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How can I strengthen my faith?

Posted: Dec 16, 2014

Without going into all the devastating facts of what Nuance is doing to its domestic workforce, suffice it to say that I am a victim of the latest pay downgrade and am losing faith that something better will come my way.

I am not looking to discuss ways to find another job (at this point). I am looking for ways to improve, increase and strengthen my faith in the Lord. I am a believer, but I am just struggling right now. Thank you.

P.S. If you are atheist or have something negative to say, PLEASE do not reply to my post. I cannot deal with much more negativity or cynicism right now. Thank you.

;

Strengthening faith - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you have a particular faith, talk with pastor, minister, et cetera. That is what they are there for. Most are very receptive to trying to help people make a connection between their lives and deriving strength from faith.

I find the services in many of the churches at this time of year to be very uplifting and peaceful also.

Most commonly, people say that you need to turn your worry over to God. I have a hard time doing that, but I have been exposed to this line of thought quite a bit.

P.S. I might be atheist, but I don't think you have to be. Good luck and may you find peace.

Reply - clyde

[ In Reply To ..]
If you take a look through the Bible, you'll see that God uses those people who are at the end of their rope, struggling, breaking, to reveal himself.

Faith is not about improving your situation. Faith is about believing that God has a reason for everything and though you aren't strong enough to get through it on your own, you know you can lean on God and He will see you through because that is what He has promised. He never promised a Christian would have an easy life. On the contrary, he promised the Christian would be persecuted and have a more difficult life than the non-Christian.

When you feel you can't make it, take your concerns to God. Pray often, be joyful in the little things, and you'll start to see God reveal himself to you and how he's caring for you. It may be something small like finding a dollar bill in the parking lot, or your favorite coffee you thought you couldn't afford is on sale, or maybe God's telling you it's time to move into a less expensive home and once you move God will reveal why this new home is such a blessing (and not just monetarily).

The only other thing I will say is to ask for help when you need it. Visit your church's office and ask about the food pantry, or help with utility bills. Let them know you're struggling. Ask them for prayer and to put you on a prayer chain. People can't help you if they don't know you need help. I know it's embarassing. But let people bless you.

A little bit about my story: About 6 months ago I was struggling financially and had a friend who did house cleaning. I ran out of work, so I called her. Turns out, she had 2 houses to clean that day and was unable to clean them so she asked me to do it. I made $150 that day and was so blessed by it. Four months ago, this same friend had back surgery and decided she could no longer clean these 2 houses I cleaned for her, so she passed my name along. Now, once a month I clean these 2 houses. My pastor found out that I was cleaning houses on the side and asked if I could clean his house as a birthday gift to his wife, so I did. The youth pastor found out I did a great job on the pastor's house, and I now clean the youth pastor's house once a month. Four months ago, also the church secretary called. Their normal wedding coordinator passed away and they heard that I had coordinated a couple weddings for a mutual friend, and would I be interested in doing this when they have weddings. It only pays $100 per wedding and it's a ton of work, but I agreed. I love the work. In doing these weddings, I noticed how dirty the church was and I couldn't possibly let it be that dirty with a wedding going on, so I brought my cleaning supplies and cleaned the rooms we would be using. I cleaned them for free. I didn't tell anyone. But someone noticed that the bathrooms smelled clean and the church secretary called me in and gave me gift cards for the local grocery store ($200 worth) and the pastor asked me if I could train their custodian how to properly clean. I told him I would be happy to. The custodian was against it though, so I was hired to do a "deep clean" on the church quarterly.

I work my bottom off now, but I'm making it. Keep on asking for help, asking for prayer, praying for your situation, and being joyful when prayers are answered. "Faith" is an action word, brought about by conditions we wouldn't wish on ourselves. Many blessings to you and please know that you are in my prayers.

Thank you to both of you. - Nuance Victim

[ In Reply To ..]
You both gave very good advice. Thank you, and may God bless you and yours.

I agree with the above post by Clyde.... - ....the only thing....

[ In Reply To ..]
.....I would add is that my faith is really being tried right now what with not having enough work to make a living without digging into my retirement account (I'm WAY too young to be doing that) and an ill family member. I will say give you some advice my pastor's wife gave me that helped her when SHE was going through a difficult time: Pray every time those anxious thoughts come into your mind. That means you might have to pray hour by hour, or even sometimes minute by minute! Every time an anxious thought or doubt comes into your mind, stop and say a little prayer. It really does help!

What I Do - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
Everyone is different, so I'm not knocking anyone else's viewpoint here, but I find that not believing the Lord has everything to do with everything in my life helps me.

He did not make the MTSOs mess us over, the MTSOs chose to do that all on their own. He did not give me a raw deal; a raw deal was dealt upon me.

I find that if I turn everything over to Him and things don't work out, I just end up angry at Him. I am much more peaceful knowing that I have control over my life--nobody else, nothing else, not even the Lord, controls my life. I find no solace in setting myself up to be angry with Him when things go wrong.

We are not victims. We have strong minds and wills and can use them. For me, God is an adjunct to my life, not the controller of everything that happens in my life. I also don't blame myself when things go wrong. I just move on.

Growing in faith - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree with many of the other suggestions, including prayer, attending church, giving thanks to God.

The Bible actually speaks directly to how we get faith.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17

Immerse yourself in the Bible, which is the written Word of God. Meditate on it. Ask God for faith, wisdom, and peace. Exercise your faith, i.e., doing things you know God wants you to do even though they are difficult. "Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you." And as the Bible also says, "pray without ceasing."

I am praying for you to be blessed with great faith, peace, joy, wisdom, and for God to provide you with all you need and then some.

To person at Nuance - Gertrude

[ In Reply To ..]
My have my sympathy. I was cheated on lines many years ago by a huge MT company. (The MTs sued, but we the case was dismissed.) Anyway, I am a Christian, and what helped me was to reserve a 30-minute period each evening to read scriptures about faith from the Bible. I had a really hard time financially, but was finally able to land another job and things got better. I put Jesus in charge of the whole process and refused to ever, ever, EVER refer to myself as a "victim." My personal view is if we believe in the Lord, we do not need to accept victimhood. For a while, I thought I things would never get better, but they did. I will pray for you, that things can work out for you, too. God bless you.

Faith - Rusty

[ In Reply To ..]
I just said a little prayer for you right now. My advice is pray and then give it to God. I know that is easier said than done, but it works. I have adopted the principles of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind (because I am also human). I can't think of that right now, I will think of it tomorrow." (not an exact quote) I pray thanking Him for all the wonderful things in my life, and then I ask for His will to be done concerning the issue I am having. Then when I start to worry about it (and I do), I just say I give it back to God, and I will think of it tomorrow. Do that enough and you will stop worrying/thinking about it. I have heard some say "God spoke to me and..." I am not sure that is possible, but I know He speaks to me in my heart. I will wake up one morning and just know the answer to my prayers. If that is God speaking to me, then YAY ME. I just know that my faith is strong because of the gifts I have received from him (my health, my children, my church, my heat during cold winters, food in my stomach, a job to help pay bills, the beauty of his birds he sends for me to see on dark, cold winter days, etc. etc. etc.) And I thank Him for them. I always thank Him for these things. And always remember, some of God's greatest gifts are not the answers we want, but the answers He knows we need. It may not be the answer you want, but down the road He has something else in store for you. ALL prayers are answered. Go to a Bible-based church, take Bible study classes in the evenings. I find some of my most greatest epiphanies are during those studies from other Christians. Stay strong in your faith in every way and it will not leave you. He will not leave you. Happy reading and know that my prayers just traveled over the airways and reached you. Keep the faith!

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