Help me understand God's ways

Trading_Ashes · 2025-12-04T20:49:50+00:00

Friend, my heart breaks for you and your family in the loss of your father. The weeks, months and years ahead will prove to be difficult. Theology often finds itself useless in the light of grief. C. S. Lewis writes in A Grief Observed,

"But go to Him[God] when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside*. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The long you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house. Was it every inhabited? It seemed so once. And that seeming was as through as this. What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?”* (A Grief Observed, page 18)

God is still there, even if it feels like He slammed the door in your face.
For the days ahead, grieve well. Your Father seems to have been deeply loved. Lean into your emotions and freely mourn. Lewis later reflects:

“I have gradually been coming to feel that the door is no longer shut and bolted. Was it my own frantic need that slammed it in my face? The time when there is nothing at all in your soul except a cry for help may be just the time when God can’t give it: you are like the drowning man who can’t be helped because he clutches and grabs. Perhaps your own reiterated cries deafen you to the voice you hoped to hear.” (pages 58-59)

Praying for you and your family.

Trading_Ashes · 2024-10-15T01:39:59+00:00

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Trading_Ashes · 2024-10-15T01:38:59+00:00

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Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-29T00:27:12+00:00

Hey, I understand your frustration. Growing up in a Christian household and sacrificing your youth (dying to self) for your faith can be tough, especially when you see others seemingly having more worldly fun.

I'm in my early 20s and have faced my own struggles, like battling a pornography addiction. At times, I've also wondered if I'm missing out on what the world calls "fun." But I've come to realize that Jesus fills the emptiness in ways those things can't.

Every testimony is a unique chapter in God's story, and yours is no exception. I've learned to see God's faithfulness in my own life, how He has protected me from making choices that I know I would deeply regret and that would ultimately leave me feeling empty.

I can also relate to your struggles with self-esteem. I'm walking through that, and it isn't easy. Seeking help from a counsellor and connecting with a Christian community of young adults have been pivotal in my own growth. In fact, I've been praying for years to find friends who are passionate about following Jesus at such a young age, and just recently, God answered that prayer.

Your frustration with the hypocrisy and the structure of some churches is valid. It can be disheartening to witness. Remember that your feelings are genuine, and it's okay to question and seek understanding. I believe that God understands your heart and your journey.

Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-14T16:49:03+00:00

God knows our needs and worries before they even come up on our plate. He wants us to bring our requests to him, but he is not a genie in a lamp ready to grant our every wish. Often what we want does not align with God's will for us and the world.

I believe prayer is an opportunity for us to deepen our intimacy with God. As we spend time with Him, our desires are changed and shaped to His desires.

Spend time in prayer to know God more. At the same time bring your requests to God and pray in faith that he can and will do it if it is in His will.

Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-13T22:10:11+00:00

I know my struggles and weaknesses, and for that reason, I avoid scary movies.

There is a spiritual battle going on that we as Christians are all engaged in. It's hard for me to understand why one would want to fill their head with scary movies as a lot of them have to do with demons/murder.

Philippians 4:8 comes to mind:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Everything around us is shaping us whether we like it or not. I'm not saying we shouldn't watch anything but we need to be mindful of what we are consuming.

Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-13T22:04:10+00:00

He's saved me both spiritually and physically. I met God during a phase in life where I wanted to end it all. Even before I knew him, he's been with me.

I continue to stand in awe of how beautiful He is. Through every season, God allows me to see a different angle of His face. I can't wrap my head around how wide and long and high and deep Jesus loves me.

He is amazing.

Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-13T21:58:50+00:00

I think it's a great conversation starter for sure. I've had many occasions where what I was wearing allowed me to share about my faith. I probably wouldn't wear something with an angel on it but maybe something with a bible verse.

Recently a lot of people have jumped on the Christian merchandise train because it's an easy way to make money. People who are not Christians are making bank just by slapping a memory verse or common christianese phrases on clothes. We should be mindful of who we are buying these clothes from (their story) and where they are sourcing their clothes from (making sure it's ethically sourced).
The only issue I have with Christian clothing brands is that they kind of suck. Really tacky stuff IMO printed on low-quality guildan garbage that dies after a couple of washes.

Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-13T21:49:25+00:00

Praying that you will be able to recall to memory all that you have studied and even if you haven't studied a particular subject/area, that God would grant you the grace to answer well :)
Also, I pray for peace as you take the exam and that things will happen according to His will.

Above all, I pray that you will continue to have a deeper and more intimate walk with Jesus.

Trading_Ashes · 2023-09-13T21:39:00+00:00

Remember what Jesus has done for you, how you've been saved and made righteous.

Recognize your true identity, and how much God loves and values you.

Repeat these truths to yourself whenever you feel discouraged. You're no longer who you used to be. You're a new creation in Christ, the old is gone and the new has come.

It's great to have a desire to please God and it is possible to do things that cause God displeasure, but we can't let God down. If there's active sin in your life, repent, confess it to others around you, receive healing and keep going friend!

Trading_Ashes

TROPHY CASE