Bible Question: i have been a Christ follower for many years. I hunger and thirst for His word and love spending time with him. Having said all of that, I seem to have lost my joy. I find that the more I study and learn, the more saddened I become for those who are lost. I even start to doubt my own salvation for in 1 peter 1:8-9 it speaks of loving Him and being filled with inexpressable and glorious joy9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. where is my joy? I have felt the holy spirit working in my life and I am so richly blessed beyond measure, but if I am truly converted and saved would I not exerience more than fleeting moments of joy? |
Bible Answer: Dear Linda: I see this is still a burden to you as you asked this a couple months ago. Don't be discouraged my dear, it's a pretty natural progression in the life of a Christian. As we learn and grow we often will wax sorrowful for the lost. This is good because; what kind of person would not be sad for them? It shows you have a real heart my friend, so don't put yourself down for it, and don't listen to those who say we need to be happy ALL the time. It's not natural to be happy all the time, it's just not realistic. The good news is we can have peace in our sorrow, and it should be faith building because, God is the one who puts that burden on our hearts to care and pray for the lost. The unsaved just don't do that! So chin up, keep caring and praying for the lost, it's shows your love for them and your love for God. Your doing fine. How often do we contemplate their plight and destiny without anguish of heart? Should we not be ashamed, that we could contemplate these souls, lost to eternity, that it does not rend our very hearts from our chests! Oh Lord! Give us that sacrificial love, which you expressed, and exposed, to our hearts, at the Cross of Christ! For your sake, and for your glory, dear Lord, give us Agape, and a deeper loving and caring heart, that we should quake with broken hearts, at the very thought of our enemy, on their ever downward spiral to perdition! – Keep caring and keep praying God bless John |