Expert: John Zalewski - 3/25/2011

Question
Hello, I feel like I have lost my faith in God. I feel I have become disinterested in my Christian life. I became a Christian just under 2 years ago when I was 17 after a very difficult upbringing and being a troublesome teenager. At the time I feel I may have prayed to God just incase he was real but was never completely sure. I also feel it was because of the person that approached me about it. She had taken an interest in me and was very caring towards me was possibly the first time anyone had genuinely cared about me. I feel there may be doubt as to whether I'm a Christian or not. However, after praying I had stopped doing all the troublesome things I had been doing since I was 13. I also started going to church with the person that had approached me about becoming a Christian. I met some very good friends in that church and later became baptised. I would pray to God and read my bible and attend bible study. but the more i think about it the more i feel like when i was praying i was talking to fresh air. I have also undertaken various misson work. However, when i moved for university i feel i became disinterested in God. I tried to attend church and a christian union but it just didnt feel the same. I still fully believe he is there and Jesus died on the cross but i dont feel the need to worship him, read my bible or talk to him, well i try to but i just cant pray any more. But now i'm just not sure about the whole thing.

Answer
Hello, Becca.

I'm sorry for taking so long to respond.

The one thing I can tell you is that God is the only One you should turn to. He is always available and fully capable of fixing our problems, if that is His will. We can repeatedly go to God for help.

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

If you don't feel like praying, at least read your Bible. This is God's will for our lives. We are to understand that the Bible is a Book of God's Law, and we are to be obedient to it.

You say that you wonder if you're a Christian or not. The Bible teaches that if we are truly saved, we will have a strong desire to do God's will. We will want to obey His commandments. We will want to turn from sin.

John 14:21: He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

I John 2:3: And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

There will be a new change in a person's life if God has saved them. This change is not their doing; only God can make a person born again. But if a person is born again, he or she will have a genuine love for the Bible, and a genuine desire to turn from sin and obey God. He won't be perfect, but he will be much more obedient than prior to the time he became born again.

That is why the Bible instructs us to examine ourselves (II Corinthians 13:5). We are to look at our hearts and question how important the Bible is to us, and how much we want to turn from sin.

So, this is what you should do. Ask God to strengthen you in your life, and if you think you might not be saved, you can pray to God for His mercy and compassion, so that you too can be His child.

I hope this helps. Any further questions, please ask.

May God bless you,
John

Psalm 107:9: For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.