Hello

This is my first posting. I came across this forum by chance and I felt that I wanted to add something. Today has been a difficult day for me. I became unwell about two years ago. I have had lots of medical tests and hospital visits. These tests seem to rule out what I don't have and as yet my consultant has not given me a final diagnosis. It has been a struggle carrying on my life and at times I have felt very down. Since becoming unwell, I have been in constant physcial pain and am now an official chronic pain sufferer. At the beginning the pain was so overwhelming that I could hardly get out of bed. I couldn't work or look after my family. Fortunately things have improved and I am coping better with the pain. I have medication to help me - this takes the edge off the pain. So I keep trying to life a normal life. I do not know if I will live the rest of my life in constant pain. The thought of this overwhelmes me, so I try to live one day at a time, but I do get dark days - like today. I have been to see my specialist and he has suggested changing my medication a little and then going back to see him in another 3 or 4 months. This is all the hospital can do for me.

I have always believed in God and I believe that God loves and cares for me. There are times when I know I have disappointed Him. I have made decisions I have regretted. I have been weak and needy at times. For the things I believe I have done wrong, I have truly repented. So, I wonder if God is punishing me? If God wishes me to learn a lesson - but, I do not know what it is. Perhaps, I am feeling punished. There are days when I feel I do not have the strength to carry on in life and I ask God to help me, but I wonder if he is listening.

Is there anyone out there who understands these feelings - who knows how to cope with the difficult days in life when you feel so terribly alone and scared of the future?

Rose

Hi Rose,
I am very sorry you have been in a lot of pain. No, God is not punishing you. His heart is very big and He uses all things even what the devil means for evil to harm us, He uses to advance His children's future. Many times pain is given us but this is a fiery trial meant to make us stronger. You are probably going to be used of God in a special way to help someone else at a later time. He uses things like this also to draw us closer to Him so we will be dependant on Him and not in ourselves. He wants you to trust Him and relax in Him and let Him provide for you when we can't provide for ourselves. Presently I have hurt my foot and ankle and it has been going on five weeks and there has been a little improvement but I am in constant pain and can not afford going to a Doctor and have several part time jobs I must see to and can't afford to not work. I can still walk however so I keep working since I have a wife to support. I am trusting God for healing but if it comes down to where I can't work I know He will provide for us in some way...He always has in the past. He provides for His children in different ways, not always with great excess but just enough to get by so we will continue to trust Him.

How long have you been a Christian? Do you know God will never ever, no not ever be mad or punish His children? He may chastise for sin in the sense of a Loving father punishing His unruly child but not punishment out of anger. If you have repented of sin, this is a gift from God. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior and have truly received Him as Savior and Lord. you are clothed in His righteousness. You are totally and completely forgiven and when God the father looks at you, He sees His Son wrapped around you. No, He could never be angry with you. He loves all that are His with an intense love. In Christ, Rick

1Pe 1:3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,
1Pe 1:7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
1Pe 1:8 Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.
1Pe 1:9 [At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter1:3-9 Amp

Hi Rose,

Rick is right on point about how God does not punish His children, but rather allows us to go through storms (however bad they may seem and actually are) to help us draw closer to Him, to strengthen our faith and trust in Him, and to learn obedience.

I admire you for speaking up about feeling down... we have all been there. I have felt at times like God wasn't listening and/or turned His back on me...but He never did.

Hebrews 13:5-6 says: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Basically God is saying that no matter what happens; life tramples all over you, people bring harm upon you in different ways, GOD will NEVER leave you NOR forget about you!! This is sooo encouraging to hear! This is my theme scripture for when things are tough and I am hurting and feeling alone and offended by life, people, and even myself. This scripture strengthens my spirit and keeps me focused on what really matters....that God LOVES me and nothing will ever separate us from the love of God!

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"

I hope this helps you. I know reading your post has really helped me remember how much God loves me!

Thank you and God Bless

IamKoala

Hi Rose, God loves you more then you could ever know. hurtful, painfull and abusive stuff happening to us is comon it happens to Christians more then we would like. 1 corrinthians 10:13 God will make a way! He is on ur side! :-)