Too good to be true

cmscms · #1 Sep 12, '12, 9:50 am

Hi Everyone,

How do people feel about that statement? I am really having trouble believing anything good can happen to me right now. Last February, I lost my job and was given a package. Withing 2 months I was working again and was overjoyed because at the time, the package became a nice wind fall in my bank account. I could not believe my luck.

Well...... I lasted 2 months at that job and they let me go. I don't want to go into detail about my employment woes because I have rehased those enough.

However, I have been reading a lot of Christian books. I even tried reading the book 'Man of Hope Padre Pio.'. I had to put that book down because honestly, the way poor Padrio Pio was treated made my blood boil and I could not sleep.

Nonetheless, the more I investigate the life of the Saints, the more I conclude life is suppose to be hard and a drudgery and honestly, it is depressing. I also seem to be slowly starting to think I am meant to suffer and just spend the rest of my life surviving trying to get through everyday and if I offer it up to God, hopefully I will get to heaven.

For example, I was contacted for an interview for a job I applied to. During the phone interview, I found out it was only a contract. It is over an hour commute each way. I was planning to relocate but because it is only a contract for 6 months, I can not move to an area where the cost of housing is double of where I currently live. Then they would not give me specifics of the actual work. They kept saying they were not sure how they wanted to grow the department and that they wanted someone to commit to at least 2 years of contract while they figure it out. Also, they said the other guy's contract will be up soon. Since someone in the department with awesome skills was leaving, they no longer knew what to do with this guy since he did not have the sam skill set

. How unfair, I can't help but think if they hired a guy because of his skills, he should be kept on if he does what he was hired to do if he does it well. All these red flags. So I politely thanked them for the opportunity but did not think I would be a fit.

So..... now I am feeling guilty. I can't help but think that God intended me to take the job he sent and offer up my sufferings to Him to get to heaven. But honestly, in my heart I just felt I would go crazy at that job. I feel guilty, like I am being a cry baby.

I also applied for another job in my town that sounds like it would be my dream job. Is is wrong for me to entertain the notion that perhaps God just may want me to have a job I could be happy in?

CM

domNoah · #2 Sep 12, '12, 11:01 am

Behold everything dependeth upon the Cross, and everything lieth in dying; and there is none other way unto life and to true inward peace, except the way of the Holy Cross and of daily mortification. Go where thou wilt, seek whatsoever thou wilt, and thou shalt find no higher way above nor safer way below, than the way of the Holy Cross. Dispose and order all things according to thine own will and judgment, and thou shalt ever find something to suffer either willingly or unwillingly, and thus thou shalt ever find thy cross. For thou shalt either feel pain of body, or tribulation of spirit within thy soul.

4. Sometimes thou wilt be forsaken of God, sometimes thou wilt be tried by thy neighbour, and which is more, thou wilt often be wearisome to thyself. And still thou canst not be delivered nor eased by any remedy or consolation, but must bear so long as God will. For God will have thee learn to suffer tribulation without consolation, and to submit thyself fully to it, and by tribulation be made more humble. No man understandeth the Passion of Christ in his heart so well as he who hath had somewhat of the like suffering himself. The Cross therefore is always ready, and every where waiteth for thee. Thou canst not flee from it whithersoever thou hurriest, for whithersoever thou comest, thou bearest thyself with thee, and shalt ever find thyself. Turn thee above, turn thee below, turn thee without, turn thee within, and in them all thou shalt find the Cross; and needful is it that thou everywhere possess patience if thou wilt have internal peace and gain the everlasting crown. The Imitation of Christ, Second Book, Chapter XII The Royal Way of the Cross

domNoah · #3 Sep 12, '12, 11:14 am

If your decision was based upon reflection in prayer, counsel of others or on the example of other wise men, and with right purpose, than it was a virtuous and prudent and right decision to make to not to take the other job.

However, if not then it was not done prudently than it gives you room to grow next time. God does not always give us what we want because what we want will not help the salvation of our souls. The only way to know if God wants you to have that job is if it will help in your salvation of your soul and the Glory of God. To know that will require some prayer and reflection.

InLight247 · #4 Sep 12, '12, 12:09 pm

Dear CM,

Please do not feel guilty about your decision of turning down the contract opportunity. And please do not think God wants us to suffer through life. Jesus came so we may have abundant life. That includes every part of our life, physical, spiritual, social, emotional, and financial. Yes, God sometimes allows suffering for us to grow in virtue and trust, however, suffering itself is never God's intention for his children. If you were a parent, will you purposely let your children suffer? Of course not.

God sends job opportunities to us but not every one of them are good for us. We may use different interview to better prepare our interview skills and learn to discern. I remember years ago after I lost my job I was interviewed with a specific position with a university. Although the interview went well and I got a feeling I would receive the offer, on my way home I knew that particular environment was not for me. I prayed and decided not to take the offer before another interview even appeared on the horizon. The university did call me and gave me the offer after a long process. By then I already launched another job. We need to trust our intuition and gut feeling. If we know the environment will makes us miserable, it is better not to jump in. Trust in God and keep on praying. With God, nothing will be too good to be true.

May God bless you!

domNoah · #5 Sep 12, '12, 1:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLight247

Dear CM,

Please do not feel guilty about your decision of turning down the contract opportunity. And please do not think God wants us to suffer through life. Jesus came so we may have abundant life. That includes every part of our life, physical, spiritual, social, emotional, and financial. Yes, God sometimes allows suffering for us to grow in virtue and trust, however, suffering itself is never God's intention for his children. If you were a parent, will you purposely let your children suffer? Of course not.

God sends job opportunities to us but not every one of them are good for us. We may use different interview to better prepare our interview skills and learn to discern. I remember years ago after I lost my job I was interviewed with a specific position with a university. Although the interview went well and I got a feeling I would receive the offer, on my way home I knew that particular environment was not for me. I prayed and decided not to take the offer before another interview even appeared on the horizon. The university did call me and gave me the offer after a long process. By then I already launched another job. We need to trust our intuition and gut feeling. If we know the environment will makes us miserable, it is better not to jump in. Trust in God and keep on praying. With God, nothing will be too good to be true.

May God bless you!

God does want us to suffer sometimes, in imitation of His Son whos is our God and lord.
"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into his glory" Luke 24:26

AlanFromWichita · #6 Sep 12, '12, 8:50 pm

Rom 5:3-5

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.

InLight247 · #7 Sep 13, '12, 4:54 am

God as our loving Father does not send misfortunes to his children. Bad things come from the evil one or simply are the natural consequence of people's limitation and fallen nature. God did not create sin and death. It was through the sin of Adam and Eve out of their free will that evil and death entered the world. But God did not want that to happen.

Suffering is allowed by God's permissive will and suffering could benefit us if we cooperate with God's grace. There is a major difference between God wants us to suffer and God allows us to suffer. He does not wants us to suffer even when he allows us to suffer.

fred conty · #8 Sep 13, '12, 8:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmscms

Hi Everyone,

How do people feel about that statement? I am really having trouble believing anything good can happen to me right now. Last February, I lost my job and was given a package. Withing 2 months I was working again and was overjoyed because at the time, the package became a nice wind fall in my bank account. I could not believe my luck.

Well...... I lasted 2 months at that job and they let me go. I don't want to go into detail about my employment woes because I have rehased those enough.

However, I have been reading a lot of Christian books. I even tried reading the book 'Man of Hope Padre Pio.'. I had to put that book down because honestly, the way poor Padrio Pio was treated made my blood boil and I could not sleep.

Nonetheless, the more I investigate the life of the Saints, the more I conclude life is suppose to be hard and a drudgery and honestly, it is depressing. I also seem to be slowly starting to think I am meant to suffer and just spend the rest of my life surviving trying to get through everyday and if I offer it up to God, hopefully I will get to heaven.

For example, I was contacted for an interview for a job I applied to. During the phone interview, I found out it was only a contract. It is over an hour commute each way. I was planning to relocate but because it is only a contract for 6 months, I can not move to an area where the cost of housing is double of where I currently live. Then they would not give me specifics of the actual work. They kept saying they were not sure how they wanted to grow the department and that they wanted someone to commit to at least 2 years of contract while they figure it out. Also, they said the other guy's contract will be up soon. Since someone in the department with awesome skills was leaving, they no longer knew what to do with this guy since he did not have the sam skill set

. How unfair, I can't help but think if they hired a guy because of his skills, he should be kept on if he does what he was hired to do if he does it well. All these red flags. So I politely thanked them for the opportunity but did not think I would be a fit.

So..... now I am feeling guilty. I can't help but think that God intended me to take the job he sent and offer up my sufferings to Him to get to heaven. But honestly, in my heart I just felt I would go crazy at that job. I feel guilty, like I am being a cry baby.

I also applied for another job in my town that sounds like it would be my dream job. Is is wrong for me to entertain the notion that perhaps God just may want me to have a job I could be happy in?

CM

I think you did will refusing the first job, it sounds like they do not care for their imployees.
If they did it to him, you can only expect the worse.
From my experience you are dead on.

Your are not wrong to expect to obtain a decent job. Especially one that is compatible with your faith. That's a good thing.

Just a thought.

domNoah · #9 Sep 13, '12, 9:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLight247

God as our loving Father does not send misfortunes to his children. Bad things come from the evil one or simply are the natural consequence of people's limitation and fallen nature. God did not create sin and death. It was through the sin of Adam and Eve out of their free will that evil and death entered the world. But God did not want that to happen.

Suffering is allowed by God's permissive will and suffering could benefit us if we cooperate with God's grace. There is a major difference between God wants us to suffer and God allows us to suffer. He does not wants us to suffer even when he allows us to suffer.

You are wrong

I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things. Isaiah 45:7

One example of the Lords wrath
So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 1 Chronicles 21:14

cmscms · #10 Sep 13, '12, 9:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by domNoah

You are wrong

I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things. Isaiah 45:7

One example of the Lords wrath
So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 1 Chronicles 21:14

With all due respect, aren't these quotes from the old testatment? Did Jesus not come to save us?

domNoah · #11 Sep 13, '12, 11:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmscms

With all due respect, aren't these quotes from the old testatment? Did Jesus not come to save us?

I and the Father are one. John 10: 30

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Hebrews 12:6

God did come to save us, and that is why sometimes he punishes us here on earth with suffering, he doesn't just permit it but he actively wills it.

InLight247 · #12 Sep 14, '12, 6:01 pm

God is all good, all pure, all holy, all loving. God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.(1 John 1:5) God can never create any moral evil. God always makes good out of bad. Many sufferings are disguised blessings. God never wants us to suffer for suffering's sake.

http://carm.org/does-god-create-evil
http://www.apologeticspress.org/APCo...1&article=1157

domNoah · #13 Sep 14, '12, 7:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLight247

God is all good, all pure, all holy, all loving. God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.(1 John 1:5) God can never create any moral evil. God always makes good out of bad. Many sufferings are disguised blessings. God never wants us to suffer for suffering's sake.

http://carm.org/does-god-create-evil
http://www.apologeticspress.org/APCo...1&article=1157

Interesting you are referencing a protestant website, CARM. Home to anti catholic Matt Slick, I wouldn't go there in the future.

I did not say God created moral evils, I did not say that God does not make good out of bad, or that sufferings are not disguised blessings. God does not want us to suffer for sufferings sake, he wants us to suffer for His sake.

You said very incorrectly earlier "please do not think God wants us to suffer through life." In direct contradiction of "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church: " 1 Colossians 1:24.

InLight247 · #14 Sep 15, '12, 4:56 am

What you quoted 1 Colossians 1:24 is Paul talking about himself rejoicing in his own suffering for people.

It is a fact there are pains and sufferings in life but God does not want our lives full of sufferings. "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." (3John 1:2)

If suffering comes, it is not for God's sake, not for sufferings' sake, but for our benefit of getting into heaven. There are many things we don't understand, but I believe God is a good God and never will evil.