Psycho-Babble Faith Thread 398343

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Does God test you?

Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 2, 2004, at 18:12:01

For the first time in my life, I feel I am actually being tested by God. Not tested as in Job proportions, but tested all the same.

I worry however that perhaps I am blaming some adversity in my life on God as opposed to just chance. How does one tell the difference?

 

Re: Does God test you?

Posted by Jai Narayan on October 3, 2004, at 18:03:38

In reply to Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 2, 2004, at 18:12:01

> For the first time in my life, I feel I am actually being tested by God. Not tested as in Job proportions, but tested all the same.
>
> I worry however that perhaps I am blaming some adversity in my life on God as opposed to just chance. How does one tell the difference?

**What are you experiencing? What kind of adversity? How do you see this as testing?
Jai

 

Re: Does God test you? » Miss Honeychurch

Posted by rayww on October 4, 2004, at 0:29:56

In reply to Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 2, 2004, at 18:12:01

Are you being tempted or tried?

Life seems to be a cluster of preparing times and trial times. Sometimes they both come at once, meaning you have to prepare in a hurry whether you want to or not. And then sometimes just when you think you've had all you can take, it gets worse. I have some basic beliefs that I cling to in times of crisis.
#1. The enabeling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is real . When activated by faith it can bring peace amid pain, and strength.
#2. All things happen for a reason

If bad things never happened to good people and good things never happened to bad people, we'd all be good and life would be boring. It is not so much what happens to us, as how we deal with it that matters. If the good were always happy, and the bad were always in disasters, what kind of world would it be?

God tests us. However, we must be careful what we blame Him for. If we get ourselves into trouble and need to repent, He will help us by testing us over and over until we are sure we have overcome the temptation.

Peace of conscience and peace of mind come as we truly repent. That is one of the beauties and blessings of repentance and forgiveness.

The world is a mess and getting progressively worse, yet there is much peace of conscience and peace of mind in the midst. Life can get down right miserable, and it is right now for many of the disaster victims. Answers are hard to find at times like these, but trust God. He knows what has to be done I guess.

If there truly are preparing times, and trial times, we need to do better to prepare ourselves for what might come. Peace be with you all.

 

Re: Does God test you?

Posted by Ivan Michael on October 4, 2004, at 16:06:29

In reply to Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 2, 2004, at 18:12:01

hello Miss Honeychurch. it's been a long time since i've seen you. i hope that everiething is doing well in your life.

anieway, i cannot tell you if what you are experiencing actuallie IS a test from God and it is verie hard to tell. if you believe that it is then a verie well may be. i believe that manie people are tested by God in there life. i was tested once and i came to have a whole different veiw on God as well as life in general. make sure that you think things through verie carefullie before you make decisions, but remember that the best choice in normallie the simplest or easiest. God does not fit into that categorie in manie ways but it seems to help some people think and choose.

i hope things turn out the way you want and i hope to talk to you again sometime soon. :)

 

Re: Does God test you? » Miss Honeychurch

Posted by 64Bowtie on October 4, 2004, at 19:28:13

In reply to Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 2, 2004, at 18:12:01

> For the first time in my life, I feel I am actually being tested by God. Not tested as in Job proportions, but tested all the same.
>
> I worry however that perhaps I am blaming some adversity in my life on God as opposed to just chance. How does one tell the difference?

<<< Tell me when I start sounding like a broken record...
Tell me what you see, when you look past your feelings...

Rod

 

Re: Does God test you?

Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 5, 2004, at 10:23:25

In reply to Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 2, 2004, at 18:12:01

I wish I had some profound story I could share with everyone. And I feel my situation is so very trivial but I shall share anyway. I feel as if this "test" if that is what it is, is an actual test of what I have been working on in therapy all year.

One of the biggest "rational" thoughts I have had trouble accepting is that my self-worth is not determined by achievement. Also, I have never known how to express anger. I have always felt anger was wrong and I become fearful when I encounter it, whether it's directed at me or not. In fact, usually when I'm angry, I cry. I've also been working on being assertive and expressing my needs. And finally, I find it hard to accept that life is not fair. I have been working on all of these things for 12 months now and have made significant strides.

So a month ago, I got what I would term the "perfect" job for me. Working as the head fundraiser for the University where I currently work in its newly created School of World Studies. I would be raising money for everything I believe in - International relations, foreign languages, religious studies, even raising money for the French Film Festival.

Prior to getting the job, I thought I failed miserably at the interview and even had a panic attack of sorts which lasted a couple of days. I worked hard in those days about not comparing myself to others, about not basing my value as a person on my job or my material possessions, or my professional achievement.

When I got the job, I was of course elated, but a little fearful at the same time as I really never BELIEVED that I couldn't base my self worth on my achievements. But you know what? I never had to think about that again, becuase I had achieved! I felt fantastic! But I knew in the back of my mind that I had not truly believed and accepted the above principle.

So last Friday I was told that the Interim Dean of the University's College of Humanities and Sciences has decided that this new position is indeed NOT needed, that he couldn't justify hiring a fundraiser when he couldn't hire additional faculty members. Needless to say, I was crushed.

So now I am having to use all of the skills I have learned over the past year. Of course I 'm completely mad. But I STILL can't show it. All I do is cry and act like everything is fine. I'm mad at the unprofessionalism, I'm mad at this interim Dean, I'm mad at everyone who didn't fight for me. And this confirms that life is not fair. Is God SHOWING me life is not fair? IS God MAKING me face the issue that self-worth has nothing to do with achievement? Is God making me face my demons?

I would normally NEVER think this way. But something came over me on Saturday where I felt absolutely certain that I was being purposefully tested by God. Does he perhaps know that my acceptance of certain things is necessary for my future mental health and survival?

I am working harder than ever now on my rational beliefs and thinking skills, harder than I have worked all year. And in many ways this is a good thing. But I am still heartbroken.

So I suppose I am calling this is a test from God in order to lend these series of events more weight, to make it seem less random and dumb luckish and more of a divine plan for my life.

I realize how stupid and insignificant this whole situation is. I have my health, I have a good job, I have a great husband. I am in no way complaining. I just wonder if indeed I am being tested as I feel I am. Or would God care about something so trivial? I realize I am not trivial in God's eyes however, but there are so many more things to worry about. Many more people who are much worse off than I. I suppose I wonder why he would pay attention to me when there are wars going on and people dying from disease etc.

Stupid, stupid post. I'm sorry all.

 

Re: Does God test you? » Miss Honeychurch

Posted by rayww on October 5, 2004, at 17:21:35

In reply to Re: Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 5, 2004, at 10:23:25

That was a great post Miss H.
If God is testing you, what are you supposed to learn? May I please suggest:
#1 God is a loving, personable God, who knows you, who loves you, who cares about you, and who needs you.
#2 God has something else in mind for you. Since He is the master creator, He also knows how to mould us into the person we were created to become.
#3 You are special.
#4 If you have purpose, then we all have purpose. If God loves and cares about you, He loves and cares about me and everyone else.

What did Samuel say? "Here am I"
http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=%22here+am+I%22&scripturesearch_button=Search
What did Mary say?http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=%22behold+the+handmaid+of+the+lord%22&search.x=31&search.y=10
What should we say when we sense God is directing our lives?
http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=%22I+will+go+and+do%22&search.x=31&search.y=10

Trials strengthen our faith and faith gives us courage to go on. Trials can also destroy our faith if we choose to let discouragement drag us down.

It is a rocky road at best, but with faith in:
a) the one and only true God
b) the God of our choice
c) one of many Gods
d) whatever or whomever you call God,
we can accomplish all things.http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=%22I+can+do+all+things%22&search.x=31&search.y=10http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=faith+I+can+do+all+things%22&search.x=31&search.y=10

 

Re: Does God test you?

Posted by Ivan Michael on October 7, 2004, at 17:13:13

In reply to Re: Does God test you?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 5, 2004, at 10:23:25

the first thing i want to say is that you have no reason to apologize. you have done nothing except tell us the storie that we asked for and how you feel about a problem that you are having, which is what this page is here for. the onlie time sorrie should ever be said, in my opinion, is when you have done something wrong, and you have not.

second, lots of people hold in anger. i'm a great example of one. as a matter of fact i had previouslie tried to type this post and some kid from my carpool turned the computer off. my first thought was to break his nose. the whole way home i wanted nothing more than to strangle him in his seat. i know that thinking these things is not good for aniebodie, but i cant help it. i still have anger inside of me held in from years ago. the best thing to do with anger is to find a way to release it at a good time and in a good way. if you stand up for yourself, you dont necessarilie have to use anger and i would have argued for your side forever.

well anieway, i think that in some way, this may be a test. God tests us all the time whether we know it or not. He may have been protecting you from something, you never know. in anie case, i hope that things turn out the way that you want them and that you find a way to vent your anger.

take care, GREAT BIG HUGS, and thank you for helping me in the past.


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Faith | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.