Crying Out to the Lord

You are not wrong (but I hope you aren't reading the Message, which adds to scripture in some places).

Paul was human - he was certainly down in the dumps at times considering what he went through. But he looked to Chirst and also wrote about how Jesus brought him through these things.

Jesus in his human nature certainly felt despondence. We see that, too, but he never gave in to it.

I have many down times - but we have the hope of Christ in us, and know that whatever troubles we have, we can get through them if we lean on Him.

My pastor says, "You can't live for Christ, you let Christ live His life through you." Iow, you can't out of your own strength apart from Christ make yourself better.

 

I would say that we all have or have had these kinds of times. Although I have never faced death in the way the Paul did.
For those who are being conformed to the image of Christ, these bad times bring us closer to God and it is then that God can work on us and make us more like Christ.
As tough as life can be at times, it is these times where we experience the most growth and maturity as children of God.

This is why we can believe "all things work for the good of those who love the Lord".

Bad times can also be the chastening of the Lord in order to make us right with Him because of sin. We grow during these times as well. The Bible says that after God chastens us, it will yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

 

I don't think so.

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:7-8 KJV)

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3 KJV)

Thus we know he understands us and our needs. But don't expect to see Him that way again. Here's what I expect next time:

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16 KJV)

 

I'm exceedingly curious; how do you read 2 Corinthians 1, and come out with the thought that Paul is losing faith with those things going on around him?

Also, I must point out one of my most favorite verses in the Bible comes from that exact same chapter: v.4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

The thing I personally get from that verse is that we go through trials and tribulations, so that we may be a comfort to others who are also going through those same (or similar) trials and tribulations.

 

This is not my experience at all. We've always discussed how people in the Bible went through hard times and times of doubt.

Maybe you are in one of those churches that thinks Christians should be happy all the time?

 

This is false. Doubt and discouragement are sins.

Jesus suffered, yes, and was a man of sorrows, but He never doubted, nor waivered. On the contrary, when He was reviled and when He suffered, He trusted, 1 Pet. 2:23.

 

You are right - no bout-a-doubt it!

God loves those who show their need for him,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Matthew 5:3-11 NRSV

Of course none of us really wants to be "poor in spirit" or "mourning", we rather not be "persecuted for righteousness" or "reviled"

Sometimes those doing the persecuting and reviling are our brothers and sisters (it hurts even more then doesn't it).

God knows it and blesses you.

...but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 NRSV

Grow in God's grace.

Rob

 

OK, good case for doubt...but how 'bout discouragement?

You're making those two words synonymous...are they?

Make the case that discouragement is always a sin.

 

You are convoluting sorrow and grief with doubt and discouragement. Two totally separate issues.

 

It's the Amplified Bible.

 

Well, that explains the confusion.

AJ

 

Not-so-superwoman, , Christ is the WAY!!! He is the way out of health problems -- He is the way out of spiritual issues (sin) -- He is that way out of EVERY personal problem! ME TOO (divorced, that is).

Look back on who you are in Christ. Joseph's brothers meant it for evil but God meant it for GOOD. Be eager to see what God has for you!

How about a threat to your pilot career AND a divorce! God is able to deliver! It's not about who you are, what you are, what you can do -- it's about who God is, what God is, and what He can do!! Christ is the Way -- follow Him!

Encouragement: Remarried to a wonderful wife! Re-employed to the best company in the industry (can you guess by my avatar?) working alongside the union that BLACKBALLED me from any carrier they represented (thankfully, because I might have been hired but a PASSENGER airline like the one I worked for -- Eastern Airlines!). But God gave me this promise -- there is no device of man that can succeed against thee!! Psalms somewhere -- I'm too viclempt to find it just now. Too thankful to even see through the tears.). I retired from FedEx with a retirement that I KNOW my peers envy! This is YOU if you just trust in His Way! I owe it ALL to Him!!

skypair

 

Ann, please read Prov 22:4 and 3:16. God means for us to live life and live it more "abundantly," John 10:10. Yes, we go through these trials but like Joseph, we come out saying "they meant it for evil but God meant it for good!" Right?

skypair