Social Anxiety Forum - Spirituality

"You lack faith!"

rachelynn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:28:27 GMT

I just read this on another forum. I thought it was great and wanted to share it here. The person who said this once had OCD.

I think the thing that helped me the most was when a friend who also struggled with anxiety told me, "Don't ever let anyone tell you that your problems are from lack of faith. What they don't realize is that it takes more faith for you and me to get through one hour than most people need in a week."

"You Don't Want To Sell Jesus to People?"

helpless — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:28:05 GMT

Been seeing a lay minister in my church for counselling about my problems, and told him one thing I really disliked about society in general is that when you're in a group, you're expected to do your part, by selling things to people.

My father was in a group, and I asked him if he was going to participate in its fund raising project, to which he adamantly replied: "I am not going to sell anybody...ANYTHING!!!"

Told my lay minister I was just like my father.

To which re replied, with a gentle look on his face, & in a gentle voice:

"You don't want to sell Jesus to people?"

I was totally taken aback by that!

Any of you other board members have any thots on my lay minister's question?

I find this minister incredibly moving: Dr. Charles Stanley

Wael — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:48:03 GMT

Hello!

I have found this site: http://www.intouch.org

You can watch speaks by Dr. Charles Stanley there. It is very moving. Even though I am not Christian I get tears in my eyes hearing this man.

All the best!

Should I accept Jesus into my life...again?

FaintOfHearts — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:31:25 GMT

So im in college and went to see an advisor and what do you know, shes religious to the extreme but a very happy individual. We talked more about what God can do for me than what she could. Then she started asking me questions like the ones my therapist does and I couldnt figure out why. Maybe cause I looked PO'd coming in but I always look that way. Anyway she invited me to go to service tonight.

Now I use to be very religious in my youth but as I grew up and realized that I was the only one handling my problems, I stopped believing as much. I told her this but she didnt catch my meaning or ignored it. I just noticed that she was very happy and cheerful which is what I want to be but shes just a little too focused on God and if thats what it takes to be happy then I'll just stay the way I am.

So should I give it a try? And has God helped you at all with your problems?

A story of happiness and sadness

Little Willow — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:36:16 GMT

This is a story from my religion (Judaism), but I think a lot of you will find comfort in it. This is in my own words, so it may differ a bit from what others may have heard, but oral tradition is very symbolic to my family.

Solomon was the king of the land of Israel. One day, he sent one of his advisors to find him a magic ring. The ring should have the power to make a sad man happy and a happy man sad. King Solomon knew that no such ring existed, but wanted to find what the wise advisor would do. After much searching, the advisor came across an old man in the market. The old man showed the advisor a ring with three letters engraved in it. The letters were in Hebrew: Gimmel ("g" sound), Zayin ("z" sound) and Yud ("y" sound). The letter symbolized the words "Gam Zeh Ya'avor". The wise man knew that he had found the ring King Solomon had been looking for.
When the advisor came back to Jerusalem, he showed the ring to King Solomon. Solomon looked at the ring and knew he had found the ring.
Solomon had been searching for a cure for depression, and he had now found it.
Gam Zeh Ya�avor translates into the words �This too shall pass�. Whenever a sad man would look at the ring, he knew that the sadness would pass and he would find happiness again. When a happy man looked at the ring, he would realize that even the happiest moment must pass eventually, but that it will come again.

Why won't Jesus give me peace from fears?

filledwithfear1 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:08:12 GMT

The Bible said more than once we should have joy and not be afraid. Why isn't Jesus helpping me out with i?

Has meditation helped you to overcome anxiety?

fma — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:44:32 GMT

Hi,

I'm about of join a mediation course, because some people told me that could be good for me, helping me to learn how mantain my mind clear, ou of negative thoughts. My psychologist, that seems to be quite lost to me, told me that could be interesting as well.

Did you try it and works? :b

Kind regards.

Taking my own sabatical

jenkydora — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:54:56 GMT

I am taking my own sabatical and that would be from the supposed relationship, I thought I had with my 'God'

I just need a breather. I need to not be my worst critic when it comes to the deafening silence between God and me and to realise it may not have anything to do, with something I am not doing. Not praying with the holiest reverence, etc or whatever.
I screamed with sheer earnest the other night and I prayed to Him on and off the some like 5 hours and He gave me no reprieve, not even the tiniest thread of help.
I have to take a step back from Him because from the rejection I feel, I feel is my blame and I have enough misplaced blame in my life.
Trying in vain to have that warm relationship with my spiritual father I hear so many have......darn.. I have had enough of rejection.

I read and know of scripture that carries on about...Come to me with your burdens and know you can do none of it without me..lump it all on me and I will take care of all your burdens etc..

I am up to me ears with all this.. I need a sabbatical and to stop being so hard on myself. I am sick of praying and trying to have a relationship with a stone wall.
Its like a game of cat and mouse.. I'm the talking and praying mouse pleading with the cat who is mute and ready to pounce on me with damnation and judgement.

Anxiety is going to rob me of my years

You ~ Christian spoken word poetry by Amena Brown

TruSeeker777 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:56:40 GMT

" width="425" height="344">" />" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/

Lump ~ Christian Inspiration video

TruSeeker777 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:51:02 GMT

" width="425" height="344">" />" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/

http://nooma.com/

Should I?

Zombie Sheep — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:56:30 GMT

Hiya! :D

Your thoughts, if you don't mind... Sorry about another long, boring post, but I don't know anybody religious I can talk to so I have nowhere else to ask this question.

I don't mean this to trigger arguments about religion, this is merely an honest, well-intentioned question - really. I'm trying to stick to the 'no debate' thing, but I would appreciate opinions from people who already are religious.

Long story short, I would like to ask if I should convert to Christianity (most likely Anglican, Protestant Christianity given my location and beliefs). I have given this thought all my life, but now I feel that this may be the time to actually seriously consider it.

I was raised in a family of Richard Dawkins loving, militant atheists. They would strongly object to me becoming a Christian and I'd never hear the end of it. However, I am an agnostic and (secretly) believe in God. Despite this I have only set foot in a church on rare occasions - weddings, funerals etc.

However, I despair at the life I am leading now - religion seems one of the few ways, if not the only way, I could discipline myself to become a respectable person. After all, if I believe in God I should probably attend religious worship, just I've never felt like I would be accepted. Sometimes when I've sat in a church for wedding services etc. I feel kind of dirty and ashamed. Like every little grubby secret of mine is suddenly not so secret anymore... Somebody knows... :um I want to change this if possible.

Has it helped you? Not just in terms of social phobia, mental health etc, but in a broader context?

Despite the discomfort I sometimes experience actually sitting in a church or religious building, I am always in awe at the sense of peace I experience around places of worship, such as in churchyards, or the ruined monastery at Lindisfarne Island on my last holiday. It really is unique. Stuff like this is - as odd as it may sound - what makes me an agnostic as opposed to an atheist.

My concerns are largely based around what I would be expected to give up. Sure, I could live without cursing and black metal bands and, erm, well, other stuff... :blush But having to wait until marriage? I mean, really? I'll never marry, you see. You see what I'm getting at? Sorry to bring this up here, but I feel it's a legitimate concern for a socially phobic person.

Also, I have some concerns about Christian concepts of the afterlife. I am never gonna be able to 'convert' my friends and family, so do I just have to accept that they are going to Hell? Do I accept that it is right to punish somebody infinitely for what are, by definition (we are mortal), finite transgressions? No disrespect intended, but it is something that worries me.

Also - how do you join a church? Do you just turn up? I don't want to cause offence to anybody by being ignorant of what is expected, should I decide to attend.

Any thoughts more than welcome!

Thankyou for reading all that, if you did. :)