[__ Prayer __] No hope... Faith is slipping.....

[darktipper]

I don't think God is going to help me. Praying for something good for me failed time and time again.

pjt posted....
Dark, if you`re going to make a final pitch for this job, you`ve got to get some hope.

I used to have hope but after many failed attempts and praying over my work, it only lead to rejection letters and disappointment....... Years of it.

 

[pjt]

I don't think God is going to help me. Praying for something good for me failed time and time again.



I used to have hope but after many failed attempts and praying over my work, it only lead to rejection letters and disappointment....... Years of it.

Dark, I don`t mean to be harsh but you have just got to stop this mode of thinking. God calls us to be overcomers, to be persistant, and to know life has very big difficulties. I know it is tough to get rejection letters. I know it is tough to be unemployed. I know it is tough to be around unsupportive people, but dark, you can`t give up on God. You can deal with rejection letters with or without God. I think dealing with hardships with God is much better than without. Keep holding on! Don`t lose faith.

 

[reba]

Darktripper I have felt as are down and cant find the top...... take a read here in the

PJT in Japan thread


This lady is here trying to encourage you.

 

[Kellig]

Hey Darktripper!

First of all, I am going to ask you, what I ask most people who's faith is slipping... How is your prayer and devotional life???

Think back on the first time all this stuff started happening... are you thinking? If you could have seen the next few years and the trouble you were going to go through, would you ever have believed that you would still have what you have now. What I am trying to say, is that God has seen you through all of this. Look I know exactly how you feel, I really do. About 30 years ago it started occurring to me that my life had always sucked, nothing was ever going to change, why would it, I had been suffering so long what made me think it would ever be different. The more negative thoughts I allowed to penetrate my heart without capturing, the more came in. So I tried to kill myself twice (and I was a christian!), but chickened out at the last minute and called friends for help. Well the last I was very serious, I had been prescribed lithium, an anti depressant that is so potent that if I were to take an overdose it would most assuredly kill me, (great thing to give a suicidal person, don't you think!???) Anyway, I pulled into my garage, I had a bottle of vodka (another thing they had warned me about being deadly, was drinking while taking lithium). I left my car running as I shut the garage door. I used the bottle of vodka to wash down handful of pills... As I was passing out I wrote letters to my family... A few hours later... I woke up.

I had thrown up all over myself, and my car was still running??? I remember stumbling upstairs to my room, and I knew that God had a plan for my life.

The next week something happened (would take too long to explain) that changed my life, and I have been incredibly happy since then.

Faith can be defined as a positive attitude about what God can do. Faith is being positive that God will do what you need Him to do, to trust is to think positively, to think negatively or worry is to murmur.

READ: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Murmuring demonstrated a lack of trust in God and God sees lack of trust in Him as rebellion. In Exodus, the Bible talks about “mixed peoples,†who were with the Hebrews when they left Egypt,(Exodus 12:38 & Numbers 11:4) Some of the Egyptians probably saw what God had done for the Israelites. They witnessed how God took care of his people with the plagues and such, and wanted to jump on the bandwagon. When things hadn’t gone as they expected, they complained and their bad attitude spread, it even affected Moses. He was so depressed he asked God to kill him!

When Christians, including myself, let their mind, wander and don’t control their thoughts they become discontent. They forget the lonely, sad part of being unsaved. We let one little thought of mistrust take root, then we water it with a little more self-pity, then we fertilize it by telling everyone around us about it, then everyone around us starts to think God is letting him or her down, and together, we talk about how upset we are. It grows and grows, then before we know it we hate going to church, we hate our ministry and the people we work with, and we make sure and let everyone know it. The same is true for depression, when I was depressed, I would dwell on all my negatives, I hate to say it but for some perverted reason, it felt good to dwell on it, it sucked me in.

Now buck up, seriously, don't allow Satan to put those hopeless thoughts in your head. You are child of God, and you need to stop saying He has let you down, because He has not, or you would be begging on the streets homeless right now. I want you to look around you and make a list of all the blessings God has given you, and every time you start to think those thoughts replace them with positive scripture like...

Hebrews 13:5 (The Message)Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.â€

Memorize this scripture so you can throw it like a grenade at Satan and his ugly thoughts.

Love, Kelli

 

[darktipper]

Hey Darktripper!

First of all, I am going to ask you, what I ask most people who's faith is slipping... How is your prayer and devotional life???

Think back on the first time all this stuff started happening... are you thinking? If you could have seen the next few years and the trouble you were going to go through, would you ever have believed that you would still have what you have now. What I am trying to say, is that God has seen you through all of this. Look I know exactly how you feel, I really do. About 30 years ago it started occurring to me that my life had always sucked, nothing was ever going to change, why would it, I had been suffering so long what made me think it would ever be different. The more negative thoughts I allowed to penetrate my heart without capturing, the more came in. So I tried to kill myself twice (and I was a christian!), but chickened out at the last minute and called friends for help. Well the last I was very serious, I had been prescribed lithium, an anti depressant that is so potent that if I were to take an overdose it would most assuredly kill me, (great thing to give a suicidal person, don't you think!???) Anyway, I pulled into my garage, I had a bottle of vodka (another thing they had warned me about being deadly, was drinking while taking lithium). I left my car running as I shut the garage door. I used the bottle of vodka to wash down handful of pills... As I was passing out I wrote letters to my family... A few hours later... I woke up.

I had thrown up all over myself, and my car was still running??? I remember stumbling upstairs to my room, and I knew that God had a plan for my life.

The next week something happened (would take too long to explain) that changed my life, and I have been incredibly happy since then.

Faith can be defined as a positive attitude about what God can do. Faith is being positive that God will do what you need Him to do, to trust is to think positively, to think negatively or worry is to murmur.

READ: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Murmuring demonstrated a lack of trust in God and God sees lack of trust in Him as rebellion. In Exodus, the Bible talks about “mixed peoples,” who were with the Hebrews when they left Egypt,(Exodus 12:38 & Numbers 11:4) Some of the Egyptians probably saw what God had done for the Israelites. They witnessed how God took care of his people with the plagues and such, and wanted to jump on the bandwagon. When things hadn’t gone as they expected, they complained and their bad attitude spread, it even affected Moses. He was so depressed he asked God to kill him!

When Christians, including myself, let their mind, wander and don’t control their thoughts they become discontent. They forget the lonely, sad part of being unsaved. We let one little thought of mistrust take root, then we water it with a little more self-pity, then we fertilize it by telling everyone around us about it, then everyone around us starts to think God is letting him or her down, and together, we talk about how upset we are. It grows and grows, then before we know it we hate going to church, we hate our ministry and the people we work with, and we make sure and let everyone know it. The same is true for depression, when I was depressed, I would dwell on all my negatives, I hate to say it but for some perverted reason, it felt good to dwell on it, it sucked me in.

Now buck up, seriously, don't allow Satan to put those hopeless thoughts in your head. You are child of God, and you need to stop saying He has let you down, because He has not, or you would be begging on the streets homeless right now. I want you to look around you and make a list of all the blessings God has given you, and every time you start to think those thoughts replace them with positive scripture like...

Hebrews 13:5 (The Message)Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Memorize this scripture so you can throw it like a grenade at Satan and his ugly thoughts.

Love, Kelli

I don't know what his plan is for me. I wish he would tell me. Everything I try is failing so far. I even applied at McDonald's and no call back. Yes I can look back and see things that I can be thankful for but I am waaaaay behind compared to my peers and old friends. A lot of them have houses, cars, good paying job, etc... It is like I am on the treadmill of life. Its frustrating. I stopped praying for the meantime. Maybe what I want is not in God's will for me but there is nothing else for me to do. My prayer life is weaker now that it has been in years. Maybe the plan was for me to be a failure.

 

[jodetoad]

Depression is a mental state that becomes self-perpetuating. The chemistry in the brain gets messed up to a point where it doesn't rebound like normal.

You may be in a depression that needs treatment. If you are indeed depressed, there are medicines that work very well without being dangerous or addictive. If you are depressed, it is not likely you will show the energy at a job interview that employers want to see. Once you have a "why try" attitude, people can tell, and are less likely to choose a depressed person. So think about it, go see your doctor if you need to.

Somebody smart told me a long time ago "Happiness isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have". ... You have more than you realize. If you tried, you could list 100 things to be grateful for, right this minute.

 

[Fire_inside21]

I don't know what his plan is for me. I wish he would tell me. Everything I try is failing so far. I even applied at McDonald's and no call back. Yes I can look back and see things that I can be thankful for but I am waaaaay behind compared to my peers and old friends. A lot of them have houses, cars, good paying job, etc... It is like I am on the treadmill of life. Its frustrating. I stopped praying for the meantime. Maybe what I want is not in God's will for me but there is nothing else for me to do. My prayer life is weaker now that it has been in years. Maybe the plan was for me to be a failure.

Have you tried calling back the jobs you apply for? Sometimes just sending in your application is not enough, you need to let them know you are interested in the job. Don't let Satan bring you down, God is there to help you, what you want is definitely is in God's will for you, he wants to bless you, you just have to take the time to praise him even in the tough times. If you remain faithful to him, eventually he will reward you. Patience helps a lot.

 

[Empty-Handed-Way]

Hey;

I'm going to try to keep this short.

If you're really concerned about where this is leading and your ability to support yourself, ever considered teaching English overseas? There's lots of employment opportunities, and it's a great learning experience. (I know my boss will be looking for my replacement soon so I could even put you in touch with him if you liked - it's not alway's very organized though!).
Will pray for you!

 

[darktipper]

I feel that more failure is coming my way... I don't see any success in my future. It is not depression but it is more along the lines of frustration. No matter what I try I fail at it but I see my friends and other succeed in life. I feel like I a becoming a loser. I told God that I am a failure a week or so ago. I don't know why I was put on this Earth in the first place sometimes. Next proposal I send in I will not pray over it. I prayed over my last 4-5 and all got shot down....... Unanswered prayers just lead to me being let down even more.

 

[farouk]

We need to center our thoughts on God fulfilling His purposes in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Scriptures.

Rather than on our inner feelings.

 

[pjt]

Hey;

I'm going to try to keep this short.

If you're really concerned about where this is leading and your ability to support yourself, ever considered teaching English overseas? There's lots of employment opportunities, and it's a great learning experience. (I know my boss will be looking for my replacement soon so I could even put you in touch with him if you liked - it's not alway's very organized though!).
Will pray for you!

We are on the same train of thought. I also live in Asia and made the same suggestion as you, teach overseas! Dark you should contact Empty-Handed. Teaching English overseas is not like teaching in a classroom in America. You get to have a lot more fun and don`t have to really deal with discipline issues. With children you sing songs and play games. With older kids you also play games and introduce simple conversations. With adults, you can teach business English or just every day conversation/travel English, but usually the classes are relaxed and fun. It`s a good way to experience travel while getting paid. Perhaps a change of environment might get you out of this rut. But more than a job, you really need to get back to God. God is eternal and so are our souls. Jobs are temporary and so is this physical life so the most important thing is getting back to God. Just be honest with Him. Tell Him your frustrations, pain, anger, disappoints, fears, etc. Tell Him everything on your heart and then ask Him to help you and ask Him to help you understand. Then start thanking Him for the things He has done. Then leave everything in His hands. Surrender your all to Him. Just give it all to Him!

 

[darktipper]

Teaching is not for me. I used to read to mentally challenged kids back in school saying this is not for me. I do not have the patience. I am a more of a work behinds the scenes person. Maybe I have to become an entrepreneur but I know I would fail at it. I turned in apps to places and no call backs. Not even from McDonalds lol. I am in a valley in my life as I watch my peers flourish. I was a good kid in school and people would say that I would go far in life. Man they were wrong. I remember the the bad kids that I grew up with in school and thought they would end up in jail or something like that. It ends up a lot of them got married have houses and cars etc. I have seen it all on facebook. I scratch my head like what am I doing wrong. Is it my fault that no one wants to hire me? Is this a test from God? I have a friend who went to jail and came out getting jobs left and right. I do not have a criminal record but can't get an interview.....

I stopped praying on this matter. I guess god stopped listening to me I dunno. I read that verse in Jeremiah about god having plans for you life but I do not see it. But I did tell god that I am a failure if he heard me. Why is life so frustrating?.....

 

[pjt]

Teaching is not for me. I used to read to mentally challenged kids back in school saying this is not for me. I do not have the patience. I am a more of a work behinds the scenes person. Maybe I have to become an entrepreneur but I know I would fail at it. I turned in apps to places and no call backs. Not even from McDonalds lol. I am in a valley in my life as I watch my peers flourish. I was a good kid in school and people would say that I would go far in life. Man they were wrong. I remember the the bad kids that I grew up with in school and thought they would end up in jail or something like that. It ends up a lot of them got married have houses and cars etc. I have seen it all on facebook. I scratch my head like what am I doing wrong. Is it my fault that no one wants to hire me? Is this a test from God? I have a friend who went to jail and came out getting jobs left and right. I do not have a criminal record but can't get an interview.....

I stopped praying on this matter. I guess god stopped listening to me I dunno. I read that verse in Jeremiah about god having plans for you life but I do not see it. But I did tell god that I am a failure if he heard me. Why is life so frustrating?.....

Dark, life is not over for you yet. You can`t judge your outcome on the short term. You`ve got to live it all out before you can put it on the balance. So you just don`t know what your final outcome will be. And you don`t know what the final outcome of those who seem to be succeeding will be either, but I do know this, you can`t judge your life based on others. Therefore, I think it would be wise to stop comparing where you are at with where others are at. I think also even when you don`t see results you just can`t give up on God. You have got to keep praying and seeking Him.

As for teaching, hey it`s a job! If you don`t like it, the contracts are usually just 1 year so pocket the money and experience. Also once you get overseas and finish your contract, you are in a position to look for other types of jobs. If you have a degree in business, you could look for a business position. Head hunters are another popular job for foreigners overseas. Or you can establish yourself in the teaching industry and move into a management position rather than a teaching one. The embassies also have government and foreign service jobs that might be open to apply for. But the thing is get your foot in the door to open more opportunities. Besides you don`t know until you have tried it if you would like teaching overseas or not. As I said, you will find it is not like teaching. Many people with degrees in teaching often hate teaching overseas because they can`t adjust. They like the sterile, disciplined classroom setting they have been trained to teach in, but ESL overseas is nothing like what a teacher has been trained to do, so often those happiest with the job are those who don`t have a degree in teaching. They are easier to comply and adjust to the expectations of their company or school. The main thing though is you have to be cheerful and engaging. An ESL classroom is not a sit down, be quiet, raise your hand, and listen to the teacher setting. It is much more lively and noisy! It is basically about getting people interested in and engaging in the language. Therefore, I think you would find ESL is a good bit different than working with the mentally challenged.

Yes, life is frustrating but somehow we have to figure out how to work around that don`t we.

 

[Fire_inside21]

Teaching is not for me. I used to read to mentally challenged kids back in school saying this is not for me. I do not have the patience. I am a more of a work behinds the scenes person. Maybe I have to become an entrepreneur but I know I would fail at it. I turned in apps to places and no call backs. Not even from McDonalds lol. I am in a valley in my life as I watch my peers flourish. I was a good kid in school and people would say that I would go far in life. Man they were wrong. I remember the the bad kids that I grew up with in school and thought they would end up in jail or something like that. It ends up a lot of them got married have houses and cars etc. I have seen it all on facebook. I scratch my head like what am I doing wrong. Is it my fault that no one wants to hire me? Is this a test from God? I have a friend who went to jail and came out getting jobs left and right. I do not have a criminal record but can't get an interview.....

I stopped praying on this matter. I guess god stopped listening to me I dunno. I read that verse in Jeremiah about god having plans for you life but I do not see it. But I did tell god that I am a failure if he heard me. Why is life so frustrating?.....

One thing I should ask is, do you have any hate, jealousy, hurt, or any other feelings related to that in your life? If you do, you really need to resolve those situations. If you give up on praying, its like giving up on Jesus. You need to keep trying and have patience in the matter. God has the perfect plan for you, you just need to trust in him to put that plan in motion. Yes life is frustrating, but just remember there is someone coming to change that. Also remember you can go to him with everything wrong going on in your life.

 

[Empty-Handed-Way]

Hullo again!

"...and don`t have to really deal with discipline issues."
Haha! pjt, I wanna know what school you teach at! I love my students, but sometimes I could just (and have!) strangle(d) them! (we had a good laugh over it of course ;) )
Whether or not you decide to try is, of course, up to you. Regardless, I will continue to pray for you. Hope things look up soon!

 

[pjt]

Hullo again!

"...and don`t have to really deal with discipline issues."
Haha! pjt, I wanna know what school you teach at! I love my students, but sometimes I could just (and have!) strangle(d) them! (we had a good laugh over it of course ;) )
Whether or not you decide to try is, of course, up to you. Regardless, I will continue to pray for you. Hope things look up soon!

I live in Japan so I suppose each country is a little different. It does not mean the children are all perfect little angels, but in Japan usually the Japanese handle the discipline. For small children, the parents are usually in the class. In actual schools, English teachers serve as assistant teachers so the Japanese teachers usually handle any discipline problems and they tell the English teachers to leave discipline to them. For the business language schools there are Japanese staff on hand to help but usually there are no discipline problems because the classes are just once a week for 45min-1 hour and they are just energy packed with fun and games so the children don`t really have a chance or desire to get into trouble. For older children, the biggest problem in Japan teachers usually have is the students are too shy to talk. So they generally don`t cause trouble because they sit there very quietly and the teachers work hard to draw them out. Anyway, I`ve taught on and off through the years in Japan and have never had a discipline problem at all.

So there you go Dark, there`s an opportunity sitting there, and if there`s an opportunity on the other side of the world, then surely an opportunity in your neck of the woods will open in its time. Just keep holding on to God!

 

[darktipper]

Months later....
I am still a failure. I will not be successful in life. I'll tell god this when I pray at night.

 

[pjt]

Months later....
I am still a failure. I will not be successful in life. I'll tell god this when I pray at night.

Stop telling yourself this. If there is no work around where you live go where there is work. I think someone suggested the Dakotas. Go there. If it doesn`t work out you can return but give it a try.

As long as you hold on to God, you are a success. What you have materially in this life is not a measure of your success. You know this as a Christian. We don`t live by the world`s standards. Remember by God`s standards the first will be last and the last will be first! You may not be living like Bill Gates now but wait till you get to Heaven and see what a life and success you will be there but you must overcome this world first and not give up. Press on and hold on strong to God and His Word.

 

[darktipper]

I think christian sites are bad for my health. I think that I am about to get banned from another one. I know the proposal that I just sent in will get rejected. Life sucks. I told God that life sucks in a prayer a few days ago and left it at that..

 

[pjt]

I think christian sites are bad for my health. I think that I am about to get banned from another one. I know the proposal that I just sent in will get rejected. Life sucks. I told God that life sucks in a prayer a few days ago and left it at that..

Well, at least you are still praying. Yes, life is tough, but we are expected to be content and thankful in all things.

Dark, I just saw a news cast of our new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. These men have seen horrors like none of us can imagine and they are sent back again and again to these missions of torture and death. So when they leave the service they are WORSE off than the Vietnam vets. The Vietnam vets it took about 8-10 years after returning before we saw them falling homeless or in the mental institutions but these new vets are going homeless or insane within 1 year after service according to this news report. It is gut wrenching to me. When I see that and look at my life, I know I have a lot to be thankful for. And I think if you can compare your situation with theirs you will see you have a lot to be thankful for too.

Dark, things could be MUCH worse so look around and see what you have and thank God for it. I`m reading Matthew 24-25 now and it says we have to be ready and prepared for God. As I see it, to be prepared we can`t be wallowing in self pity. We have to pull ourselves up and put on the righteousness of God. Put on His armor and move forward. Dark, I know it`s tough, I was in your shoes of unemployment for 2 years but I had children and a mortgage on top of that so I know what you are going through so I`m not speaking flippantly. But I also know you have to pull yourself up to get out and you have to hold on to God. You can`t let go of Him no matter what.

Please take care and don`t give up.