Question:
See, basically I'm really skeptical about all of this. The whole Jesus dying on the cross thing, whether or not the Bible is true, whether or not Christianity is the right religion...supposedly I am a Christian since I did become one at one time, but right now I do not believe at all.
Uhm...yeah. I don't know - it just seems like God has never been there for me. So now I think I'm going to look into some other religions...I don't know.
There's high school and ugh...
Sort of strange to say but right about now I wouldn't mind getting totally wasted or doing drugs or whatever...I mean I don't have a way to get them but if you gave it to me I'd probably use it.
Anyhow.
I don't really know why I posted this since it's sort of hard to give me advice.
Answer:
I'm reminded of the prodigal son. What you're feeling is, to a degree, normal in my opinion. At one point in highschool, I doubted the existence of God myself (I was saved when I was 5). So I don't think you're experiencing something that no other Christian has ever experienced.
Now, about the prodigal son, I'm more thinking about the prodigal son's brother. He expressed feelings of discontentment similar to what you're expressing. The parable can be found in Luke 15:11-32. At the end of the parable, the younger brother returns home and the father has a party to celebrate his son's return. The older brother is angry and refuses to attend the party. When the father asks the older son why he doesn't attend, the older son answers, ²⁹"Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!"
This brother was upset that the father had done something so extravagant for his younger brother, that he was completely blind to all the things that the father had already done for the son. The father replied to the son, ³¹"Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours."
See, so when you make statements like "God has never been there for me", you completely undermine all the times that He actually has been there for you. Many Christians become dissatisfied with Christianity because, quite frankly, they're too selfish. They are unable to take their eyes off of what they wish they had to be thankful for what God's already given them. You're alive and are loved by God. Shouldn't that be enough?
So, application. I think you need to spend some time in God's Word, and some time reflecting on your life. You need to make a list of all the good things you have and remember the reason that you have them. I'll give you one to start with - you were born in America, where you don't wake up daily scared that some extremist muslim sect is going to break down your door, rape your wife and kill your children. That's a blessing.
Answer:
What do you expect to find by looking into other religions? If you expect them to be any more believable, then forget it. No matter why you really want to, I have to strongly advise you against doing this, as a believer in Christ.

It seems to me that right now you're looking for something to control you, and you don't feel like God is cutting it. Do you feel like your life has no structure or point, like it has nothing to strive for? Basically, if you're looking for something that will give you all the answers and make life easy for you, you're being selfish. I don't want to be harsh, but it's foolish to believe that would make your life any easier, and it's selfish to think God should be giving you a red or green light on every question you have.

You have to slap yourself in the face and realize that life is tough. It's a struggle, and high school is definitely one of life's biggest obstacles. It's easy to focus on the times when you're bogged down with four projects, chores, a job, and expectations from people; we block out everything that God has blessed us with and end up tunnel-visioned, staring straight at the things we dislike.

Make yourself read your Bible. I know it's not easy to want to read it right now, so find a way to make it happen! Without any prayer or Bible-reading, nothing we tell you can really help you. If you really desire to help yourself; if you posted this really wanting to get out of your confusion, you will find a way to read your Bible. If you're looking for pity of posting out of want for sympathy, it would be easy to live on as you are, passive about bettering your relationship with God as well as bettering your mental state. That's all I've got.

I'm going to pray for you, though. Be certain of that.
Answer:
ok, getting wasted definitly won't fix your problems... but anyways...
first of all, many times when we don't feel 'blessed' by God, i've found, is that we make ourselves, in a sense, 'unblessable'. we separate ourselves from Him and we are the cause of our own problems. i can't say if this is the case for you, but its something i've noticed in my life...
as for the questioning, it is good to wonder why we believe what we believe. it makes our understanding stronger, but don't believe everything you hear. satan is very active in our world, and he (as well as the world) are spreading a lot of crap... he doesn't want you to stay a Christian; nor does the world, in most aspects. James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
its good to ask questions and research on other religions to see what they believe, but don't neglect looking farther into Christianity. something that is really cool to me are messianic prophecies; prophecies concerning the comming of Christ... take a look at isaiah 53... its incredibly accurate and is just a whole chapter describing the messiah. i see it as incredible proof that this is truth, being written 600-800 before Christ (i forget which it is). if the bible is false, then... i wouldn't know how to explain the messianic prophecies... anyways, just thought i'd share that...
something i strongly suggest is for you to read your bible daily. sometimes something that simple can be hard, especially when your not exactly 'on fire' spiritually. something so simple and so easlily overlooked will help you out tremedously. its not called 'God's word' for nothing.
also, i'd strongly recommend reading the purpose driven life by rick warren. its an incredible book. 40 chapters - 40 days... about 5-10 minutes a day to read a chapter. my church has just completed it together... it has really been a blessing to us. it goes through most concepts of Christianity and, as the title suggests, points out our purposes of being here. i'd recommend this book to anyone.
one more thing, pray. tell God how you feel; tell Him you don't know if He exists. pray for strengh, pray for answers -- whatever you need, ask. pray continuously.
don't neglect reading your bible and praying... even if your not sure what you believe right now. ask questions, do research if you want, but don't stop doing these. if you havn't opened your bible in a while, now is the best time to start. same with prayer.
anyways, i'm running out of time... hope there arn't any typos...
i'll be praying for you,
In Christ,
Tom
edit:
btw, feel free to PM or IM me if you need to talk about anything.
oh, and get your mind off of the drugs/alcohol... the more you think about them, the more you will want them... the more you want them, the more you will go out of your way to find them. i forgot to mention that the first time around...
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Answer:
James 1:16-18
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

---

Allow me the liberty of putting this truth in my own words:
My dear brother in Christ, do not let yourself be deceived by your feelings or what the world tells you. Every good thing you have is a gift of God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever--so you can trust Him to always be there. Your life itself is a gift of God and He has a plan for it.
The world wants to deceive you; your own heart wants to deceive you (see Jeremiah 17:9). Don't trust them. Count your blessings and look at the world around you; both are testaments of God's existence and His love.
Answer:
Do you think you are a good person?
Answer:
Excellent advice from everyone so far. I've gained understanding from it.
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Yeah guys its really been helpful reading this stuff for me at the moment. I can really see God's blessing in alot of things I thought have gone wrong for me at the moment. Right now, I am going through a hard time and I just think "Man! Whatever happens, Lord, I know that you are with me!"

I mean, what is my life like compared to the suffering that Jesus endured for us!? He was perfect in everyway! And we can look into the bible, into the history books and look at the facts and know that Jesus is real.There is no doubt about it.

When I read your story man, you remind me of myself 4 years ago. Its a dark feeling. Its like you are all by yourself when you deal with things, and your friends may also lead you astray. (my friends were all non-christians. But I still hang out with them and love them). But as they led me astray, I felt the emptiness follow me. Drugs became my friend, but they only numbed the pain that was inside. It was a way for me to escape things.

I was brought up in a christian home, and I always thought myself as a christian. But I didn't feel it. Until you actually confront your problems and realise that God loves you completely, no matter what you do or feel, then you may always escape a problem that you may not realise. For all have sinned, and all have fallen short of the Glory of God.

I was abused as a kid, physically, by my father and that is something I am only coming to deal with. It left me with alot of anxiety problems which I just covered over. But through God's healing hand and the grace he has poured upon me, I dont feel the shame, but God's love.

Whether its things you have done wrong, or things that have been wronged against you, they can have consequences. Even though the sins themselves have been forgiven by God. If you have a problem, I strongly suggest you talk to people about it, look to God and just pray for direction. He will answer you.

If you are wanting to take drugs, ask yourself "why?". Is it to escape something? Is it because others are doing it? (you want acceptance?) Is it because you are feeling like there must be more to life? All of these things are an emptiness within yourself, that only God can fill. Its like Jesus said - "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37

The woman at the well, in John chapter four, was also living an empty life. Jesus spoke to her and told her he knew what she needed even though she did not. She had five husbands and was with another man, but she yearned for something more. She yearned for the livng water.

So even though you may not know what you need, God already does. Talk to someone (it'll help) and know that we are all praying for you.

Finally, let it be known that even though the prodigal son left the father, the father never left the son. Even though the son had done things that would disgrace the father. The father's love is unconditional. We can do nothing to earn the father's love and his love will endure us. Whatever happens man, know that God love's you and will be waiting to embrace you and celebrate your victory. Amen.

P.S. do you have a good support group of christians or a church? and do some research - a 'case for christ' can tell you alot about how the facts of the bible stack up. Cheers.
Answer:
are you still around flyguy? your starting to worry me.
i'll second the book 'Case for Christ'. some people like it, some people don't care for it as much. i really enjored it, as it covered a lot of the 'hard questions' about Christianity. the author was originally wanting to debunk Christianity, but in the process of trying to find legitimate fault with it, he found the truth in it, and the book does a great job of covering everything from that point of view. the 'case for faith' is also a nice sequel. i think there is yet another one comming out... 'case for a creator'? i think that is it. i want to get my hands on it soon.
Answer:
Yeah I'm still around. I'm not going anywhere...
Answer:
hey man, hows it going?
You feeling any better?
I have been praying for you? It can be tough sometimes. A verse I keep close to me when I have problems is "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,... plans to give you hope and a future.... You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11,13

Just seek the truth. Absorb yourself with the bible and let it consume you. Drool in anticipation for every word that comes from God and he will diplay to you his awsome presence in this world. Even do further reading, go out and read about the facts. It all points toward God. But be careful as Satan can use your fears and doubts to ensnare you in his deceitful lies.

As I wrote before, a good book called a case for Christ is quite handy as it was written by a non-christian turned Christian through his writing. Its a good in depth proof of a God that is real and the sacrifices he made for us. Finally, I would pray to God for guidance through this. Take it easy and keep in touch.

Cheers.
Answer:
Dude, I know whats up. I often wonder the same jank you are right know. Been through the drug scene and party scene, and if you have ever been there then you know just being alive another day is an example of God looking out for you. I believe that you know what is true, man, you are just going through a tuff time. Lay your problems down at the cross, because he will show you whats up.

The guys up here at Western Carolina will be praying for you. The Lord will reveal himself to you, no doubt.
Answer:
Hi Flyguy,
Your growing up now, and you need to learn about the faith you grew up with for yourself, and have faith of your own.
So why don't you start an intense study of the Bible. Maybe you can find someone to study it with you. John is a good book to study. You can also study the other gospels to learn who Jesus is and the claims he made about himself.
John wrote that his gospel was written that you might believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So study that to build up your faith in Christ.
Also, start praying. Maybe you can find some strong Christians to pray with you and study the Bible.
And there may come a point where you just have to surrender to God-- including surrendering your ideas, theories, etc.