Helpful Tips for Respectful Discussion

I don't know where to start, but I just need someone to tell me it gets better, that the Lord actually cares or sees me, that I'm not someone who will be left behind. I've been clinging to faith and hope - still praying, still worshipping, speaking life, proclaiming, whatever. But I seriously cannot do this anymore. My soul feels heavy. No amount of vitamins or rest is helping. I'm too tired to pray, too tired to speak life, anything. I hate my job - it makes me so depressed. We're always struggling financially; had to pawn my great-grandmother's ring and it broke my heart. Depression, exhaustion, thyroid issues, general health issues, adrenal fatigue. Been disappointed by spiritual leaders. Where is He?? This morning, I just feel like crying and hiding under my bed covers. I don't have the luxury of giving up and if I don't believe in God, there is nothing else for me to believe in. I want to work in the ministry and help others, but honestly. How would I preach hope if there is this endless void and silence??? I hear about miracles in terms of health, finances, breakthroughs. I feel like I was created as an example of what NOT to be, or just "she suffered but never gave up". I have a really dark past - drugs, sex work. I believe He saved me, but sometimes I feel like I've always just been fighting on my own. I literally cannot do this anymore.

I used to have these when I was 15 but it went away.
My friend just passed away recently and every night it keeps me up! I’m so afraid and I can’t grasp the concept of forever. It makes me have a pit in my stomach. My husband keeps telling me when we see Jesus it won’t matter nothing will and we will have so much peace. But right now I am just afraid and can’t comprehend it.

I’m so happy on where I’m at in this season of growth that God has put me in. There were some hardships but it brought me closer to Him. Nothing was lost if God was gained. I’ve just been trying to work on myself through Him and for Him. But also work on myself for my future husband. It may seem drastic but God has put such a desire on my heart and i want to be the best person i can possibly be when God sends him to me. I pray to shape my heart and reflect not only His love but the church’s love, I pray for my future husband’s heart to reflect His love the way Jesus loves the church. With that being said. What are some more ways to go deeper into it and more prayers to become more and more ready and aligned with God and what He has planned for me? All advice, guidance, and criticism are welcomed🙏
I truly want to live for Gods glory and to pray more and more for the future man that God will bring into my life.

Whats the point in even doing anything or having any goals if everybody is so sure jesus is coming back soon (8-10 years) im a college student and I feel like whats the point in even finishing and focusing on school right now if hes coming back soon. I dont feel like saving, finishing school, having any motivation for anything. Any advice? Im
Tired of feeling like this

This was the question Abdul El-Sayed asked in part of his response to a request at a town hall (reportedly by a Republican staffer) whether he would "disavow the Muslim brotherhood". (Which he did)

The entire exchange can be found here, and I think the answers and context he provides are worth watching and considering:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/s/2OtPZLgmLO

I think this is a good framing to challenge some American Christian ideologies. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote: "How often do we expect more of the other than what we ourselves are willing to accomplish." I especially like that he brought up opposition to JFK as a Catholic, a good reminder that Christians can be sectarian this way as well.

My boss (CEO) believes in that the company was built by the God's will. I got hired as soon after I started going to church. I was non-christian for 30 years and recently joined church for the first time. I was the first employee.

And later, I heard that a new person joined and it turned out to be another church member.

They are very sincere christian. We start our days with pray and often our ceo request us to pray for the company's opportunity (as a startup) and success (not straightforward saying success but more like financial stability, rent for space, new client or funding stuff)

There was a moment I was totally disagreeing with my colleague and as a person who is familiar working in a corporate, I said what I wanted something like If they cannot accommodate, I will leave.

And then my colleague start mentioning that, this arguement and confusion from me could be satan's work.

I am ranting here. Idk if I confused because I am not faithful as them, but it's just so different than my other usual job. Also, i feel somewhat guilty if the company isn't doing well, bc I would blame my poor faithfulness.

When I got hired, my boss checked on my attendance at church every sunday because my boss was not sure if I was the one thay god told him/her to hire me. As if my attendance is affecting the business...

Whatever. I need an advice.

So we know BC is Before Christ, and AD is After Death, but seeing as He lived for 33 years, then had time started counting after He 'died', or when He was born? Are we 2026 year after his actual death, or birth? Because if after His 'death', then does that mean there is a whole 33 years unaccounted for between BC and AD? what would it be called?

Am I making sense or just yapping?

God Bless you all ♡

Edit: Woah! I had no idea it was actually for Anno Domini, year of our Lord. Thank you in the comments who helped me see that. Have a wonderful day!

Maybe its just purity culture but..

Im sure this is a somewhat common post. I lost my virginity at age 25.. I was saving it till marriage but I kinda just was angry at my life and gave it up. I genuinely feel like my soul has been stretched and part of it taken and ripped to pieces.

It just feels really hard to ever feel like ill think im able and worthy to have a kid someday.

I dont even feel like ill never deserve a husband, but the having children part really hurts me. I would never want my kids to have to think I've ever loved someone in that way who wasnt their dad. I know I wouldn't have to tell the kids that necessarily but I think having an openness is so important for kids to develop healthily in sex and life in general.

I never saw my life becoming like this. This last year I just went completely off the deep end and I truly knew better and have been a Christian for a long time. Ive faced many struggles but I wish I wouldve not let them overcome me. These consequences feel much to bare. Perhaps by now I could be married or a lot more successful had I just trusted in God a lot earlier (my struggles were mostly caused by parents). I dont wanna cause my kids any issues due to my own wounds.

Ive been in psychosis over weeks in a lot of ways due to the losing my virginity issue. Its just too painful. I know God forgives me and consequences can be maybe mitigated but damn, im 26 and its literally like im 15 in every other aspect of my life as well.

I feel like my purpose is to really be a leader and there for everyone I can be, and the biggest way I couldve been there for my future kids and husband would've been to have my soul in tact and be burdenless to love them. I genuinely feel i got my psyche and soul torn from me. I know it can maybe be healed but im not sure i can see how. I know my parents struggled to be good to me in part due to their own past sins.

How was worship this weekend?

What was the sermon topic?

Did you learn anything you'd like to share with the community?

Tell us about your experience this week.

I (25m) have basically always been in the world, I even got into occult stuff for a few years including psychedelics, manifestation, etc. Today I want to change that. I've been thinking of it for a while but been afraid and also deluding myself I enjoy it, but the truth is I've been depressed for over two years.

I have been watching videos such as testimonies recently. How do I become filled with Holy Spirit, the Blood of Jesus, the Spirit of Discernment, etc. like everyone talks about?

Also any tips for a new Christian starting out? Decided to quit porn today and will of course try to minimise other sins. I also struggle with polysubstance (multiple-drug) addiction, lust, lying and swearing mainly. But yeah any tips in terms of where to start in the Bible, preachers to listen to, etc. would be appreciated along with any prayers :)

I feel like I'm caught in a pickle: I feel like I need to never speak to my parents again for my sanity, although I have a hard time imagining Jesus would recommend blocking mom and dad's phone numbers to get by.

Are there any balanced POVs about the broader world of estrangements happening now?

My parents are both more than willing to have a relationship, although they're also wholly blind to the ways they treat me like a second-rate citizen and how they recruit my siblings / our network into degrading me... etc. They play the innocent victim / parents just doing their best role well, so I do wind up being the one who looks ungrateful and insane.

Hello, I’ve been wrestling with this all day and I don’t want to sound like an emotionless jerk but can I get your opinion on what love is? Is it a feeling? An action? Don’t take this the wrong way please but how do you love God? Did it start as a feeling or did you take action to follow his commands and word and overtime you got a feeling? I’m feeling conflicted and convicted right now. I’ve prayed and I don’t know what to say to God. I want to love God but I don’t know where to start…

I’m currently struggling with how to live my life with the ever-looming idea of me not being “Godly” often enough dwelling in the corner of my mind. When reading a certain book, or watching a certain movie, or choosing to do a certain thing, I get stuck wondering if I am guilty for doing it because it doesn’t glorify God enough, even when it’s not something that is necessarily sinful. For instance, I am at the beginning of my journey to read and study the Bible, but i catch myself feeling guilty when i choose to read a library book. i feel guilty for listening to non-worship music, even if its music i genuinely love, or i feel guilty for killing a gnat that was buzzing incessantly around my face, or i feel guilty for not helping people more when im in public. it’s very frustrating, because there is a very self-aware, logical part of my brain that knows there’s nuance to these situations and that i will never be perfectly perfect, but i can’t help but feel queasy every time the guilt gnaws away at my core. how do i know what is enough? will i ever? i try not to think about it but that makes me feel guilty, too, bc am i not supposed to find God and pursue Him in everything? am i not supposed to glorify God in all that I do? how do i know that what i am doing is acceptable and not a sin that my flesh was successfully tempted by?

fortunately, i have not lost hope and am giving myself some grace since I am still early into not only rediscovering my faith, but myself as well. im just interested to know other peoples’ thoughts about this— has anyone experienced something similar? i have also been diagnosed with ADHD and seem struggle with rather black-and-white thinking at times, plus the seemingly insatiable need to 1000% understand something in order to feel at peace. ironically, that makes me feel guilty too!! do i not know God enough to feel peace? what if i’m faking it or being complicated on purpose to avoid taking accountability and changing? yet there’s still a voice in my brain yelling about how ridiculous that notion is smh 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ thank you, brain, for always being ever so helpful!

if anyone else’s brains feel the same way, have something to add, or contain helpful advice, i would be very pleased to hear about it <3 thanks!

I grew up in a Baptist church. Ik the faith fairly well. I moved away for roughly 10 years and quit going and now im back and I have a severe issue going on in my head.

We are to believe in and worship Jesus Christ and the Lord God our savior. But what is he saving us from. What or whom is causing us to be condemned to hell. The devil doesnt cast us to hell, nor can a human cast anyone to hell. GOD casts us to hell. So in knowing this God is asking us to have faith in him to save us....from himself. God is the oppressor in this .

Imagine I kidnap somone and condemned to death unless they worship me. Would that not be seen as very evil?

Furthermore people who have never heard the word, or people who have and chose not to believe it are automatically condemned to eternal torment? Even if they otherwise live good lives.

Im having a very hard time with this. If I believe in God and I believe the word of God, then idk if I can worship that kind of being. That is not good and merciful.

Ive asked several people about this and I have never gotten a good response. I ask my family who are very devote Christiansa and they get upset and don't want to talk about it. But this is something im struggling with.

Is there anyone here that's gone through this or understand how im feeling?

I’ve been struggling a lot with my appearance for my whole life, specifically my facial structure. I really dislike my face, and it causes me a lot of daily pain and insecurity. I know the Bible talks about us getting glorified bodies in 1 Corinthians 15, but I have very specific things I wish were different.

If God is our loving Father and the ultimate designer, and if I were to beg Him in heaven for specific changes to my face because it’s all I ever wanted, do you think He would grant them? I just really want to look different and finally feel beautiful.

Does theology or scripture support the idea that we can have a say in what our heavenly appearance looks like, or will our desires change when we get there? I’d really love some honest thoughts and explanations regarding this.

What are some good Christian podcasts or online preachers that are worth listening to?
Ive been in a rut lately with my relationship with Christ so I want something educational/uplifting to play in the background while I’m doing household work or commuting to work.

Hi guys,

I need some advice. I(20f) have been with my boyfriend (19) now for almost 3 years, and while he claims that God sent me for him and God has sent him signs that I will be his wife, I do not feel the same. He has not always treated me too well in the past, but has told me he is changing and will change to be the man I need. Why can't I feel the same about him? I feel like God is pulling me into a different path, but how can my boyfriend be 100% sure that I was made for him but I don't feel the same? I do love him and I don't want to make my decision and regret it or not follow God's plan, but I just feel so lost and confused. Advice?

Hi everyone,

I want to start trading memecoins but I'm wondering if it’s a sin. Before any answer, memecoin trading is nowhere near gambling or pure luck. It is a real, high-intensity activity that requires logic, deep research, contract analysis, tracking developer wallets, and hundreds if not thousands of hours on the crypto market. I know I have the skills to succeed in it, and my intentions are not bad at all.

However, here is my dilemma: technically, the crypto market (and memecoins specifically) is a zero-sum game backed by a liquidity pool. This means that when i make a profit and withdraw my funds, that money mathematically comes from the total capital deposited by all the buyers who bought. If the liquidity decrease in value then the crypto also decrease in value. I am not malicious, and I don't want anyone to lose money, but the mechanical reality is that my financial gain automatically causes others to lose money, or at least, profit

On one hand, it feels like legal, hard-working commerce where people participate of their own free will knowing the risks. On the other hand, I know the Bible calls us to love our neighbor and avoid wealth that doesn't create real-world value for others.

Is trading in a zero-sum, speculative liquidity market considered a sin or a major moral compromise according to Scripture, even if it requires hard work and has no bad intentions ? I would really appreciate scriptural perspectives, especially from anyone who understands finance or market mechanics. Thank you.

Being ashamed of my kinks and enjoying NSFW media (please read all before comment)

Recently, I discovered that I am a masochist. I like physical pain, but it doesn't aroused me. I just enjoy the sensation of spanking. But I have a degradation kink, maybe with humiliation, it turn me on to be degraded. (I'm not much into verbally humiliation, more sexual humiliation) I'm also interested into power exchange dynamic and pet play.

A thing I want to precise: I'm not interested into having a partner. I don't feel any sexual attraction towards people. It's only fantasy or solo. (The only "person' I feel sexual attraction isn't real lol. I say attraction, not luxure. Of what I understand, luxure is when you objectified someone, even if he's fictional, I don't.) I don't have the intention of having a partner(at least, "real" one), if one day I have one, it will be because God have decided it. I want to precise, because I don't want have comment "if your partner is consent, no problem" I don't have a partner and not interested into having one.

I also enjoy sexual fiction, especially sadomasochism one. I really like dark/psychological yaoi/BL. I daydream, kinda a lot or litlle, depending of my mood, about sexual fantasies, involving characters I have created. I don't feel attraction toward them, it just for fun. Exploring different type of dynamic, with different type of characters. Often involving my kink, who is power exchange and pet play, with humiliation,degradation, and BDSM in general. Can be more extreme cause it's only in my head. It also can involve sadomasochism, sometimes in a extreme way. (But always consent)Like I say, I don't really feel aroused by it. I don't masturbates when I daydream about it. The reaction I can have, for both reading and daydream, is like a teenager girl who enjoys fluffy romance. (Like: xeidjsmeksk it's so cute!!". I have the same reaction with fluff than smut lol)

I'm really ashamed to like it, even if it doesn't aroused me. I am ashamed of be aroused by the idea of getting humiliated and degraded. I am ashamed to enjoy and be aroused by the idea of be "someone pet" (the "someone" is a fictional character , always the same, for precision.) I am ashamed to enjoy wear a dog collar, imagining I belong to him. I am ashamed to enjoy NSFW media. I am ashamed to enjoying daydream about sexual things. I am ashamed to daydream about bdsm.

I have tried to stop, I have try to ignore it. But it always come back.. I don't know if it's liking that who is the problem or if it's the shame I feel for liking it. I feel like I can't look at God because I like that. But even if I do like it doesn't exist, it's still exist. Even if I ignore my degradation kink, it still here. And will always be. I had it as long I remember, even when I was a kid. I'know trauma get it worse, but I think it was maybe even before. Sometimes I wonder why God gave give me a degradation kink if it's something bad. They say it's God who decides and control everything, so it's mean that He decide our kink, no? Even if it's not, how I'm supposed get "rid of it"? I have try, but I start to wonder if it's not a part of myself, that I can't get rid of it. It doesn't bother on my daily life, in fact, it sometimes had help me, to deal with anxiety and depression. For the first, I can act on it, but always solo. For the second, it's just daydream. Both doesn't involve other person. I consider the second like a hobby. I don't always do it, sometimes I find sexual fiction boring, and just don't daydream nor read/watch it. Like I say, I have try to stop it, I have try to stop daydreaming, reading/watching but I don't succeed. I also have try to stop "acting' on my degradation kink and sexual stuff. But it's difficult because I have a big libido, I'm often horny for no reason. So it can give me frustration, the sensation of be horny is overwhelming.

Should believers be listening to them? What have you discerned/noticed? Does anything feel off? Did you feel like you shouldn't be watching/listening to them?

EDIT: Furtick is said to have been mentored by TD Jakes (who I used to listen to a lot). What are your thoughts/convictions on Jakes' sermons?

I m23 married my wife w25 in June of this year and only moved in together 2 months ago and ever since we moved in together we have been at each others necks finances have been tight and pressure have been built up. Last week my wife told me she kissed her co worker on two separate occasions the week before and she says she has been catching feelings for him and he gives her more attention than me is what she said.

Now I’m totally checked out of the relationship as I can’t look at her the same anymore but I don’t want to divorce because of the shame of getting divorced after a couple months of being married. We were dating for 4 years before we got married and nothing like this has ever happened and we have a 2 year old toddler. Family and church pressure but most importantly I want my child to grow up in a single home where both parents are together but I don’t want to be with my wife I feel like she disrespected me and we agreed no cheating will be tolerated.

Please help I think I’m overthink it

hello

I have a bit of a moral dilemma and have no clue if what I’m doing is right. I found a part-time job selling psychoactive substances. It’s completely legal in my country and it has strict regulations (in my opinion alcohol is much worse). And the job is great, basically i sot there the whole day, doing nothing.

I’m a student, my parents don’t support me much , and the pay is above average. I don’t really feel bad about working there (should I? It’s not like I’m offering these substances to people - they come in and buy them themselves). What bothers me more is that I am not completely honest with the people around me about what my job actually is - mostly my parents. I have multiple jobs, so its easy to keep it in the mix.

I guess my question is whether I should feel guilty about this job itself, or if the fact that I’m hiding it from them is a sign that its not right? And is this the start of my moral decline?

Your suffering and you are barely functioning, and your about to go into another storm, and everything is topppling you. Why does'nt god step in and say I am here, it is okay, why does he never do that? I am always drowning and god never helps. I dont understand it, is it because we have to call out to him? It always seems like god doesnt care. I know god really doesnt owe us anything, people imho expect too much from god. But yes it feels like whenever im drowning god does nothing.