way of course but you will be strongly tempted in those things in which you are weakest.

You will probably mess-up numerous times - everyone does. In that case ask God to forgive you - because God's Word says that if we ask Him for forgiveness, He is faithful to forgive us.

Being 24 might seem young to some folks but of Jesus' 12 chief disciples, John was the youngest when he started following Jesus - in his mid to late teens as was Andrew who was maybe a year older than John.

Shalom.






Once again thanks for the advice. That scares me a little though. I feel like the Devil is always tempting me, and most of the time I give in. Alcohol, sex, sometimes even weed. Those things help take my mind off my troubles, but i know there no good for me. How can i be strong enough to resist when its all around me. Why is it that when I try to resist, people hate me. Even when i give into sin, I beg the lord to forgive me before I go to sleep. Are my sins being forgiven? I hope I'm not sounding crazy to you, But your the only other person besides my Pastor I've ever told these feelings to. I want to be strong for GOD, and go threw with the baptism. not because of my mother, but because I want to here GOD tell me " this is my son whom I am well pleased." But I know I'll be tempted by the devil, and I'm afraid of what will happen if I give in. What if I get weak? Will GOD abandon me forever? How can I get strong enough to face these challenges when I feel so depleted and alone?
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semi
post Apr 25 2008, 10:13 AM
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Aaron -

Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems to me that Jesus died for ALL our sins - even those we haven't committed yet. Where sin abounds. Grace abounds the more - however, that is not license to sin with abandon. We must TRY not to sin but Jesus is our safety net if we do.

Yes, God forgives you when you ask. Un-pardoned sins take away from your rewards in Heaven, so it's best to avoid sin, and failing that; ask forgiveness..

Alcohol does not tempt me because I hate the taste of it. But if I loved the taste of it would I suppose tempt me. The main thing is that I have NEVER liked the sensation of being drunk.

The are two types of sin: The things you do that you should not, and the things you don’t do but you should.

All sin seems like the thing to do at the time.. It is only afterward that the anguish over it sets in. We want to do what is good but sometimes it is not that clear to know what is good and what is not. Jesus said, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

Just hang in there, Aaron.

Shalom.


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Aaron
post Apr 25 2008, 07:54 PM
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QUOTE (semi @ Apr 25 2008, 10:13 AM) *
Aaron -

Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems to me that Jesus died for ALL our sins - even those we haven't committed yet. Where sin abounds. Grace abounds the more - however, that is not license to sin with abandon. We must TRY not to sin but Jesus is our safety net if we do.

Yes, God forgives you when you ask. Un-pardoned sins take away from your rewards in Heaven, so it's best to avoid sin, and failing that; ask forgiveness..

Alcohol does not tempt me because I hate the taste of it. But if I loved the taste of it would I suppose tempt me. The main thing is that I have NEVER liked the sensation of being drunk.

The are two types of sin: The things you do that you should not, and the things you don’t do but you should.

All sin seems like the thing to do at the time.. It is only afterward that the anguish over it sets in. We want to do what is good but sometimes it is not that clear to know what is good and what is not. Jesus said, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

Just hang in there, Aaron.

Shalom.






Thanks! I think I've been going about things the wrong way. I just had alot of badluck and I've been beating up myself for a long time now. All I ever wanted was peace. Even when I done wrong, i always had good intentions in mind. But i guess even a sin with intentions of good, is still a sin. I remember one time in the past I stole something. When I did it, I really thought I was doing the right thing. I got away with it for a little while, but it came back to haunt me. Even though I suffered the consequences God still had mercy on me. I think my biggest problem is that I've been struggling with sin. It seems the more i sin the worse my life becomes. But why is all this happening to me now? I gotta get my life back under control. I'm going to try to live a righteous life and be a little more joyful. Thats easier said than done but I'll do my best. I'll keep in touch and let you know how things are going. Thankyou for being a good (invisible) friend lol. Having someone to talk to about these things is really helping me alot, and I cant thank you enough for listening.
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ilovegod001
post Jun 24 2008, 02:50 PM
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Hiya Aaron,

Not sure if this will help you but the link below will take you to a forum which turned my life around and it might do the same for you.


www.voicelessness.com/disc3//index.php?board=2.0

Good luck and may God guide you wisely and bring you strength
Ollie
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Cookie
post Jun 25 2008, 03:26 AM
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Hi Aaron, we all sin and why Christ paid the price for our sins and it seems many are facing trials of some kind.

Hang tight to His Word. I was where you are a while ago and I held as close to His Word as I could in prayer. That is the only thing that helped me.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and don't lean on your own understanding. In all things acknowledge him, and he shall direct your way. [Proverbs 3:5, 6]”

Psalm 56:4 In God whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Psalm 56:3-5 in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Hope this helps.

Love in Christ, Cookie




--------------------
Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I can't handle together.
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KevinDT
post Jul 1 2008, 05:04 PM
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Its not about how tall and hansome you are, or about how much money u make or how much stuff u have. u have to find peace in yourself and happiness in god. then i believe when u stop looking at the material things in ur life u can start being healed. I just recently listened to a testimony of a man named Tom Papania. He was in the mafia for 40 years, had everything he desired and all the money u could ask for, all the women, everything, but he still wasnt happy. the lord came into his life and he said that thats what was missing for him that whole time. the lord saved him and he became a minister. i dont know if u can find his testimony on the computer but i suggest u try. the lord is all powerfull and all knowing, if u give ur life to him completely he will heal you. he healed me, look in the Prayer Answers and Miracles part of this forum for my testimony. i will be praying for you and god bless, may he bring u out of this hard time and may u become closer to him.
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