When I was a teen I struggled with doubts over my salvation. Actually, struggled would be an understatement. For over a year I was plagued by this question, wrestled with it daily, and could find no peace.
I had prayed and asked Christ to save me in sixth grade, but in high school I was still tortured by doubts. I wasn’t sure If I had meant it, wasn’t sure if I had enough faith, wasn’t sure if I could be sure.
Pastors would ask if I “knew that I knew that I knew I was saved” and I would just think, no, I don’t. I must’ve prayed just-in-case prayers (where you ask God to save you again just in case you hadn’t really meant it the last time) about a hundred times – and I sincerely meant them each time. But they didn’t help.
The questions kept raging. What if I didn’t have enough faith? If I have doubts doesn’t that mean I don’t have enough faith? Will I ever be sure?
I asked counsel and listened to sermons and lessons, but it just wasn’t helping. Our Bible lessons on how to know you’re saved left me with more questions than I started with. The talk with my mom encouraged me for one day but left me questioning again the next.
I was really struggling, and I eventually started to sense that these doubts were an attack by Satan, meant to cripple my faith. And his attack was working because, although I was beginning to believe these doubts were unfounded, I still couldn’t banish them.
Until I turned to the Bible.
I started writing down verses that discussed salvation – verses such as Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” and Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” I created an ever-growing list of verses such as these and started to claim God’s promises.
Whenever doubts would assail me, I would get out my list and start reading. I would read Romans 10:13 and remind myself that I had called up the name of the Lord so I was saved. I would read Acts 16:31 and remind myself that God does not lie, so if I believe on Jesus I am saved. As I read and claimed these verses, I would find peace.
The doubts did not go away overnight, but they started to become fewer and farther between. Soon I was going days without doubts then weeks and finally months. I can’t pinpoint a specific time when I stopped doubting, but I praise the Lord that I haven’t doubted His saving work in my life for years.
When I was struggling with my doubts I felt so alone, but since then I have realized that many Christians experience similar challenges. We need to help each other work through our doubts and find peace in God’s promises. So if you’re counseling someone struggling with doubts over their salvation (or if you need help in this area yourself), here’s the key:
Ask this question: “Have you repented, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and asked Him to save you?” Don’t make it more complicated than it is. The question is simple.
- If the answer is no or I’m not sure, then don’t mess around. You need to settle the question today. Romans 10:9 makes it simple: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Don’t overcomplicate salvation. You don’t need incredible faith or to know the answers to every doctrinal question. You simply need to acknowledge that you are a sinner and deserve death but that Christ died to take your penalty and that He rose again and offers salvation as a gift. Repent of your sins, choose to follow Christ, confess that Jesus is Lord and that you need His salvation, and He will save you.
- If the answer is yes, then claim God’s promises. God has promised that if you believe on His Son, He will save you. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Your salvation is not determined by your good works or even by the amount of your faith. These verses say that even your faith is not of yourself. God is the one who saves you, so if you have repented and trusted in Him and then doubt your salvation, you are actually doubting whether or not God keeps His promises. We know God is faithful, so claim His promises. Create a list of Scripture and cling to them every time you are uncertain
Claiming God’s Promises
Here are some of the verses that helped me. Add to these as you come across other Scriptures that reaffirm God’s promise of salvation.
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
- Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
- Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
- Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
- I John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
- I John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
What About Evidence of Salvation?
One final thought: Scripture is clear that if we are Christ’s there will be evidence of God’s work in our lives. However, when examining this aspect, we need to 1) involve others and 2) take a big-picture view. This means, rather than looking at the sin you committed yesterday and saying “I don’t know if I’m saved,” look at a broader span of time and ask yourself, “Am I closer to Christ now than I was 5 years ago? Is there more evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in my life now than there was 5 years ago?”
Better yet, don’t just ask yourself these questions. Ask a trusted friend or spiritual mentor. Sometimes we struggle to see the growth in our own lives but others close to us see it more clearly and would be able to encourage us – or, if need be, point out the lack of growth.
If there is a complete lack of growth, then it comes back to the same question – Have you repented and believed on Jesus, trusting Him alone? If not, choose to do so today.
If you struggled with doubts over your salvation, share your testimony in the comments. Those who are still struggling can use all the encouragement we can offer.
Photo by geww
I also struggled with this for many years. I think kids who are raised in Christian homes fight this. We never have the dynamic testimony were we turn from a life of horrible sin. It is Satan’s way keeping us from the joy of our salvation.
That is so true! I was raised in church all of my life, and both of my parents taught Sunday school and my dad was a preacher. It’s very difficult when you hear people speak about the Lord delivering them from drugs, addictions, etc. and you’re like, “Well I got saved in Bible School.” Glad someone else understands!
Thank you for telling us about this! This has been me, too! I was raised going to church every time the door was open. I went to a Baptist church and was very sheltered. I memorized scriptures and “knew” the Word. I struggled, like you did, after I asked the Lord into my heart. I prayed the “just in case” prayer many, many times! It wasn’t until I realized that I was saved….but that I didn’t have a “real” relationship with Jesus that things finally began to make sense to me. Blessings!!
I’m only 15 years old and have been struggling for 2 or three years with my faith. I’ve been raised in a baptist Christian home and I went to awana and memorized all the verses and know all the info. But I still struggle with the doubt and keep praying the just in case prayer. Its so encouraging to see that I am not the only one.
I’m 14 years old and I was saved at 10 years old and I hadn’t started doubting my salvation since I was saved up until about a month ago . When I finally relized that I had been truly been saved I still couldn’t get the doubts out of my head . This really helped me !!!
I’m a teen and I feel the same please pray for me to stop doubting. God bless!
Same here but as I read these comments I see more and more the works of the Devil. I noticed is everyone raised in a Christian home, for example growing up it was always said its the Pastor children that was the worst. It seems to me satan attack them harder. In the Bible Jesus told Peter satan has desired to shift you like wheat but I pray that you dont lose faith! He didnt say I told him no dont do it. He saying dont lose faith in Me. satan will get in our heads to keep us condemned he is the accuser. I telling you this currently in the same struggle as you. But I will never give up. I am afraid but i will never give up
I am growing up in a Christian home, and we attend church regularly. A couple years ago this dread set into me about getting saved. I always thought “if I died right now, I would go to hell.” This worried me and nagged at my heart. I prayed and prayed begging and asking God for forgiveness and to save my soul. The feeling went away but recently it has came back. I worry that I’m not saved and I keep praying asking for salvation. I’ve been listening to messages on salvation and asking God to deal with my heart. Its feels likes he isn’t there, but I know he is. I’ve prayed to be forgiven of my sins, and I DO believe the bible. I don’t understand it completly, but i have faith in it. I ask him to come into my heart. I dont know how many times I have prayed this prayer. I never get that “feeling” your supposed to get. Like that spark or the sense of weights being lifted off. Then I began reading and I’ve read in some places that salvation has to be public, since Jesus died for us publicly. I pray and beg God for salvation on my knees in my bedroom, sometimes on the church Pew. Does it not count if its not at a later or done publicly? I’m so confused and worried.
It does not matter whether you repent publicly or privately. You get saved when you repent, wherever it is.
Praying! Don’t let the devil rob you of your joy.
I hear you. I’m not sure when you posted this comment, but I too have been struggling with my faith for years. Since I was in the sixth grade I struggled with God’s existence, Jesus being the son of God, and now since I’ve asked God to save me I have been doubting my salvation. All of these are attacks by Satan. I am still struggling but I know I will come through stronger than ever and you will too. May God bless you.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been having doubts in the back of my mind for months on end, and tonight I finally decided to deal with it up front. I tossed and turned as I prayed and asked God to show me what going on, and if I was lost. I did this for nearly an hour, and then I decided to read my bible and after I read for a chapter in Luke, I prayed some more, begging God to show me if I was saved. Then I decided to search “I’m confused about my salvation” and I stumbled upon this blog post, and my. What an eye opener. I have realized that it’s been so long since I’ve had an actual relationship with Christ, that I began to doubt. I too was born and raised in the baptist church, and I still am baptist. And my dad is a preacher, so of course I have that clean slate testimony. But I do remember when Christ saved me. And I’m blessed to know that I’m saved, and that I just need to fix my relationship with God. ?
We have the duty of guarding our hearts and minds in Jesus, by fixing our eyes on Him and growing in the knowledge of His Word each day. Being in the flesh, we are weak and the devil is constantly after us. So, pursue the Word, trust God, for He is good, loving and faithful – He never lets His sheep go astray. We always have that confidence in Him. So let’s not be slack in exercising that confidence!
May the Lord bless y’all 🙂
How did you start your relationship with Jesus ? Because this is me I think I am saved I’m pretty sure after what I just read especially but I’ve had many problems to many to mention but I don’t think I have a real relationship with Jesus either how did you get started ?
romans 10:9-10
Baptist Church. Keep going back. You’ll get it..God bless
Amen! I was saved in a Pentacostal church in Australia, but now attend a Baptist church. God Bless the Baptists!
the best way to start a relationship with God is to just love people the way Jesus did. As you grow , God will grow with you .
Could you explain what you meant in the last sentence please?
I still struggle with this sin every day of not knowing if God truly can save a sinner like me because I keep sending and I can’t stop but I believe in Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I’m a Christian but I lack control and I know I send I drink beer I have sexual desires and needs but I’m getting better at Phil but these convictions I know their convictions cuz they make me feel guilty so I keep trying to stick to the word and hopefully I grow and grow more into my Christian faith but I’ve always loved Jesus Christ I just feel like it’s such a disappointment to him why save a sinner like me I feel like I’m abusing that he died on the cross for my sins and I you keep sending me and I don’t mean for that but that’s how I feel like I’m what I’m doing
God saves just trust Jesus if you have trusted him no matter what he never leaves you. Ask him to continue to do work in your the Spirit is moving in you from what it sounds like and when you have the Spirit you are sealed and saved my brother praying for you
You must remember that God made us sexual being so when these desires would come I would ask God to help me because I did not have a husband and I would fast and pray. Walk according to the spirit not the flesh .
Same here your not alone! Thank you for sharing that. Email me we can help each other grow. marlincrawford44@gmail.com
If you never obtained a real relationship with God would you still be saved? I have a family member you is taking a scripture in Mathew way out of context. She believes salvation can be lost…..
No! Emphatically NO! Once you are saved you cannot be unsaved. JESUS does the saving…we just accept Him as our Lord and ask Him to forgive us of our sins. Think of it like this….if we could DO something to undo what Jesus has done for us…it would make us more powerful than God! That my friend is impossible! So salvation is a sure unchangeable thing!
Thank you for your response… it was beautifully said!
Once you are saved it is true you can not be unsaved however you can be a false convert…I was just that for 19 years I claimed salvation and when I look back at that time I was clearly not saved…it was through the movie Atheist Delusion by Ray Comfort that God showed me I wasn’t saved, what a scary place to be…however because I was deceived for so long, I question my salvation now even more, and I do the just in case prayers too…I worry I could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, however The Lord is faithful and when I start to panic I find a blog like this or my pastor saying from the pulpit “if you are doubting your salvation then you are saved” it was God speaking through him right to me, at least that is what it felt like. God is not a God of confusion so when we feel doubtful and confused it is most likely Satan trying to steal our joy in Gods promises to us. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8 Romans 10:8-13, John 10 :27-30 Praying for you my brothers and sisters in His love.
I’ve been struggling with my salvation for the past 2 years. So many people claim that after they ask to be saved, they can feel it. I don’t. I have been so confused. I used to cry every night and I was so worried. I am still doubtful, because I don’t know if I should feel anything after I ask. The truth is, I know that I believe in God. I love him so much, but I feel like he has declined me everytime I ask because I never feel different. I just wish I could feel something to know if I am saved. That is truely the thing I wish for most in the world. Has anyone else had this problem, or is it just me?
I have had doubts about assurance of salvation as well. I still desire to have that deep settled peace about it. I want to be secure in Jesus, to sense that security. I think what may help is to develop trust in God and looking to Christ and what he did on the cross rather than looking to ourselves or for something inside us for assurance. When we look to ourselves for assurance we may see our shortcomings, sins, or times our faith wavered or doubts. Or by looking to self one may become proud and self-righteous because of seeing all the good, successes and achievements and whatnot. By looking to Jesus however we are hoping in his mercy and grace.
Yes, I have I found this site because I have this fear that has been sticking around. I sin and I sin struggling with lust. And i feel bad I ask forgiveness so much I started to think maybe I am not really saved. The doubt is heavy everyone but me believe I am saved. I keep picture going to heaven and God saying I never knew you. Crushing but this post is helping big time to see so many ppl struggling the same lets me know this is the Devil. Christ died for ALL OUR SINS. He told us he is faithful to forgive if we confess
I know exactly what you are going through. I get this nagging sense of dread that won’t go away. A couple years ago, I first prayed to be saved. I meant it too. I didn’t get that overwhelming sense of peace or the “spark.” Still the nagging went away, but now it is back. I have prayed the ABC prayer over and over. Cried over my bible, and listened to salvation messages by Billy Graham. I feel no different. I pray that I am a sinner and repent of my sins, I have faith that Jesus died on the crosd for us and arose 3 days later. I pray to accept him into my heart. But yet, I feel no different. I pray these prayers on my knees in my bedroom or in the pew at church. I never go to the alter, does it still count if its not at the alter? I’m just confused and worried. In the bible it says whoever calls upon the name of the lord shall be saved. And I did call upon him, I just dont “feel” saved.
Many are the affliction of the righteous but it is the lord that delivers us from them all. We do not have to feel it. Faith is not feeling,it is a knowing based on God’s words no matter what we feel. So just rest in his words and rest then move closer to God by personal walk. I believe the devil wants to rob us of enjoying God on earth. Let us not forget the devil raises arguments against God in our hearts 2cor 10;14-15. We have to say no . God be with us all to the end, amen .
Every Day brother, I feel the same way you do, but as I have been reading this and many other posts I have noticed something, salvation is not a feeling, I too always thought that I would feel different, or know beyond a shadow of doubt that I was saved, that feeling never came, I have been so focused on obtaining that feeling that some people have that I did not stop to realize that it is all right there in the Bible, saving faith is what makes you saved, not a feeling, believe me I want that feeling just like you do, but not everyone is saved that way, the Bible does not say that you are saved if you feel like you are saved, it says you are saved if you believe on the lord Jesus Christ, He is what saves you, by faith in him, I like you have been tormented for months on end praying, begging God to save me and until just now I never really understood it, Salvation is by Faith on Jesus that he will do what he said he will do, And just now I understand that I am saved by his grace, I plan on reading through this article again and again every time I have a doubt until all doubt has been replaced with joy and I have a true walk with my Lord and Savior……… Prayers for you…….
A.O. I thankful for reading that I am not the only one that had doubts about my salvation, I been saved for years, but felt that I haven’t grown as others in my church have,. I want more of the fruit of the spirits like to show more love.thanks for showing me that trust God to give me what I need
Hello, please know that Jesus loves you very much and faith is not the same as feelings. What we feel is constantly changing and fickle, but his salvation is permanent and forever. Please keep praying to Jesus and reading the word of God. Please know that He loves you as you are, regardless of what you feel. This article: http://www.lucasanswers.com/2018/01/how-to-stop-doubting-your-salvation.html?m=1
I found is a great read. Please check it out and if the link doesn’t work, please look up “Lucas answers how to stop doubting your salvation”
I am surprised Linda did not respond to this. As she keeps saying, do not depend on feelings. If you really gave/give your life to the Lord, then depend in His promises.
Yes 🙂
You are NOT alone! You just described me!
Jim
I feel like I might be a false convert. God has not been answering me and my heart feels dead. I feel like I might be past the point of no return. There are times that I have peace but it feels like false peace. I feel handed over and I can’t feel love. I don’t know if I have committed the unpardonable sin (I’m afraid I might have) at one point but I keep praying and asking for help. I don’t want to be a prey for the enemy. I know what Christ has done for me but my heart will not respond! I need lots of prayer. Please pray.
I’m struggling with the same fears Kyle.
My brother was saved at 12 yrs old. Got married (35 yrs), unknowingly joined a cult. After 17 yrs. Realized his mistake and left. But his family of wife and 6 kids stayed in. She commented to him; “why don’t you go out and commit a really big sin so you have something to repent about”. She threatened divorce if he didnt return to cult which she carried out. He chose Jesus over his own family. Praise God, hes in Heaven sense 2014. Don’t worry about what people think. Affix upon Jesus.
Thanks for sharing. I totally agree.
I agree.
Oh, you are so right! My daughter believed at VERY young age and today she is 15 and struggles with the fact that she doesn’t have “a story” to tell. I’ve told her, that is a good thing, not bad. God is good and through his mercy, He knew you did not have to overcome adversities to be one of His children. We are still working on this. Thank you for leaving your comment.
Your absolutely right. I was raised in a home with my dad a pastor and very faithful and God loving mother. And I know for a fact I have except Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior When I was in middle school. And I catch myself wondering on and on about if it was true or if meant it. This helped me a lot and the verses do too. I know I’m saved and I know I’m going to heaven but sometimes I get in a slump and become easily effected by the voices of doubt in my head. But I just pray through them and shut them out and ask God to take my doubt and send somewhere I can’t even hear or feel it anymore.
I also have had many fears and doubts off and on about my salvation. I somehow came to this conclusion to believe in Christ Jesus no matter what the enemy was feeding my mind, I believe that Jesus died for me , and took my place on the cross, and He now sits at the right hand of God interceding on my behalf. Continue to pray my strength in our Lord Jesus.
Yes, I asked Jesus to save me and come into my life when I was nine years old and have gone through times of doubts since I was about 16. It makes me feel ashamed and of course that’s exactly what the devil wants. The times that I have claimed God’s promises and rested in His love have brought healing. I will press on claiming His promises because HE is faithful!!!
I wanna be saved , In church when I hear the pastor say ” why wait , what’s your excuse , jesus is coming & you need to be ready”. I love the Lord . But, I hold back everytime. Lord HELP ME!
If you’re still struggling, I encourage you to reach out and speak with someone you trust about your struggles.
Hi Linda
I am Alta McNally. Please see my comments/struggles and respond on my email please amcnally@nust.na
I say I might sound crazy but I’d rather sound crazy and be saved
Remember you can be saved anywhere
Exactly!
I also walked through this. And still do to a degree. My father has been a pastor for almost 30 years. I’m 32 now. I got saved when I was 6. And the questions of “how much could I possibly have meant that at that age? I didn’t even really know what I was saying.” I never had the testimony of a radical change in my life. I was 6. Honestly I can’t even remember much about the way I was before I was 6. Doubt always crept into my mind. It drove me insane all through school. When I was 16 I had enough and at the end of a church service went to the altar and cried and begged God to 1) save me if I wasn’t and 2) If I was to make the doubt go away. I still struggle with it from time to time. I think Satan wants to keep us from joy any way he can. But God’s truth is eternal. What was true when the Bible was written will always and forever be true. I confessed with my mouth Jesus Christ is Lord. He is my savior and nothing can change that.
It can be hard when we start believing at such a young age. Someone once gave this analogy and I found it helpful: They said, if you were to ask me how I know I am alive I wouldn’t tell you about my birth. I would say that I know I am alive because I am breathing and talking to you. I am clearly alive, so I know I must’ve been born at some point, even though I cannot remember that. In much the same way, those of us who believed at such an early age may not have strong memories of our spiritual birth, but if we know the Spirit of God lives in us, if we know He lives and breathes and works in us, then that’s proof that we truly are alive.
I was very young and attending Bible School with a friend when I learned I needed to “be saved”. I remember wanting to go forward, but afraid my ride would not want to stay to wait for me. The next pm the teacher taught on the flood and the next time God would destroy the world by fire and we needed to belong to him and be saved. She said if we wanted to be saved to stay in our seats and if not to go to the craft room. I remember being shocked when a girl got up and left. I can’t remember much of what the teacher then said to us, but while she prayed, I was thinking we need to tell our mothers about this big step in our lives ! No one counseled with me individually which later left me vulnerable to doubts- I can’t remember for sure actually praying myself or how much I understood. I know I believed I was saved! My mama was afraid I might not have been ready and took me down the aisle at my church and there my pastor read through the scriptures and asked me if I believed and I said yes. He presented me for baptism. Later I came across the word repentance and I began to worry, did I know how to repent back then? Did I pray or the preacher pray? I have prayed that “just in case prayer” and read my Bible daily and know Christ has worked in my life so many times. I have taught SS and VBS for over 30 years. I have led others in the sinners prayer. I went forward as a young adult and told the preacher that I was plagued with doubts and he had his wife pray with me. She said I couldn’t go back and had me to pray the sinner’s prayer right there and confess my sins so I could be sure I had accepted Christ. I felt relief, but later I would have doubt again. When was I saved? At VBS, my home church when my mama led me down the alter, as the doubting adult? I know I have felt The Lord in my life, so why am I so fearful? I feel like it is Satan trying to break me. I have not lived a perfect life but I know I love the Lord. I know He is faithful. Thank you for this post. Please pray for me to have the peace that isn’t here when I have times if doubt.
I feel the exact same way. When I was 12 and about to move up to high school my soon-to-be-teacher took me into a little room at my school to talk with me the way she had the other students and then she asked me if I was saved and I told her I wasnt. She asked me why and I t old her that I wasn’t really sure why, and she told me that if I felt like I wanted to get saved that day then to just tell her at any time and she’d help me, but she would talk to me again Monday about. As I went back to class i knew that I wanted to be saved but I didn’t want to have to walk back in front of all my peers so I left that day without speaking to her. At church Sunday I felt like I was under conviction but didn’t go to the altar cause I was afraid of what everyone would think of me. Monday when my teacher came and got me again she said she could see how under conviction I was Sunday night,and asked me if I wanted to be saved. I said yes and repeated the prayer she told me to pray. Afterwards I told my principle and my parents and I really did feel happy or at peace, but about three years later in a special meeting I began to doubt. I prayed with another teacher and my youth leader about it and didn’t doubt for a while I’m17 now and the doubts have become twice as bad.I talked to my mom about it once and she said it was the devil trying to steal the joy of my salvation.o had started reading through John and I came to the part where Mary washes Jesus feet with her hair and Judas rebukes her for using that expensive stuff instead of giving it to the poor and then Jesus looks at him and says “Let her alone” and I felt like he was right beside me telling the devil to leave me alone. I felt fine for several months and then I fell into sin and when I got out i felt like the Lord has just abandoned me if he was every really he re at all and I began wonder whether i really meant what I prayed when I got saved or if because I didn’t really give up my pride did He really save me and then I began to wonder if he’s ever really spoken to me before or if its the devil just trying to trick me. I have prayed with several people and I feel like this article has really helped but I still really need God’s help please pray.
I will be praying for you Jesus loves you and I do too I’m also 17 and if you need to talk to someone you can talk to me at my email wilsonlucky910@gmail.com
God bless you prayers
I totally agree. I’m being raised in a Christian home, which I’m so incredibly blessed with. But being saved young and not having evidence of a life transformation from sins like drinking,drugs, ect ect, it can be difficult to see the change, even when we can feel it.
Thank you. Sometimes I feel so close to God that I can’t imagine why I have doubts at other times!
This is something I am currently struggling with. I am a young teen, definitely FULL of doubts. And I overthink way too much. This was really encouraging cause it didn’t just talk about the struggle but about the solution and the “how.” Thank you for writing this!
I’m a teen too be praying for you. I doubt so much too I over think it so much I think. God bless you!
you are 100% right
Yes you are exactly right. I have never thought about it like that. I really appreciate what you said!
Yes. This happened to me as well. I trusted Christ as my Savior when I was very young., and have struggled with this off and on. The enemies way of keeping us useless. Thank you for sharing this. It is very helpful. God bless!
Excellent post! Excellent! God’s word provides the objective evidence of our salvation. People who look for a “feeling” that they are saved are building a shaky foundation on sand. God’s word is the bedrock of truth. Build on that, and you will find peace!
Thank you for this comment.
Thank you for this. I was not feeling the peace or joy of God like I once did when i first gave my heart to the Lord. I have sinned in many areas since then, came back to repentance but this time I thought maybe I wasn’t truly repentant enough or I didn’t have enough faith so I was on the verge of torment but i knew i didnt want to live like that but what do you do when that happens? I thought I had to accept the torment but now I know this is a battle with the enemy. Thank you for your testimony. Everyone’s testimony here. It has greatly helped me.
Wow! You took the words right out of my mouth! Same exact story! I became a born again Christian at a very young age too. I always believed & I had an amazing relationship with the Lord, BUT as I got older I fell in with the wrong crowd -and then sin, sin, sin, -even though I NEVER stopped believing in Him, which in turn had me thoroughly convinced, was FAR worse than had I been a sinner who never knew Him, so I became basically unforgivable in my own mind often times. I have returned to the Lord fully for MANY, MANY, years now, but the relationship is just is not the same as it once had been & I have thought and felt that it must be my punishment too. I did almost everything I could think of to try to rectify this myself & ended up not knowing what else to do. Soooo, in missing the relationship that I once had, I began to doubt His forgiveness for someone like myself completely, but THIS here has definitely helped me during one of my roller coaster rides of ‘He forgives me, He does not forgive me’ moments, that I have been experiencing on & off for years now – even though I knew all of what has been stated here myself, hearing it again from other believers was exactly what I needed. I apparently have more work to do (not works, but relationship-wise & as far as remembering who this doubt is really coming from) bc after all it does say in Ephesians 6:12
‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’
and it IS a constant battle for all of us, it’s just that sometimes even we as Christians can forget just how much power and/or how evil and cunning our enemy, truly is. BUT our God has far more power though – and so do we when we fully accept it, so allowing the enemy to cause us doubt is one of the worst things we can do. NO MORE! Thank you ALL for this! -It was EXACTLY what I needed WHEN I needed it! PRAISE GOD!
What do you mean by people who look for a feeling?
If we base our security on how we feel (that is, do I “feel” saved), then that is shaky ground. Our feelings change & cannot be relied upon. We must base our security on God & His promises.
I’m 19. I got saved when I was six. I was raised in a Christian home, so Jesus was a daily topic. I was young, so I wasn’t out partying, drugs, etc. I didn’t feel a big “burden” lifted when Jesus saved me. But I know it was real. The devil will use that to fool you and make you miserable! I have held to my testimony for comfort that what I have is real…no matter how Satan tries to attack!
Within a week after I got saved, I had a dream. I was at my school, and a wicked snake was coming towards me. I called “Jesus!” and then I saw the Lord come down and cut off the snake’s head. People now may call it corny or stupid, but praise Jesus for that dream!! It is assurance for me!
When I was 11, I witnessed to my cousin who was 7. He had a horrible home life, and I knew he wasn’t saved. We got to talking about salvation, and he told me he wanted to be saved. He prayed a prayer and invited Jesus into his heart in my grandfather’s barn. He went home and got baptized (his grandmother took him), and he’s 15 now. I must say I’m so proud of him for still being a strong Christian!
At churches I went to, I started a Wednesday night class for kids. Two kids got saved as a result. That may not sound like much, but all that happened before I turned 16. So don’t tell me you’re too young to serve the Lord! When I was 16, I rededicated my life to the Lord, because I felt I had grown so much as a Christian, I needed to “nail things down”.
You would think with a dream like that and the witnessing I had done, I should never doubt my salvation! But unfortunately, I did. From the time I turned 17, I had major problems with it. But it’s all my own fault. I wasn’t reading my Bible anymore, fallen out of church, and letting sin in my life that shouldn’t have been there. My joyous attitude in life and, unfortunately, my assurance in my salvation, had all went away.
But now I’ve repented, and I knew I had quenched the Spirit. So it took a while for me to feel what I’d felt again. Now I’m reading my Bible, praying like I should, and focusing on God. I even keep a journal now of my walk with God…which is helping me tremendously!
One thing I would like to add to this post: you can testify. Like now, I’m writing my testimony in this comment, and I’m testifying! Sometimes we just need to be reminded of how God has used us and what he has done in our life! Ten minutes ago, I was miserable, but now I feel renewed!
I’ve had the devil on my back for so long, but now, I feel like I could fly to Heaven and hug Jesus!! This is what I needed! Thanks for the post!
Thanks for sharing!
Kaylin, thank you for your testimony. I have a five year old who wants to be baptized and I have doubts about here realizing what it truly means and encompasses, due to her attitude towards others and her meanness that comes out so strongly. I be
I’ve it has to be in your heart to have the want to be baptized, not something for show or attention. Reading that you were baptized at six helped me remember that even at a young age a child can have that want/need to be baptized within them. I’m the only Christian in my family and am doing my best to teach my children about God and Jesus, very hard and very lonely when your husband doesn’t share the same beliefs in this area of the marriage. You helped remind me that even the young can do great things for the kingdom of God.
thank for shareing
THANK YOU.
Ty!! What a great testimony. God bless you!!
Identical story to yours, thank you for saving me from typing again lol! PRAISE GOD! And Thank God for the ability to have Church whenever we are with other believers, wherever they may be! ?
I am a mother your story is much like my son! He just turned 18 so many negative things began to happen in his life he began to doubt even God began to use drugs?and was killed in a car accident! I know he was saved at a young age he frequently ask people if they knew Jesus and whiteness at a young age as a child he was so good and wise almost unbelievable far above what you can imagine people were amazed At him. They say he died instantly I don’t know that for sure I don’t know if you had time to repent I don’t understand my heart is so heavy I tried to help him but he had depression I pray God have mercy on him and me?
Back when I was ten I thought I got saved on July 15th and that was my papas birthday, but I had doubts every now and then and the. This summer it hit me, I had dreams, would cry in my prayers thinking I was lost and I talked to our pastor we prayed he brought me to salvation. It didn’t feel the same though, I’m still struggling and even after being (re)saved and (re)baptized I still doubt and have trouble controlling my mouth and other temtations and I’m really confused and I’m trying to walk closer to god. I’m 15 now and sometimes I get the feeling of emptiness and I know only scripture and God can fill that but I find myself slacking and not reading, and only praying at night and I feel terrible spiritually…
Don’t give up. This is two years later, but if you are still struggling, don’t give up. Ask God for help faithfully and he will provide it for you.
And then* not and the.
I am 34 years old…was saved when I was 17, fell into a life of drugs shortly after. I was raised in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church where the gospel was preached and I absolutely believe everything the bible says….and yet I am doubting my salvation. This blog has encouraged me and I am thankful for it. A preachers wife said to me recently, “I think we sometimes make salvation too hard.” She said ask yourself three things. 1. Were you convicted, 2. Did you repent? 3. And did you call? ( meaning did you call on the Lord to save you)
If the answers are yes…then stand on Gods word and claim it!!!
Thank you Kristin for this! I have doubted so much since I first saw myself a sinner and called on the Lord at 14. I am now 23 and after years of struggling with doubts and praying the “just in case” prayers I am weary from it all. Those 3 points really got across to me just now! Thank you so much for allowing the Lord to use you by responding to this blog post 🙂 It was truly a blessing to me!
Thanks Kristin. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home but I came to Christ at age 19 as a broken single mom of 1. Doubts have come off and on. But, the battle with doubt is so strong sometimes it exhausts me. I appreciate prayers .
Thank you so much
Hey there, I know how it’s like to feel that way. I’ve been doubting for so long it seems that peace will NEVER come! But I know that God can help me with anything despite my doubts! Please pray that I’ll somehow find peace, thank you and God bless you! ~NAP
I am 37 and I am really struggling with this. So it is no just an age thing. It is hard to believe in a God we do not see or hear. But we do have God’s word. Nowhere in the bible does it say that Jesus will reject someone who truly desires salvation. I have a few more scriptures to add. Isaiah 43:1 Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. you are mine. John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. God does not want us to be afraid. He wants us to know that he loves us enough to save us!
Great passages!
Great Passage !! It’s good to know Im not the only one ” doubting my salavtion” I got saved when I was 14 years old & Im still 14. But the last couple months I feel like Lord this is hard , I dont know what happened. Lord I love you , I want o get back on track. Everytime I think im winning , the devil always find a way to get through. BUT IT IS A LIE. IT IS SO. I CLAIM , I BELIEVE IT. If i confess with my mouth . I AM SAVED .
Thank you so very much for these verses! What a peace that they bring!
I am 64 years old and have doubted my salvation since I was 20. I’m encouraged by so many people who share this problem. You feel like you’re the only person experiencing this. I’ve prayed the just in case prayer probably more than anyone. This blog has helped me and please don’t ever give up on God because he doesn’t give up on us.
I’m glad I ran across this blog. I am a senior, been saved for almost 50 years, but have struggled with doubt periodically through the years. Our present pastor said in a recent sermon that if you have doubts, you are more than likely lost. That sent me into a state of anxiety that almost made me sick. I, too have prayed the “just in case” prayer many times. I did it one last time earlier this spring. The Lord spoke to my mind through the Holy Spirit. He said, “Don’t. ask me that again.” I realized He was as tired of the doubts as I was. Since that time, if it flits through my mind, I can brush it away. But, thank God we have more than a one time experience to rely on. We have His word. My favorite is “He who comes to me, I will not cast away.” Did I go to Him? YES! Did He refuse me? NO! So, what’s the problem? I don’t have one concerning my eternal destiny. I pray that this new mindset sticks.
I emphatically disagree with “if you have doubts, you’re probably lost.” You can most certainly have doubts, even when you’re saved. In fact, it is an extremely effective technique of Satan. We shouldn’t stay in a state of doubt forever – but we should not follow that downward spiral…. Look to the Bible. Look to God. Choose to follow Christ.
Thank you, Martha. I, too, am a senior and have been prone to doubt at times because of well meaning pastors or teachers who say such things as “If you don’t remember when you were saved, then you probably aren’t” or “churches are full of people who profess Christ but don’t possess Christ!” I’ve wondered if that last statement isn’t really saying God hasn’t done His part by indwelling us when we do “profess” we believe and trust Him?? Of course, then they use the Scripture “even the demons believe!” Sadly, meaning of these teachings come out of godly fundamental churches. I appreciate this blog so much.
Amen, thank you, I am 42 and I deal with this often, Thank you because I know what you shared is true. Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. Amen.
I also grew up in a Christian home. I went to private school, attended church, prayed with my family. It’s was a lifestyle. Well when I was about 5 I asked Jesus into my heart. Like many I didn’t know what I was doing. The prayer was so obvious to me at the time, like when they asked me if I believed Jesus was the sun of God I was like yeah of course. Well 6th grade year it hit me so hard. The reality of heaven and hell became so weird. Because of that rude awakening I viewed God as a mean harsh God. I didn’t get why he would throw people into hell. It didn’t make sense to me. Until I was talking to my Sunday school teacher about it and she told me “God doesn’t chose what people go to hell, people chose to go to hell”. See if we believe that we don’t need a savior or that Jesus wasn’t the messiah then we choose hell, we choose to take our own punishment. But if you just believe that Jesus was/is the son of God and he took your punishment then you will be saved.
Like many that will read this, I prayed the salvation prayer a crazy number of times. It was unreal. Like at least once a day. I had doubt after doubt after doubt. I looked at my friends who had such strong relationships with Christ and I always got mad bc I wanted that.
Well I’ll be honest, I still doubt my salvation. Even though I prayed and asked God for one person to come up to me and tell me that I’m saved without knowing that I doubt. He actually sent two people to tell me.
See most people think that you have to have no doubts when you come to Christ. This is false bc here’s a secret: Christ loves people who have doubts. Here’s another secret: Christ only saves broken people. So if you don’t have doubts or you dont think you have sin then your prideful and Christ won’t save you. But here’s what helps me.
“Come into the warm presence of God. Look down at your clothes, realize that your cloths are dirty and ratchet. Look into hell and realize that’s what you deserve. But look up and see the one who endured that hell so he could have your dirty cloths. Take off your clothes. Be real with God. Give him your clothes and watch as he wraps a robe of forgiveness around you. Look at the scars on his hands, remember the crown of thorns, think of how his own father abandoned him. Think of his soul going through hell. Think of his could body laying in a tomb. BUT now think of the chains of hell being broken, think of the weight of your sin demolished, think of Jesus raising to life. All for you, so he could raise you to life too.”
That’s just something I made up. Kinda like a poem I guess. But hoped it helped! Please be praying for me bc I still doubt as I will be praying for other people on here! God bless!
Hebrews11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If you will get in your KJV bible, and STAY THERE, God will give you the assurance of your salvation. Seek God with your whole heart and he will give you that assurance. Cling to the word of God.
Another assurance verse is Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God that connot lie, promised before the world began;
Friends, I’ve been through it, you can overcome it!!!
Praise the Lord. I’m so thankful to hear all the encouraging words here. I thought I was losing my mind. I will be praying for you all, and please pray for me me through my struggle with doubts as well!
I will pray for you!!! Thank you for praying for us!!!
Your salvation does not depend on what English Translation you use. A person can use a NIV, ESV, NASB, and others and God would not be offended. Faith in Christ and not in a particular English Translation is the basis for Salvation.
I too have and am still going through this. I have been plagued with this since I was a child. I have asked Jesus to save me many many times. I still doubt. I hear others testify and I get scared. I go to church services and get scared. I’m scared of revivals, campmeetings, etc. I analyze everything I think and feel. Which makes me feel more lost scared and hopeless. I hear people say I prayed and prayed till one day, I really “got it” and it confuses me more …like how do I “get it” for sure? People make statements saying they “thought” they were saved, but realized they weren’t and it scares me to death. What if thats me? Or when people say they felt like something was missing. ..this baffles me too. I do get comfort that I have had prayers answered and feel the Lord guides me and knows me. But sometimes that is all overshadowed by doubt. My husband says if your child were drowning and he cried out to you to save him, would you? Of course is my reply! Then God says He loves us like A Father and He will save you if you cry to Him.
I was right where you are and I’d encourage you to keep going back to Gods promises. If you’ve asked Him to save you, this fear is not from Him but is paralyzingly your growth like it did mine. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
The one major thing that makes me wonder or worry is how can I be sure I meant it in the right way specifically did I have Godly sorrow which is required or worldly sorrow ? I do reckognise I am a sinner and need God and I know I love Jesus and desire a replationship with him more than anything! But the doubts plague me even when I get reassured by someone or something it comes back again :/
Don’t overthink what kind of sorrow you had. That’s not at all how God works. If you want to repent & turn to God, then that is the right repentance – and it sounds like Satan is trying to confuse you. Cling to God’s promises. Come back to them every time. The doubts will keep coming back for awhile – that doesn’t mean your salvation isn’t real. Just keep coming back to God. It may take a long time before the doubts leave for good …..so keep reminding yourself of God’s truths.
Thanks so much! I never used to struggle but seems like the more I try to get in the word and pray more, the stronger the doubts! I know in my head torment comes from Satan! May you pray that I will never doubt again! I love Jesus and I don’t want to doubt!
Thank you!!!!! I so needed this. I suffer from doubt from time to time. You’ve helped me more than I can ever express!!!I will pray for you please keep praying for us.
That was encouraging and wise!
Pray for me
I’ve been struggling with doubting my salvation almost since I got saved. Finally, talking with my grandmother, she said the same things many of you did (a lot of people doubt their salvation, just trust in the Lord and have faith, don’t let the Devil get to you, etc.) This article and the comments really helped me since it was people that aren’t there to make me feel better going through the same things I’m going through. I also don’t read my Bible and pray like I should. When you don’t have anyone to talk you feel like you’re the only onewho had ever felt that way. It helps a lot to see my thoughts and feelings echoed in the article and comments above.
Thank you so much for posting this article. I’m 22 years old- I’ve been raised in church and in a Christian home with Christian parents and I accepted Christ at a young age. For years now, I have doubted whether it was a “true” salvation, praying the “just in case” prayer over and over and hardly ever feeling content in Christ. However, I believe that it isn’t about one decision made in the past or one sinner’s prayer that anyone can pray. It’s about having a relationship with Jesus Christ now-by knowing you are a sinner, believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth (and your actions) that He is Lord and praying to Him just as if you are talking to a friend, and also connecting to Him by reading His Word and following His commandments. I doubted so much that it wore me out out, not just spiritually, but physically, and led me to doubt Jesus’ power and love and even His existence. The Bible says (I can’t remember where) “You will find Him if you seek Him with all of your heart.” I believe that God will reveal Himself to you if you seek him with your heart. This article helped me so much and assured me that I’m not alone with these feelings. It helps to know that we are only human and others have the same struggles we do!
Yes these are all BRAVE great testimonials. God tells us to put on the full amour of God daily against the devils schemes. (Ephesians) also, that not find it strange that we r goinh through these trials ,that our sisters and brothers in Christ are experiencing the same things,(1peter). We need ro remain steadfast and cling to Gods promises regardless of our feelings and emotions. Satan tries make it so difficult, but the lord overcame this world and we have that authority in Christ that we r more than overcomers through Christ who loved us.
I have been dealing w/ this for some time now, I don’t remember asking Jesus into my heart when i was younger, I remember going to the alter and everything just not what i prayed and now being 23 and that was when i was around 9 or 10, I have been doubting my salvation but i know that i have felt God before. I to have prayed and prayed and felt like my prayers were being heard I would always get nervous about the rapture and things like that because of this.
Last night after speaking w/ the preachers wife and very dear friend of mine i am leaving it in Gods hands.
This testamony really helped me.
Thank you for following Gods leadership and sharing it.
Praise Jesus for his goodness.
May God Bless you and your family.
See you in Heaven one day.
So tonight I wacth TBN on TV and I have given my life to Jesus Christ a lot of time’s but I have been getting ackact by the emmeny by lies making me doubt about my salvation and it has been really hard on me ever since I lost my dad. My dad killed himself last year right before Christmas some time. So I could ues a lot of prayer s for peace and healing for this. I want peace to where if something were to happen to me like if I get into a car accident or something happens to me that I would go up to heaven. I don’t want to be afraid and I don’t want to be sracd no more about this I just want peace about in my life. I no we are not always granite about tommorw so I just would like peace about this for tonight and for Jesus to help me take one day at a time to help me overcome this. Thanks for the prayer s and may God bless you.
I pray that God sweeps down his hand and embraces you with all the love and healing he has to offer you. I pray that the Holy Spirit heals your broken heart and makes his presence known to you. I pray that our lord Jesus be your companion and remind you of his endless love. In Jesus name, amen
My dad is a pastor and I was saved at a young age.. like someone else said before, I remember praying the prayer, but I don’t remember how I felt. I actually prayed the prayer and was baptized at age five and then again at twelve. I started doubting my salvation off and on at about age 13, but didn’t talk to anyone about it until I was about 20 and married I told my husband I’m not saved I need to get saved so he prayed with me I didn’t feel anything, talked to my mom prayed with her didn’t feel any better. I felt like not only was I not saved, but I could never be saved.. I was in the front of the church crying feeling completely broken (the Wednesday night after that Sunday when I told my husband I wasn’t saved) and this lady came up to pray for me. She said honey I don’t now what you’re going through, but the Lord told me to tell you he is holding you in the palm of his hand. When she said that I felt love wash over me from the top of my head and go all the way down to my feet. I wish I could say that I have never doubted again, but that’s why I found this blog post because I find myself doubting. Did I mean it when I prayed? Does my life bear witness to a life lived for Christ? Was I sorry enough for my sins? Am I not in awe of the cross enough? I’m so tired of doubting I want to live completely for Jesus with no doubt between us.
I am 32 and for the past year I have struggled with this too. I feel like I’m on a time limit to figure this out. I have found myself trying to live by works to save myself because I feel like I can’t ever be saved. I believe in Jesus but at the same time I doubt. So if we doubt at the same time that we want him to save us , then will he?
Hi Danielle. I am 35 years old, and there was a time in my life that I struggled for YEARS to know if I was saved or not. About 10 years to be exact.I went through almost every thought, feeling, ritual one could do or think trying to figure out how to be saved.
There was a point that I came to, where I felt like it was too late to ever be saved. That my opportunity to be saved had passed by me. The belief was so strong, that my skin felt like it was burning. I could almost feel the fires of Hell. I wondered if I could smell it too.
My point in telling you this is not to frighten you. But to reach out and say, I know how you are feeling.
After I came to this conclusion that I had lost my last chance of being saved, and I was doomed forever, a preacher came through my Bible College and to my amazement, his sermon was how he doubted his salvation. How he at one point thought it was too late for Him as well. And how he found peace.
After he preached, I went up to him and told him I was struggling with the same exact thing. He took my Bible and showed me what I had been missing with my understanding of Jesus. I had misunderstood the Gospel. I had turned it into one of works, not on purpose, but by misunderstanding. Satan had blinded my eyes from the truth.
But when he showed me the simplicity of Jesus and what He did and accomplished on the cross for me, it all became so crystal clear.
Since that time, the Lord has brought people into my life that believes in getting a CRYSTAL CLEAR Gospel out. One ministry is this website: http://www.knowimsaved.com/
PLEASE go and take a look at this website. It is the ministry of a man that severely doubted his salvation when he was a pastor even. He has some great messages and materials to go through that can and will help you.
I KNOW with all my heart that you can be saved! And Yes Jesus wants to save you even though you doubt. 😀 He is hearing your prayers. I see this comment is just a few days old, even though this blog post is a couple of years old. I was just skimming through the comments, and saw yours and felt led to reach out to you. I do not believe this is a coincidence. God is hearing your prayers.
I will be praying for you. If you would like to correspond through email I would be happy to talk with you. My email is heather.asteadyheart@gmail.com
That site was not helpful at all. It has a lot of Spurgeon’s writings on it, and he can lift you up, and a sentence later slam you down to the ground. I’ve gotten so discouraged reading Spurgeon.
This has helped me a lot. I’ve been having doubts and this is a relief to know I’m not the only one who has struggled with this.
I was saved when I was 10 after a very clear presentation of the Gospel. I have grown in Christ greatly because of the type of churches I have been a member of and because I was taught early in my youth about how to walk with God in my Bible reading and prayer. I am in a strong soul winning church where salvation is strongly emphasized. Often I hear preachers say how important it is to “settle things” if you have any doubts. I have always felt that this is a disservice to people like me who have many times struggled with doubts about their salvation experience. I don’t think I could pray another prayer to “settle things” and it be solved for me. (I have tried this before by the way.) I have made it my habit to go to the Bible anytime I have doubts. I have found that God’s Word gives me peace in my heart and assurance concerning God’s promises. The thing that causes me the most difficulty is when I see adult church members who have had the need to get their salvation settled. A big to do is made about them getting saved and baptized, and then we are reminded that if we have any doubts we should not fool around. It is as if doubting is the same as being lost. I just wish someone would be honest and say that it is normal for Christians to have doubts, and that it is a attack from Satan to discourage us or to render us useless for Christ. Satan will do anything to get us to stop serving the Lord, and that includes challenging our faith. I think sometimes preachers will not cover this topic for fear that someone who truly does need salvation will misunderstand and get a false assurance. I have a feeling that this is a bigger problem than anyone is willing to admit.
I think you are spot on. What we can do is to share our own stories with those around us – we never know who it may help.
It was truly God-led me finding this blog because I have been struggling for years with doubts. Honestly, you’re testimony sounds so close to mine! I can’t even count the number of times I have re-prayed the sinners prayer “just in case” I hadn’t really meant it or hadn’t quite believed it enough. I know that salvation does not hinge on how good I can be but on Jesus and His shed blood for me but still I fear. I long to be close to Him…to leave all doubt and worry behind so I can focus on my relationship and walk with the Lord but I just can’t seem to find true peace. I admit I have felt true peace before. For a couple of months I didn’t doubt at all but it has started up again and it troubles me very much. I’m ashamed of myself for doubting because I know that God never lies and I hate that I doubt when I do truly believe His Word.
Reading all this has helped me so much and it’s good to know that I’m not alone! That others have the same feelings I do! You have been a great blessing to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
So glad my story could help you. Don’t let yourself be ashamed about your doubts. Realize that they are an attack of the devil and that you just need to pray & fight against them. Stay strong & in time God will give you victory.
I to have struggled with this issue. I gave my heart to the Lord many years ago. I do not remember the date or year. I do remember it was during a revival and close to Halloween. I was told that if you don’t remember those dates then you aren’t saved. Now I have conflicting stories. I do know that I believe that Jesus is the son of God & that he died on that cross to take away my sins! I am getting a very late start in my Christian walk because it wain’t until recently that I actually started learning and reading the Bible. When I was saved back then I had no one to share my experience with except my friend & pastor. When I was baptized I only had my friend & my children there. My husband would not go to church & didn’t want to hear about God. Any questions I had, I would call my friend & if we couldn’t find the answer she would call her brother who was a pastor. Many years later I divorced my husband. I am now remarried and my husband & I attend church. I am 60 years old so I know that age is not a factor for these feelings. Thanks so much for all of the comments, I have gotten a lot of valuable info from here.
I was raised in a Christian home and saved when I was around 7, I think. I don’t remember much about that day. I was baptized soon after, and lived in peace until I was about 12. I did not know if I was saved, and went to the altar every Sunday praying for assurance and peace. I would pray those “just in case” prayers countless times. I was ignorant about the bible, and just begged God over and over for peace and assurance. I talked with pastors and my parents and tons of people in the church, but instead of turning to God I started looking for distractions from my pain. I fell out praying and reading my bible and I started doing and thinking bad things. It wasn’t until I was 16 when it hit me again. I repented of the life I was living and asked God to forgive me. I still could not say that I was saved. That was a couple of months ago and I still can’t. I go through the day in torment. When I ask myself “do I believe that Jesus died for my sins?” I have these horrible thoughts that “what if I’m not believing with your heart just accepting it as fact in my head. What if I’m saying that because it’s what you’ve always known?” But that’s silly, I KNOW that Jesus died for my sins and that he has forgiven me. I KNOW. But I still have those thoughts and I still do not have assurance. I’m struggling, and I find myself disobedient to God. It’s like my life is a mess and my thoughts are so clouded with confusion. It’s like God is sometimes a million miles away.
I know how you feel. Just keep coming back to Scripture every time you doubt. For me, it was a gradual process of seeing the doubts lessen. It took time but eventually they were just gone. It was almost as if Satan finally said, “forget it. She’s just going to scripture. This isn’t going to work anymore.”
I wish I knew how to stop the doubts of “do I truly believe in him in my heart or am I just saying that because it’s what I’ve always know. Or am I not truly accepting him in my heart just in my head.” Any thoughts
What helped me was thinking back to when I was in 6th grade and I remembered asking Him to save me. I knew back then I had none of these questions and was sincere so I held on to that and kept bringing it back to Scripture. If you don’t have a previous experience that you can hold on to, then I would say this: belief is a choice and all this circular reasoning is in your head. If you choose to cry out “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.” Then you believe enough. You are overthinking it and Satan is using that. Believe me I understand how hard it is. For me my circlular reasoning was “I need faith to trust Him. But if I doubt if I have enough faith then so I have enough faith?” This type of thinking is very real in the moment but looking back it is nuts and clearly an attack of Satan. If you desire to give your life to Christ and choose with your will to believe, then He will save. It’s Him not us that does the saving. We need to keep coming back and back to His promises. Hope that helps a bit.
Hi my name is Alicia I asked God to save me 13 years ago my doubts started as soon as I said amen. Every moment has been pure torture especially this past April. I was worried so badly over this I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I was waking up in the middle of the night with it. I went to bed trembling in fear from the inside out. My family and my Co workers could tell something was wrong. It was pure h***and I don’t say that lightly. During that time I was never convinced I was lost just beyond scared out of my mind. My thoughts were all over the place they seemed so real. I couldn’t make them stop. They wouldn’t go away. I works think what if this or what if that. Now I’m worried I may have rejected Christ because I didn’t ask God to save the first night I knew i needed to ask God to save me. Iasked him the second night. At one point I thought i was a reprobate. I could go on for days and days. It’s like you get one thing figured out and your bothered by something else. I think what if I only had one chance to get saved. The reason I didn’t go to altar first night was bc I was so embarrassed that my boyfriend (who is now my husband) was there. I knew he wouldn’t be there the second night because he worked out of town. But I made sure i went back to church that second night(the church was having a camp meeting that week) and I asked God more like begged him to keep me out of hell I didn’t want to go. So I worry he may not have been dealing with me anymore the night I asked him to save me because I was embarrassed and I wanted to wait until my boyfriend was at work. Back in April is when this thought came to my mind and I can’tseem to get over it. I’ve prayed a million times he would forgive me for doing that.
Thank you so so soooo much for this entire posting & your responses! -You have blessed so many of us with this!!!
I’ve grown up thinking I was saved I had prayed a prayer in 8th grade but never believed on Christ. Now it’s very difficult to even process that Jesus died on the cross to take my penalty away. If you could pray for me that I would believe on Christ and what He did for me with my heart
I’m in the 7th grade and I’ve been struggling with my faith for about a month now. I read my bible and attend church and BASIC (brother and sister in Christ) at school. I knew that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that he was my savior, but the more I thought about the more I was worried what if I was just telling myself that I was a believer and that I wasn’t really saved and wasn’t going to go to heaven with Jesus. Or I guess I’m saved because I read my bible. This was Satan attacking me. I waited a while and thought this might go away. It didn’t. I didn’t want to ask my friends or mom because I thought they wouldn’t understand and had never been through this. I looked up what to do and felt like God was pushing me to look it up. I found this website after another one. I read it and understood that I needed to continue reading verses every time I doubted God until my doubts went away. Satan will fail against my Father and Jesus will win the battle. I put some sticky notes on my wall with the verses on them. This was when ever I walk in my room I can read them and I plan to put them in my locker, lunchbox, binder and other places I often look. This way at school I can have access to them when ever I doubt. It is an hour or two after I’ve read this website and I already feel God fighting against my doubts and Satan. Hope this helps!!❤️❤️??
Jarren,
first I want to say, you aren’t alone and, for what it is worth, I will pray for you. I also feel like this might help. Forgive me if I am wrong, but I felt like I needed to answer you.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done? Do you believe that Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son- born of the virgin Mary, gave His life as Sacrifice for sins so that people could be saved? Your mom, dad, sibling, neighbor, teacher, preacher, etc…? Do you believe those in your life that have said He did it for them and saved them?
He did it for us too. I say us because He did it for you and me and each and everyone of us. It’s already done, and I believe He gave his life for each one of us whether we ever accept it or not. I think, even if it had just been for one person’s opportunity to come to believe, He would have still given His life for that one person’s sin so that person could go to Heaven if they so choose.
He already did it. All that is left is for us to come seeking Him when He convicts us and shows us we’re lost, recognizing and admitting we are sinners and each have sinned and fallen short of what is required to go to Heaven, repent- be sorry for those sins, and believe on Christ as God’s only begotten Son-Born of a virgin, and what He did, believe that He came and took those sins on Himself and they were removed from us with His sacrifice of His life so we could go to Heaven, and confess with your mouth that you believe in Him, in what He’s done.
It is crazy to me that I am the one typing this to you. I don’t know when you wrote this, it may have been ages ago, but I felt like I should respond. I say crazy that I am the one replying because like so many of the others who have posted, I battle horribly with doubt. I have made myself sick going around in those circles of doubt with seemingly endless “Just in case” prayers and, as it has been pointed out, it is simple. So very simple. AND! ALREADY DONE! All that is required of us now is what I mentioned above. We, like with so many other things in our lives, complicate things unnecessarily. I apologize if I misquoted or misspoke anything and anyone else reading after, please, please feel free to clarify if I have clouded things or missed something or messed up in my bumbling attempt to help.
I pray my rambling is of help to you, even if only in some small way.
Love in Christ,
Meia
I be praying eternal life waiting if you just accept Jesus
I be praying eternal life waiting if you just accept Jesus. He died for you he loves you God bless!
7 years ago, God drew me for the first time, and it was the scariest thing id ever felt. Mostly because i was told God doesnt owe me anything and people only get 1 chance sometimes. So feared that he would never draw me again. I couldnt sleep, eat, think straight or anything as i cried daily for months. I always thought i was saved because i believed. He showed me i was wrong. He drew me to the altar time and time again, and each time i rejected for fear and pride. I wanted to be saved more than anything in the world, but my flesh was weak. I got lost back in the world for years, thinking that was it. Hoping he would come back to me one day, when im alone, so Satan didnt have a chance to make me stay in my seat. Then i decided to go back to church one day after 4 years i guess, Fathers Day. because i was having surgery and in my mind i knew God was going to send me to Hell, and this would be my death. To die during surgery. He drew me again… this time to floor in front of me, not the altar. I waited, then prayed, crying, begging, but doubting. Never got it. Went another couple years lost.. knowing it… bothered, but still living any way i chose. Telling myself i had time. So about a year ago, this month, i started watching Brother Charles Lawson on youtube. A wonderful preacher of God. No doubt. He talked about the end times, and i watched more and more on death and salvation. The fear started returning to my heart, then about april last year i wrote him letters, and their church tellimg them my heart, and mind and how i needed prayers and help. I knew i was lost and i had to do something. Thought God was gone. That was my last chance. Then on Fathers Day, same church, as i went last time years before on that day, i showed up hours before church was to start, and a man seen me, and called the preacher to come talk to me. He said we can pray and you can get saved right now, i didnt beleive him, doubts again… because i was told years before you cant go to God and decide when u were ready… he had to call or draw. This to me meant a heart pounding feeling, to one spot, and a pull like before. We prayed and cried out begging God to save me. Never happened. Then i got home, and had a phone call from a man at Pastor Lawsons church i had been watching on YouTube. Brother Ronnie. He said he got my letter, and we talked for a while as i cried. He prayed with me. I was becoming fearful, hurt, afraid to sin for fear he would give up on me… the finally on Tuesday June 23rd at around 9:30, my girlfriend had left for work, and i read Acts to chapter 10 or so. I closed the Bible. I said “Lord, somebody once told me to talk to you like a friend, here i am.” I told Jesus i did everything i could to be saved. Cried every tear possible, done all i could. I told him i didnt want to live one more day lost, didnt want to wake up another day lost, i told him i give up! I cant do this anymore. I beleive with all my heart you forgive me of all my sins, already have, i just do. You have to do this.. i cant. The last things i remember saying was “Lord help me remove this wall of doubt so i could be saved.!” I knew it was keeping me from reaching him. I wanted to touch him, but a wall was in my way. The next thing i know there was no reason to cry, to fear, to ask… it was like a light came on… and immediately i knew within myself, God just saved me. I threw myself off of my bed and to the floor on my knees and face. I screamed Jesus I Love You!!! So loud. I felt such releif and joy. Saying heavenly father felt wonderful. I was trembling all over and couldnt stop crying. I felt his goodness all around me. So i had to tell someone. I called brother ronnie and gave them the news. I will say.. its been 10 months, and my joy and peace i have lost. I dont feel saved, im afraid in church, i dont know my direction, and i doubt again. I feel in my heart, he is all i want and need. I just want to know his will. I am guilty for being fearful, doubtful, and not sure what to do. Havent even been baptized, for fear of God telling me im still lost. Have an unsaved girlfriend i live with… no fornication anymore… i made mistakes. Been togetehr 6 years. He is dealing witth her some.. its a blessing. deep in my heart i know what happened to me, i can tell people all day, but i mever truley accepted it for myself. Salvation to my mind was a thing, feeling, not him. For years i belived that. Now i get saved.. and doubt not lobng after. Eveeytime i go to church every sermon he speaks about salvation or lost, i say “thats me” Gods drawing me? Im lost? Hiw? I get angry and sad. I feel it… why?? What did i do wrong?? I feel like dying sometimes
I’m so sorry you’re having so many doubts. I would encourage you to search the Scriptures and claim Gods promises. Salvation is not about a feeling. And honestly it is nothing about us or what we do. It is simply trusting in what Christ already did. You trusted Him for that before, so now you must trust His promises that He will do and has done what He promises. Don’t trust your feelings – trust His promises.
Travis it’s been 7 years since you wrote this.
How are you today?
Hi…I too have struggled with doubts my entire Christian walk. I’ve had many, many victory moments and times I felt on the Mountain top…I know Jesus loves me…I know in my heart, that I love Him…so why do I doubt my Salvation? I want so much to live my life for HIm 100% yet I know I let Him down daily. Sometimes I think “all I want is for Jesus to tell me, I’m His”…yet I know HIs Word says that for me. I have head knowledge…it’s my heart that ttoubles me. It drives me crazy. My thoughts drive me crazy. I have few friends and only one family member, whom I know , that is close enough to me that I can speak to her about my Christianity…but I think she believes…once saved always saved. I want to love The Lord with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength…but I’m not sure if that is true…I’m not sure how much love is in my heart. When I was a little girl…I had soooooooooooo much love in my heart for The Lord. I spent so much time in devotions when I was a teen. I truly loved The Lord. Now as an adult of 55, I feel more confused and sometimes lost…please pray for me. God bless you…
Hello.. I am 14 years old and I have been going to church all my life. When I was 11, during revival I was convicted. I went to the alter to pray with my nana, and I thought I was saved that night. I started doubting my salvation about a month after. One Sunday morning when I was 13, I felt like I was being convicted again. I went to the alter to pray, and felt so much better. I started doubting again a little while after that. I still struggle with doubts. Sometimes I feel like there is no way I’m not saved. At other times I wonder if I truly am or not. I’m scared that I will think I’m saved, but then die and go to Hell because I wasn’t right. I have been praying constantly, asking for the lords help. I just feel like nothing is working. I don’t really feel him knocking on my heart anymore either. I’m scared that if I’m not saved, it might be too late. I’ve prayed so many “just in case prayers” also. I’ve gotten my mom to pray with me too, and I still feel doubts. Everyone makes it sound like a huge burden is lifted, but I just felt the fear go away, and it came back shortly after. I was also baptized a few weeks ago, and I haven’t stopped doubting since. All I know is that I love the lord, and I believe in him with all my heart. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you, and God bless you!
For me, there was not a huge relief either. I chose to claim Gods promises and every time I doubted I would read through the list of verses and claim them. Over time the doubts came less often…. And eventually they stopped coming back. So find verses that you can claim and trust God that He will do what He said He would.
Thank you so much for this post, I’ve been struggling with doubt for so long. I grew up a preachers kid in a Pentecostal church, and I’ve never had a big manifestation for myself. Satan torments me but I know God is guiding me through this. I used to look for God in a big voice or a big manifestation that I couldn’t hear his still small voice. I feel like crying bc this has really been a big help!!! I also try to remember Satan is the ACCUSER of the brethren. I’m going to build my house upon the rock, God’s word!
You say to just choose to claim Gods promises …is it that simple ? I’m afraid to just claim them . Doesn’t God have to give you the ability to believe ? I have heard preachers all my life say that you can only come if the spirit is drawing you . I have struggled for so long . I have prayed and prayed and begged to be saved and still can’t seem to claim salvation because I’m afraid I have missed it . I’m afraid I am only believing with my head and not my heart . I know that salvation based on What Christ did and that without that there is no hope . I just don’t seem to be able to claim that for myself. Thoughts ??
Salvation is a free gift! You don’t work for a free gift, you just receive it. If you want it and accept it, it’s yours.
This sounds like I could have typed it word for word. I have struggled for so long. I’m afraid to claim it because i’m afraid i’m not really trusting him they say i’m supposed to .
This site knowimsaved.com has really been helping me lately also check out the FB page to his church and read how he explains scripture.
This blog has been a blessing to me. I was 10 when I asked God to save me. I began to doubt my salvation when I was around 13. I have struggled many many years. I am now 51 and I am a Baptist Pastor wife. Sometimes I am confident and other times not. I have prayed many times. When I started doubting when I was a teenager. I went to the altar a lot . I asked God to save me I got baptized 2 more times after my time. I truly fought then as indo now that God saved me the very first time.
I too would hear preachers say things like: you need to know that you know, or if you doubt then you need to get it took care of, ect.
I could write a book on this. I had an elderly preacher tell me one that he didn’t understand why people doubt but his sister was the same way. I guess that was the first time I realized others are going through this.
My doubts usually are brought on by something like: when I hear someone say I thought I was saved when I was younger but I wasnt. I know I am now. That usually get me to saying how did they know. I then start praying.
I taught a Wednesday night class to the ladies at church on this. I was amazed at the positive response I received. I could tell some struggled as I do at times. Just pray for me that God will use me to help other with their walk.
I do not know why some doubt and others do not. I DO know we serve a loving God that would not turn His back on anyone truly seeking Him.
Hello Rhonda I have had a hard time with my salvation I have been to the alter multiple times asking god to save me that I need help all I want is to be saved that’s all. I catch myself everyday letting this world just pulling me back like I know I need to read my bible but it seems like something always comes up. My life has changed but I’m just struggling which time I got saved I need help I need God’s help. I try to pray from my heart and with faith but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. There days I wonder maby I wanted to long too get saved. But there’s days I’m just tired.
Summer I feel your pain…I too have been to the alter multiple times and have prayed multiple “just in case” I didn’t do it right the first time or my salvation “didn’t take”. I struggle daily with this and it’s a miserable life. I do know that I wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for God intervening in my life…. I just continue to pray for guidance… I ask that we all pray for each other daily with this struggle.
I feel like your testimony is mine changing a few minor details.
I got saved at the age of 4 in a Fundamental Baptist Church. I remember walking to the altar, I remember who took me into the gym storage room to pray, I remember praying (not the words I prayed though) and I remember exactly where I sat in that storage room. I was baptized at the age of 5. I remember a lot from this day as well.
I had doubts once or twice as a teenager but was able to settle them quickly. I grew up in the same church and was under the preaching of truth all my life. I was never a “good” Christian as in I didn’t read my Bible daily and pray like I should, I was very shy so I avoided some ministering opportunities but I felt secure with God.
Fast forward to today. I am 26 years old with a 4 and 1 year old and expecting my 3rd child. I started doubting my salvation in March of 2015. It has been a long road and I am still fighting the doubts. Thank you for the scripture references. I have prayed the “just in case” salvation prayers 100’s of times. I deal with the same thoughts you described. I have complicated the simplicity of salvation to such an extreme in my head that I don’t think anyone could get saved. I have met with my Pastor a couple times as well. We have all determined that I am saved and I need to fight Satan through the power of God on this. It’s so much easier to think that if I could just get saved this would all disappear, but then I wouldn’t grow.
I have grown so much through this. I have read my Bible and prayed more than I ever have before. I have discovered so much more about who God is and how He thinks of me. I hate that I’m going through this but at the same time I am thankful for it. God is showing me so much even though I doubt him almost daily. He really is faithful. I would have given up on me by now, but God hasn’t. I still have a long road ahead but I can’t wait til I reach the point of full assurance. All your testimonies have been very encouraging. I feel like I could write a novel about the experiences and doubts I have faced the last year but this is it in short. A really good book that helped me immensely is “Full Assurance by H.A. Ironside.” At one point he writes about how we cannot base our faith on our feelings. Feelings are a fruit of faith. They will not come until we can have faith. And fruit takes awhile to grow, it won’t be immediate feeling of assurance.
Remember that the Word of God is powerful, it is our sword against Satan and he hates the Word of God. He knows it is truth and that is why he will flee from it. The Father of all lies cannot stand to hear pure holy truth.
Amen!
I was raised up in a Christian home and my family went to an independent Baptist church that preached the gospel.When I was 5 years old I got baptized but I didn’t really know what The importance of baptism was and that you needed to be saved to get baptized. A couple years later I was 9 and I was starting to wonder if I was going to heaven when I died I heard about salvation and being saved but I never really knew what it meant. I believed in what the bible said and I believed in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit but I was still so confused. I didn’t understand what getting saved meant until I was 12 or 13 that’s when I prayed to God to forgive me of my sins and I asked him to save me. After that I started doubting and wondering if I was really saved I can’t tell you how many times I did the ” Just in case” prayer it must have been every service because my pastor would always ask if you knew that you knew that you knew you were saved. As time went on I grew more and more doubtful of my salvation there were very few times I didn’t doubt that I was saved. I felt so hopeless and scared because everyone else around me was sure of there salvation and I just felt like I was only person having this problem. Today I’m 15 years old I don’t feel as doubtful as I used too but there is still periods of doubt however After talking with some of my siblings and hearing testimonies of other teens who go through this I feel encouraged and I no longer feel like the only person who goes through this. I also realized that this feeling of doubt also comes from not reading my bible as often,not walking with God on a daily basis like I should, and living in the flesh instead of living According to Gods will. This blog and reading about other people who struggle with this in the comments really reassure’s me that I’m a apart of the family of God and that this is just one of the devils tricks to throw young Christians off the path of righteousness that the lord wants us to walk
Hello.. I’m 18 years old and I accepted Jesus at the age of 10… I was baptized at 8 but only did it because a friend did it… But 2 years later received the Holy Spirit… At the age of 14 I got rebaptized because I wanted to make sure it was done correctly and done in Jesus Name so I could make it to Heaven.. At that time I thought it was something I needed to do and felt good about it afterwards.. Now I am starting to have doubts about if God truly accepted it or not because of my lack of understanding back then.. All I knew was that there was a heaven and a hell.. And I wanted to make sure I did the right thing so I can make it heaven… Do you think this is Satan trying to play mind games on me.? Or do I need to get rebaptized because of my lack of understanding as a young teen.?
First off being baptized cannot save you only accepting Jesus Christ to save you can send you to Heaven. Put your trust and accept Jesus and you will be saved. God bless!
I have like many of you went forward to be saved many times. I have doubted most of my life. I really struggle with this. I get scared to go to revivals, tent meetings,youth meetings because they preach on Salvation. Or if people say I thought I was saved, but I realized I was not. Or they kept thinking something wasn’t right inside. That scares me. The fact that I get scared to go to these services makes me think that a “true” Christian wouldn’t think that. I also worry when people say they prayed and prayed and finally “got it” (salvation ) it really confuses me. Maybe I don’t really have it. I too grew up in church with Christian parents who never doubted. I have sought help from everywhere. And yes sometimes u feel helpless. I pray and tell God I want assurance. I want to want to attend these services without fear. But I’m whipped before I attend. I start doubting before I ever get there.
Sounds like Satan has you so fearful you can’t benefit from church…
So do you believe a person this fearful could be saved. This is something I deal with daily .
This post and these comments have been such a big help! I’m 17 years old. I had claimed to be saved when I was 8. I have been raised in a Christian home and my dad is an ordained preacher. When I was 13 years old I sat at church and really felt conviction which I didn’t feel when I first claimed to be saved. So I got up and got my dad and went to the altar to pray. I had heard peoples’ testimonies and it always confused me because the way they talked about it made me think something big would happen when I got saved. But after I prayed that night I got up from the altar and talked to my dad a little bit because I was confused( again, because I was expecting some big thing o happen to me to show me I got saved) . As I went back to our seats I realized I felt so calm and peaceful and my heart didn’t feel like it was gonna beat out of my chest anymore. I asked my dad if that’s how he felt when he got saved and he said yes. I felt so much better. I got baptized again and then a few months later I started doubting. During that time I found out my mom also struggled with doubt sometimes too. And I’ll admit I have slacked as a Christian. A lot. I don’t go out and party hard or anything but I just don’t read or pray or spend enough time with God and sometimes really don’t focus in church. So I have been dealing with doubt for awhile and it comes in waves. I’ll freak out about it for a little bit and then I feel confident in my salvation for awhile. Then I doubt again. I see how other Christians around me have such a close relationship with God and see them filled with the spirit during church and I get jealous because I don’t get that. And I’ve always somewhat known it was because I wasn’t as close to God as I should be. lately at night I’ve been doubting my salvation and it scares me. But reading these posts gives me comfort and I thank god for that. I know that reading posts isn’t the only thing that will get it done though. I need to spend more time with God and spend more time reading his word, and I hope others struggling with this can do the same and that they can stop doubting too. And other thing, when I went to pray at the altar about my salvation again about a year or two ago, a woman at my church said something to the effect of “The devil never made you doubt it before you were saved because he had no reason to, but since you’re saved he has a reason to make you doubt.” Which also helped me. And she’s right. After I claimed to be saved at 8 years old I never doubted it. Satan had what he wanted. I wasn’t saved but I thought I was. So there was no reason to make me doubt it because as long as I was actually lost but believed I was saved there was no issue for him. As long as I ended up in hell, he was happy. But after I got saved at 14 I started to doubt. I was on my way to Heaven and Satan didn’t like that. And the only way to make him feel better about that is to tear us down and make us sad as long as we are on this Earth. I’m not sure I explained correctly or made sense, but I hope this helps someone who is struggling. (:
This 100% makes sense. I have thought this about myself several times. Satan didn’t mess with me before I was saved; but since I have been saved, he has made a point to cripple my faith with doubt. He knows what gets us.
Thank you for this God bless!
I’m struggling with this now. Though I’m long past being a teenager, I have been trying to come back to our Lord for about a year now and completely relate to the struggle described.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I gave my life to the Lord when I was 14 and I have had my doubts but recently, they have hit me hard. I kept asking myself, “Why do I not “feel” God?” “Why do I not have that peace all the time?” I think it’s important to always be in the word. If we start to drift away from his word or stop talking to him through prayer, we tend to lose that peace and the world starts to get a hold of us. Once again, thank you so much for sharing this, it was an encouragement!
I have been saved for years, but doubt continues to plague me. I continues to pray for chances to make sure that I am saved, but my timid nature holds me back from taking them. Pray for me that the Lord be patient with me and help me through this.
This was an emotional blog for me to read to say the least. I’m 33 years old and like many of you, grew up in a Christian home . I was never into drugs, drinking , etc. I didn’t have a wicked lifestyle to get saved from. I went to summer camp each year with our church. I was in church every Sunday . I’m now having these wicked fears that I just can’t seem to shake. It’s like a rush of fear inside of me that I can’t Control. I’m terrified to think of what happens when we die . Blackness? How do we know heaven is real when nobody can see it? I thought these fears were because maybe I wasn’t really truly repenting when I got saved . Maybe I didn’t really mean it when I said the prayer . But after reading this, I can see this is Satan using my instability and my lack of spending time in God’s word to attack me. I have a real spiritual battle going on isnide of me and I just want to know how to beat it. If you guys get this message, please pray for me as well. I’d really love the feel the Lord comfort me so that I can rest and know where I’m going when I die.
I was saved, bought, and sealed August 4, 2011 but I went astray for a period of time. When I ran back to the arms of Jesus He openly accepted me. But later down the road as I was growing in my walk Satan hit me with doubt and it crippled me. Little did I know it was Satan and it was absolutely horrifying. I lived in utter agony for a week and then I prayed and said to myself, “well you believe in Jesus, you asked Him for forgiveness, and we know God’s promises are true!” After I finally got over that I had a desire in my heart start to seed up. August 1, 2016 I announced my call to preach and it blows my mind that the Lord has entrusted me with such an honor. PRAISE BE UNTO GOD
Hi Hunter,
Thanks for your testimony. If you don’t mind, can you share a little of your experience with me – in terms of your saved experience i.e. how old you were, how you accepted Christ etc? ( if your comfortable w talking about it ) and woulld you mind explaining what you mean by “went astray for a period” ( again only if you feel comfortable).
The reason I ask is because i feel i went through a very similar experience but am experiencing significant doubts regarding my salvation ( or the loss of it ) due to certain scriptures; whereas, you seem to have found a solution, or at least freedom from the doubt; as well as the joy in being back with your Savior. I’ll give you a thorough description below about my experience but first let me say that the scriptures I refer to are Hebrews 6:4-6, and Hebrews 10:26-28.
I don’t know if you wrestled with these scriptures or if they bothered you during your doubting period but they continue to grip me now ( and they had in the past after my baptism over 17 yrs ago for a time ) until I ” went astray for a while “.
of course, if you feel, the need to email me privately please feel free at s.david.25@hotmail.com.
my story is as follows:
i am currently 39, male and was baptized and felt I accepted Christ as Lord and savior at around 22. i dont remember the exact date.
I struggled with a lot over my childhood and teenage years with fears, insecurities, trouble at school etc…my life was always ( or at least seemed ) marked or characterized by sadness, troubles, etc…my dad had a tough position on me and my 2 sisters ( not to any real abuse levels ) but there was certainly physical punishment when we did wrong and sometimes, that punishment, to some degree, certainly looked and felt like abuse..dont get me wrong; there were good times as well. my mother was loving, as well as my grandmother – who was my heart. ( grandma passed when I was in my 30s.) my sisters and i got along well and i grew up with a somewhat normal childhood.
now, my dad was a big disciplinarian as well as intimidating nuturer – he wanted me to go pro as a tennis player since I was 5 – but it never panned out. I grew up as a teenager angry ( mostly at him), fearful, no real motivation except drugs , alcohol and trying to fit in in school.
regarding my church life; we grew up “christian” in a Methodist church and up until 15 ish I was very actively involved in church activity , Sunday school etc…I always had a knowledge of Jesus and scriptures but they never resonated on a personal level until I finally decided my life was out of control ( gettin kicked out of multiple schools and too much smoking, drinking and drug abuse which started maybe from 14 – 18). when i finally decided to seek god out again, i started reading alot of psalms, proverbs etc. i also met with a church (through my sister who was actively involved in it). they started studying the bible w me and I decided to confess my sins and get baptized. I doubted the first baptism cause I didn’t confess everything ( out of shame and fear of judgement) I decided to finally tell my pastor what it was and we continued to study out the bible. it wasn’t till a few years later, maybe 2 or 3 ( i honestly don’t remember at this point ), that I decided to get baptized again ( which seemed real because everything had now been exposed aanf I decided I wanted to make Christ lorLord.
Long story short; shortly after that 2nd baptism i was still wrestling with sin but like any other Christian. i understood we all had struggles and sin doesn’t go away overnight. but it wasn’t a habitual continual sinning. and every time I did give into something I would confess it. i contnued going to church and praying, reading etc but I always had these struggles w doubt ( i understand Satan is cunning and crafty etc; and we spent many a church sermon, bible study etc learning about his ways and how he can use and turn scripture against us )….
but through this time I never fully grew in and mastered my faith. i was like the seed who fell among thorns. the world kinda had a lure on me ( mainly cause I felt I didn’t experience it to the degree other had- in terms of pleasures. and maybe I felt i needed to taste those things before I got disgusted enough to say ” NO MORE” ). I feel my faith was slowly being choked out.
slowly but surely one sin led to another and another and I left that church but still kept some friends from there and still kept confessing my sins through the years but I technically started drifting pretty hard…not reaading as much, Dec not going to church…ended up getting 2 college degrees and things seemed normal but my sins and the world still pulled me in. I kept doing things that kept leading to oother things and soon wad caught up in the whole cycle of smoking marijuana again in my mid 30s. after nearly 10 years of sobriety ( there was still drinking in those years so sobriety was never fully there ). the drug use continued for a year or so…35 – 36. then I stopped again and tried to hold on to scriptures like in isaiah..that God was still with me. but I kept having frightening thoughts about my salvation and a fear that if I returned to him i might fall into sin again but I also from digging alot into isaiah and jeremiah i weirdly felt him saying ( in fact the scriptures were saying in Joel, hosea etc…) ” return to me w all you heart” and ” I will heal your backsliding” I felt a pull and feeling that he still wanted me back and that all was forgiven like isaiah says ” i have redeemed you, you are mine”, and “I will never abandon you” but THEN, a year later, I was pulled back to the drinking and marijuana use again for about another year…2015-16
I finally got off it since Oct 2016, and stopped some of the other things that came with it, i.e. lying, stealing, cigarettes, sexual sins and more but in the last year there were minor bouts of sin….
I’m done with the ways of this world and am sick to my stomach but am now doubting if those promises still apply to me….and more so confused about whether or not those verses from hebrews apply and i did “willfully persist” in sins…maybe even thinking works baswd for a while which i know is not good to think.
sorry for the long post and again, only if you feel comfortable sharing your story in more detail, mainly how you stopped your doubts, I would greatly appreciate it. I understand everyone’s story is different and i do not wish for you to struggle with trying to help me find a solution, but only if your situation was similar and you found a true saving solution. If you dont feel comfortable sharing your story in depth either i completly understand.
thanks again,
Solomon
Age of 35 you got saved right
Thank you all so much for your comments. I also feel like I live in a world of people who either do not believe at all or who do believe, profess that they believe, seem to always be joyful about God and trusting in his promises and encouraging towards others, etc. And I had many people saying things to me like, “you have to be in your Bible and in constant dialogue with the LORD in prayer”. Which I was doing for a certain period of time when these doubts hit me VERY hard, shortly after I being struck with panic attacks out of nowhere. I began experiencing other very strange physical symptoms, as well as so much cognitive impairment it was ruining my life. Every day I was sure I was going to die. I was sure there HAD to be something physically wrong with me and went to Doctor after doctor after Doctor, with no help other than being told I simply needed to be on medication for anxiety and depression. I sought help from my circle of Christian women in a Bible study at my church and confessed that I had a deep fear that I really did not belong to Christ, that my faith wasn’t real, that I might be one of the ones that was “made for destruction” or one that would eventually be part of the ones that were going to be “falling away”. Several of them seemed certain most of my issues were manifestations of spiritual attack and needed to be fought with weapons of spiritual warfare. At first I was hopeful about this, even empowered. So I
began to fight. I was on my knees EVERY DAY. Poring over the Scriptures EVERY DAY. Literally crying out, even screaming, to God to show me that I was saved and take away my unbelief EVERY DAY. I prayed for the armor of GOd and spoke out loud rebuking, refusing, resisting, and renouncing the Devil in Jesus’ name EVERY DAY. I experienced some temporary relief from time to time. My friends kept encouraging me, telling me my “deliverance was coming soon”, and continued to
Intercede for me I’m prayer and provide emotional support. However, as time went on, I plunged deeper and deeper into confusion, continued to be tormented by almost constant anxiety, frequent panic attacks, and spiraled into the worst depressive episode of my life (which I have struggled with most of my life since adolescence). I could barely function and was heartbroken everyday over the effects this was having on my children and husband. EVentually I reached a point where the stress was so severe that I began to
suffer from a symptom called “derealization” where I felt almost completely disconnected from my surroundings, like nothing was real. It was the most terrifying feeling I have ever felt. I continued to wear myself out with desperate prayer. I did not understand it; I just didn’t get why I felt like I had to pray SO HARD, and Study my Bible SO FERVENTLY, while
Other people in my life such as my husband, who is also a believer, did
none of those things and simply was able to believe and trust. I felt completely alone in my struggle and I was utterly EXHAUSTED. I eventually ended up in the hospital.
I have since been taking medication and have been doing much better physically and emotionally, however, these thoughts still plague me and I don’t know where to turn, how to be free of them. But I am truly thankful to know that I am not alone and will continue to “fight the good fight”. If anyone has a similar story and has truly come out on the other side, please respond to my comments. Thank you, and let us all “be confisent in this, that he who began a good work in you, will carry it on, to completion, until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Thank you all so much for your comments. I also feel like I live in a world of people who either do not believe at all or who do believe, profess that they believe, seem to always be joyful about God and trusting in his promises and encouraging towards others, etc. And I had many people saying things to me like, “you have to be in your Bible and in constant dialogue with the LORD in prayer”. Which I was doing for a certain period of time when these doubts hit me VERY hard, shortly after I being struck with panic attacks out of nowhere. I began experiencing other very strange physical symptoms, as well as so much cognitive impairment it was ruining my life. Every day I was sure I was going to die. I was sure there HAD to be something physically wrong with me and went to Doctor after doctor after Doctor, with no help other than being told I simply needed to be on medication for anxiety and depression. I sought help from my circle of Christian women in a Bible study at my church and confessed that I had a deep fear that I really did not belong to Christ, that my faith wasn’t real, that I might be one of the ones that was “made for destruction” or one that would eventually be part of the ones that were going to be “falling away”. Several of them seemed certain most of my issues were manifestations of spiritual attack and needed to be fought with weapons of spiritual warfare. At first I was hopeful about this, even empowered. So I
began to fight. I was on my knees EVERY DAY. Poring over the Scriptures EVERY DAY. Literally crying out, even screaming, to God to show me that I was saved and take away my unbelief EVERY DAY. I prayed for the armor of GOd and spoke out loud rebuking, refusing, resisting, and renouncing the Devil in Jesus’ name EVERY DAY. I experienced some temporary relief from time to time. My friends kept encouraging me, telling me my “deliverance was coming soon”, and continued to
Intercede for me I’m prayer and provide emotional support. However, as time went on, I plunged deeper and deeper into confusion, continued to be tormented by almost constant anxiety, frequent panic attacks, and spiraled into the worst depressive episode of my life (which I have struggled with most of my life since adolescence). I could barely function and was heartbroken everyday over the effects this was having on my children and husband. EVentually I reached a point where the stress was so severe that I began to
suffer from a symptom called “derealization” where I felt almost completely disconnected from my surroundings, like nothing was real. It was the most terrifying feeling I have ever felt. I continued to wear myself out with desperate prayer. I did not understand it; I just didn’t get why I felt like I had to pray SO HARD, and Study my Bible SO FERVENTLY, while
Other people in my life such as my husband, who is also a believer, did
none of those things and simply was able to believe and trust. I felt completely alone in my struggle and I was utterly EXHAUSTED. I eventually ended up in the hospital.
I have since been taking medication and have been doing much better physically and emotionally, however, these thoughts still plague me and I don’t know where to turn, how to be free of them. But I am truly thankful to know that I am not alone and will continue to “fight the good fight”. If anyone has a similar story and has truly come out on the other side, please respond to my comments. Thank you, and let us all “be confident in this, that he who began a good work in you, will carry it on, to completion, until the day of Christ Jesus.”
I have doubted on and off for half my life. One thing that helps me, is when Jesus talks about receiving the Kingdom of heaven like a child. Children are innocent & believe. They probably don’t even know what it means to doubt. In this world of uncertainties, of postmodernism and “no absolute truth” it’s no wonder so many people struggle with doubt. I am so thankful for an UNCHANGING God, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I think the key factor here is lack of faith. God is faithful to do what He promises. Always. You cannot out-sin God. The Lord still fulfilled his promise to Abraham & Sarah, even after Sarah told Abraham to go and sleep with his maid-servant, Hagar. So even though Sarah tried to fulfill God’s promise through a different woman, God still delivered his promise of making Sarah conceive 14 years later. He IS FAITHFUL, even if we haven’t been.
One thing that you can do is to verbally tell Satan to go back to hell in Jesus Name! In 1 John 5, it says “I write you these things, so that ye MAY KNOW THAT YOU ARE SAVED.” Trust the Lords word. Jesus says Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away!! How awesome and how POWERFUL! How GREAT is Our GOD!
Right before Jesus died on the cross, he said “it is finished” this is an accounting term, which means paid in full. Our sin has been paid! Praise the Lord! If you had cancer (sin in this example) and someone said they had the cure, and would pay for it for free, wouldn’t you be extatic? We must trust Jesus. Rely on him, LEAN on the everlasting Arm, trust and obey, even when it doesn’t make sense. Just like the angel of the Lord told Joshua & his troops to March around Jericho for 7 days…didn’t really make sense, but he trusted the Lord. We must remember to Trust in the Lord with ALL of our heart (not just some of it) and to LEAN NOT ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. In ALL of our ways acknowledge HIM and HE shall make our paths straight! Proverbs 3:5-6
I grew up going to church , was taught about Jesus but never really understood. As I was a teen I knew he was there but never followed him or accepted him, I actually went off and was very rebellious ,involved in drugs and lots of sexual activity. I then moved in with my boyfriend and we had a few kids over the course of 6 years, it was with my 3rd child I came down with post partum psychosis and I remember crying Jesus help me Jesus help me for weeks but I still never heard about being saved then so I don’t think he saved me then, then I got mixed into an apostolic church for a short time but it was during women’s prayer one night that I repented and was crying and apologizing but still never knew about being saved. My life was changing more towards christ and his scripture was convicting so I would change my ways as I was convicted. Wasn’t til 6 years ago I met my husband who always talked about being born again and I couldn’t tell him I wasn’t because I thought I was already a child of God and going to heaven just because I believe but I never prayed a prayer to accept him into my heart. So would you say I was never saved then? I’m so confused. We had watched sermons of Charles stanley and he always prayed a salvation prayer at the end and I would juSt say it with him. Then last year I woke up with horrid anxiety, doubting everything I once knew, to the point where I was even doubting Jesus existence! How awful of me! My husband asked me if I’m sure I’m saved and I just said yeah but then I wasn’t so sure and since then this past year I don’t know if I’ve ever been saved. I’ve prayed the sinners prayer and prayed multiple times a day everyday , I thought if I didn’t figure it out right now I’m doomed for hell. As I write this I feel my anxiety coming on with fear that I don’t know if I’m saved or not because I’ve never had a day that was so apparent to me. But before my anxiety started last year I believed with all my heart that Jesus died for me and my sins and that he is alive. I even was baptized with my husband about 5 years ago proclaiming that I’m living for the lord, but I still at that point never prayed a salvation prayer! I just thought I had to believe in him and follow him and I was good. Is that not being saved? I live each day in worry and fear that I’m not saved ,I don’t have assurance that I am. I want so desperately to be saved and I worry that I’m the one that falls on rocky ground and will fall away or I think I’m saved but then when I die find out that I never made the cut and to hell I go. Please help me somehow. I want to love Jesus without wavering. I wasn’t like this before but I don’t know if I was saved before this anxiety started last year and if I wasn’t how can I be saved if I’m in the the middle of doubting, I’ve cried out so many times lord I believe help my unbelief and I do believe in him, I know I do. I just want to know if I was saved back then when I just simply believed and wanted to follow his commands . I wish I knew. I don’t want to be waverying, I want to be saved and live my life , but do I not understand enough? Is my faith not strong enough? If my faith is barely anything how can I even be saved? I wish I had a day i knew I was saved so that I could fall back on that day. Any insight please would be great.
God bless the person who wrote this it helped me understand my salvation. I have been having douts about my salvation and this cleared it up and now I understand. Thanks 🙂
Hello,
I am someone who has doubted off and on for decades. I don’t know what I knew about Jesus when. I know I asked to be saved. I just don’t know when I knew about resurrection. I was in my 20’s before I knew Son of God meant God. Is it enough to call upon the name of Jesus to be saved or do you have to know all of this at once?
I can’t give you an emphatic answer on how much you need to understand – but I know believing Jesus is God is important. If you’re concerned that you didn’t understand that back when you called on Him before, you could always call again now. He is there ready to answer you. But don’t be paralyzed by a fear that you must understand every truth before you are saved – the Holy Spirit teaches us so much after our salvation.
I too had doubts for most of my life. I was saved since i was age 13. Satan lied to me and i gave him too much credit. Its still the same thing as in the Garden of Eden. God told the truth. Satan lied to Adam and Eve, but they believed Satan instead of God. Its still the same thing. We have the choice to believe God or Satan. This is where doubt comes in from. I used to have doubts about my salvation. Satan lied to me, and not knowing better, I believed Satan’s lie. Aftet i was saved by God, Satan said i was not saved. So, Why did I have doubts? Because i didnt fully believe God. Due to Satan’s lie. I had to decide who to fully believe. I chose to believe God. When i did that just two weeks ago, all doubts went away. God’s word says that the truth shall set you free. The truth has set me free of all doubts concerning my salvation in Christ Jesus. Now without doubts, i feel so free. I am finally free. I live a happy life now with God. I feel that a heavy burden has been lifted from on me. I know know beyond any doubts that i will die and be with God forever in His Heaven. God’s word has set me free. I no longer fear death. I told my two grown daughters that when i die, think of me that I only “moved.” I told them both never think of me as dead coz that is not true with my soul. I moved to Heaven and that I will be waiting on you both to move up here near me. And also near God of course. That is how sure i am saved. I hope that this will help someone somewhere. Also read John 1:12. ” … even to those who believe on His name.” You dont need to know everyting about God and His holy Bible in order for God to save you. I was saved by God when i was only age 13. I knew less than ten verses in the whole bible, yet God saved me.
Ronald Thomas, you are awesome! We all relate to this. I did not know a whole lot either. None of us really do. Your comment helps. I’m in a time where I could use some comfort! If I could sit down and have a cup of coffee with you, I would. I encourage you do that soon with someone and help them with salvation. You are a guiding light.
This really helped! Thank you so much ?? To God be all the glory!
I’m 42 and was saved at age 18. I remember not “feeling” a change like everyone else that testified that night. I actually went back to the preacher and wanted to make sure that I was saved because I didn’t “feel” saved. He said its not a feeling, it’s faith. I have struggled over the years because in a southern baptist church one of the favorite sermons is the one where if you fell into sin after you said you were saved then you probably wouldn’t saved. We recently have a new pastor and after hearing some of his sermons I started yet again to doubt my salvation. Why? Because I fell away from God. Why? Well after some soul searching and reading, I came to realize that I had been abused by a deacon and another person in the church as a teenager and child. I had difficulty attending church as I had an abusive husband right out of high school who made my life difficult to live as holy as I wanted to. I slowly got out of church and went down a bad road. God brought be back like the prodigal son but due to my backslidden condition I thought well I may not have gotten saved. I read this article and realized that I’m not the only one and that I did call upon the name of the lord and that my salvation is through faith and not a feeling. Feelings are fickle. They will let you down. Faith is a rock we can lean on. Thanks for the article. Exactly what I needed to read.
Linda, have you ever heard of religious obsessive compulsive disorder? I believe many of your respondents have this disorder. It is a brain abnormality and it is sometimes called the “doubting disease”.
I believe I have religious OCD (I was diagnosed with OCD by a psychiatrist one time.) I have struggled with doubt for many years. I have accepted Jesus numerous times. This is one characteristic of religious OCD. People with ROCD also struggle with evil thoughts and an over sensitive conscience. I have had these characteristics as well.
When it flares up I go into depression. I am on some medication. (Depression is also often physical in origin.) I am in one, now.
When people with ROCD get into such a state, they may have an aversion to the Bible, prayer, and church. (I have read a lot about ROCD, and people’s testimonials about their struggles.) I have experienced this, myself. It is all in the chemical imbalance.
I still claim Jesus as my Savior and Lord, and have accepted His forgiveness via the cross some years ago.
But I still have doubts, and it seems to get worse as I get older. (I am in my 60’s). People with ROCD have an addiction to seeking reassurance. They are (through no fault of their own) often resistive to things that may help other people. Despite this, some do overcome ROCD. I am still seeking. Your commentary on relying on God’s promises is encouraging. Please pray for me.
Your thoughts?.
I’m not familiar with this but chemistry can affect how we view things.
I would just say that God can overcome anything. And that we can choose to believe something even if we don’t feel it. I think that’s a big part of the problem – we rely so much on our feelings. Do I “feel” saved? When what we really need to focus on is God’s Word and His promises.
I am 34, and what you described is me to a “t”. Overactive conscience, assurance seeking, etc…Obsessive to the point of tears and depression.
I got saved in Sunday school when I was 13. I loved Jesus was concerned about people’s salvation prayed that people get saved. My first question that would come in my mind when people died where they will be going heaven or hell. My faith in Jesus was very strong until the day I got baptised at 17. When Satan attacked me very badly. Thought start coming in my mind when did u get saved u can’t remember the date, did u mean what u said, has ur life change. Then I began getting worried it was haunting me that if I died I would be In hell so I started praying the salvation prayed so many times that I’ve lost count. 20 years later I’m still struggling I keep praying the salvation prayer but Satan says to me if u have doubted again about it salvation so ur not saved. I have no peace these thought haunt me. I 100 per believe Jesus has died for me he has forgiven me he rise up for me. I have received him in my heart. Whenever I sin he spk to me I confess my sins he give me peace. Whatever I gave through he spk to me through the bible and meets my needs. I have a personal relationship with him. I love him so so much. But why is Satan attacking me u are not saved y do the thoughts come in my head when I believe Jesus has died for me and accepted me. Please pray for me and please give me advice how I can overcome this. I came across this article which has shown me so many people struggle with salvation I’ve started to read the promise as u have suggested. I just want to grow with Jesus instead of worrying all my life am I saved. Please help amen..
You say that many Christian teens deal with this, and I’m sure of that, but it’s not just teens. I’m 39 years old and I’ll have been saved a year in Oct. Your testimony is almost word for word what I’ve been through; except I have crippling shame for 38 years of sin and a tendency towards self loathing. Easy way to say it is that GOD forgives me but I struggle to forgive me. I know I’m saved but I haven’t grown as I should. This is a blessing to me to see someone else openly have struggled like I am. Thank you.
I’m still having doubts, especially when I’m in a position where I could die (driving, flying) and though I have prayed the prayer of Salvation and believe I’m saved, Satan loves to throw the verses at me that say, “people say they love God, but when they get to heaven He will say “I never knew you”. Then I start doubting again saying, what if I think I’m saved but when I die, He will say this to me. Many times I have been alone and think, maybe the Lord has returned and I’ve been left behind. I have been hysterical at times when I can’t find my husband or my Mom, and then I doubt even more. I was raised to believe that life is like walking on eggshells and every sin I commit I’m condemned for and won’t go to heaven if I forget to ask forgiveness. It is a vicious cycle. I’m keeping your verses close to me to help me claim them, not in fear, but in victory.
I have been a Christian for about a year now. I find myself doubting so much. I cry out desperately to the Lord to help me know where I stand with Him. Sometimes I feel like such a fraud because I think even though I proclaim God, I must not be saved due to my constant inner torment over my standing with God. Then I get so despaired about it I start the cycle of self pity which leaves me feeling unable to DO anything for God, which makes me think I’m disobeying him so I must not be saved. All of this is just so exhausting. Please pray for peace in my life. I was just reading a verse on another blog which was encouraging. 1 John 3:20
Reading many of these articles I rarely seen one that talked bout the drawing of God through the Holy Spirit to Salvation. I guess this happened to me in 2010 but don’t know if I was drawn, heavlily convicted, thinking I didn’t do enough or make it public or was just nervous to go up even though I’ve asked Jesus in my heart and forgive me privately 100’s of times through tracts like “This was your Life” and radio programs. I had a love for social drinking, wasn’t close to God, and on that day I just ran fwd. Didn’t feel a thing afterward and the preacher asked me if the Lord saved me? I said yes, only because I asked Him to and assumed He did but doubted before I even walked out of the church. Made MANY professions later, still social drank but not lately, been fwd many times and hoping I would feel a drawing and not just going out of fear and having as much faith as I could muster up that He would save me/assure me and comfort me. Never felt different. Its been a roller coaster and Im still not sure. Asked Him to save me last night here at work, got on my Knees and “settled it” I don’t like hearing dirty jokes or telling them, hate hearing “GD” wereas I used to tolerate them, hated to gossip and would catch myself. Don’t wanna do anything wrong against God but Muslims and Mormons can do that and they’re very lost and don’t know it or feel concerned. The other night is the scary thing. Even though the pastor wasnt’; preaching on Hell and salvation but “hearing from God” I felt a light stomach burn for a sec then went away. I wanted this feeling cause its only happened a few times before and I would hesitate on it til end of sermon and run to alter then and ask God about it, take care of it, save me if it was my calling and convicting power and other night I hesitated again. Its not as if I blew it off totally and walked out of the tent meeting in that condition. I’ve also felt down and depressed when I hear bout preachers wives getting saved and long time members of the church that I would visit like “well this don’t help, how would they know and how were they not saved at an early age. Ran to alter at end of sermon and asked God to save me again and believed He would do it although doubt would still linger. People and pastors tell me simple faith in Jesus and conviction would be way more than that(small stomach thing) and that God is not looking at a watch…ok come on, come on, opp…times up, you missed it. May never draw you again. Its killing me inside and I don’t know what to do. I need all the prayer I can get and any advice. Please reply. I keep hearing the devil messes with us and knows how to do it but how can I be so sure???
My pastor Alistair Begg would say that the fact that you’re even asking these questions is an indication that God IS at work in you drawing you to Himself. Romans 3:11 & other verses say “No one seeks after God.” So you don’t need to sit there and wonder whether or not the Spirit is drawing you. If you have a desire to know God and be saved, He’s drawing you.
I’m not sure if that’s what you’re asking or not. But regardless, you need to look to God and His promises. You are way overthinking it. And I don’t mean that in a condescending way at all – I’ve totally been there. I’ve worked myself in circles overthinking whether or not I had enough faith. But the key is what God has promised. It’s not about the perfect timing or how your stomach feels or whether you go forward or not. It’s about what God has promised: For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ & you will be saved. If you’ve honestly called on Him, then every time the doubts come, go to His Word. Read it and believe it. Keep going back to His Word over and over and choose to believe Him even when you don’t feel it
I was raised in a Christian house and asked the Lord to save me very young. I attended a day camp and was asked to raise my hand if I wanted to be saved. I raised my hand after seeing others do the same and followed their example. I didn’t know what exactly I was doing but since i have asked many times over to be saved and accepted into God’s kingdom and presence after I die. Still, I am now much older and past my teen years but I have never felt good on the issue. Mainly because I am a strggling drug addict who has unsuccessfully found long term sobriety. Im sure many will read that last fact and think to themselves im undeserving, I feel this way too. However thru out my addiction I haven’t ever been able to shake my need for God and his love. It’s never left my side, even while using I pray and read the Bible. I absolutely feel the gap between us due to my on going sin, but I’ll never stop trying to fix it by finding recovery. Everyone sins, mine just happens to be extremely damaging.
One thing I cannot wrap my mind around is messing up my chance to live forever in God’s presence. While separated from here on Earth, we cannot grasp the true need for him our souls crave. I believe after death this need will be unclouded by earthly distractions and we will yearn to be near him with all of our hearts. My true fear is to hear “depart from me I never knew you”.
This is so important to me, so why isn’t my lifestyle reflecting this?!? I drive myself nuts and im truly sick of my own choices….
I suppose this Bible verse says it all:
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the [b]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God [c]in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in [d]the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner [e]of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from [f]the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Hi Kristi,
I would encourage you to read the book The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith. She addresses some of the questions you are asking and talks about how to find true victory not by trying harder but by allowing God to change us from the inside out.
Thank you for your post. I will find victory by reading and reading God’s promises. The devil has been working overtime in my life and I’m giving him the boot:)
I have doubted my salvation again and again I constantly sin and there is one sin the I don’t want to do then do it and hate myself for it. I think am I really a Christian of i do this and have doubts and questions lead to questions and I still have my doubts but I’m alot better after this
Keep in mind that your salvation is not based on your behavior. It’s based on what Christ did for you. Period. Don’t listen to how you feel. Listen to what you know to be true based on the word of God.
After our salvation we still have our flesh trying to get us to sin, but we also have the Spirit who is able to give us victory. It’s a war between the two, and we must learn to walk in the Spirit to find that victory.
I really want to know i am saved. I am 39 and have doubted ever since being a child. I am scared my heart is to hard because I wllifully have sinned so much….even though I knew better. Please pray also that i can let go of pride and accept gods will for my life because I have a disability and life is very hard from it—–and its hard to believe that it is God’s god plan. I know it isn’t just praying a prayer but now that I’ve lost my childlike faith I am not sure if i can be brought back to that place of trust. Please pray I will have assurance and new life in him.
Praying for you, Crystal. I was reading Hannah Whitall Smith’s book A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, and she addresses this problem of not having enough faith. She explained that this is the wrong way to look at it. Faith is not about us – it’s about the object of our faith. When we say “I don’t have faith,” we need to finish the statement. WHAT do we not have faith in? We are really saying “I don’t have faith in God.” Changes how we view it, right? Too often we look at faith as a feeling or something we have to work up to. But really, it’s a choice. Will I choose to believe God or not? Doesn’t matter how I feel, what I’m wondering about. Just a choice – do I choose to believe God or choose not to believe God?
Thanks for this article! I have been doubting my salvation for years now, I’ve walked the ill and confessed Jesus as my Lord & Savior many of times, & meant it every time, but a few days later I would find myself doubting again. After reading the scriptures & testimonys that have been shared here I now realize that it has just been Satan robbing me of my Joy all these years. I will definitely rest easy now knowing that I’m truly saved and that if I died right now I’d be in Heaven for eternity (Praise God)! I was also raised in a Christian home, went to a Southern Baptist Church for many years ( I’m 17 now and me, my sister, & my parents have become Independent Baptist recently) , my mom was a Sunday School Teacher, my dad the song leader, and I just naturally adapted the Christian life, looked, talked, and walked like a Christian, but I was as lost as lost could be, but PRAISE GOD 1 day he got a hold of me and I gave my heart and life to Jesus never been the same since! Thank you so much for this article and these testimonies that have been shared here, glad to know I’m not the only person in the world who has struggled with this doubt. Blessings to all!
I am 34years old, married father of one. I was raised in a Baptist church, so like many here, didn’t have the shocking black to white conversion story others have. I have, on and off, doubted my salvation for the better part of 20 years. I believe I got saved at a young age. I’ve had passion for Jesus on and off, times of fire, but mostly indifference. I 100% believe Jesus has spoken directly to me on multiple occasions, but I still doubt.
I’m to the point where I want to give up. Like “was I elected to be saved in the first place??” The feeling is so powerful I can almost physically feel it. My heart is pounding, my thoughts race, I want to crawl out of my skin. It’s literally unbearable to the point of tears and depression. I’ve prayed to God many times for peace on this subject, and called out to Him countless times, but can never seem to attain any sort of lasting peace on this point. It’s like a rollercoaster with no middle ground. I’m either soaring on Jesus, or in a pit of despair. I see other Christians basking in the depth of their relationship with Jesus, treasuring every morsel of truth they can get, and it pierces my heart. I struggle with Obedience, and that just adds to the insurmountable feeling of guilt and condemnation. My Christian friends and my wife don’t understand how I am still going through this struggle after all these years (with one friend stating “You’re still struggling with this?”), and almost get irritated when I constantly speak about it. I feel utterly and completely alone, as if rejected by God Himself.
I do love Jesus, but I still doubt. God have mercy on me on my soul, I would appreciate your prayers.
Hi Linda it’s Ashely again. The guy. The prison guard and army national guard. Being around other guards, inmates, and other army personnel my goodness I feel like a Saint cause it’s just dirty potty flith all the time. But that gives no hope at all. Just a glimpse of a lost world without Christ and I know none of these guys would be in this site wondering or even in a church period. and I don’t exactly get sick of hearin” if your concerned then it’s not too late or your saved and it’s the devil messing with you”I mean yeah it’s some comfort for a day maybe but no inner peace no inner spiritual comfort that I am so looking for. I was Methodist for 32 years. Most of my family is Methodist or Presbyterian or some contemporary church deal and they don’t exactly preach sin and Hell n conviction and I can’t talk to my mom about it. I’m sure she’s lost and so is my sister n niece n nephew and they just think I’m crazy but they don’t realize this is all real Christianity that i listen to and attend and not some watered down easy listening deal or a woman preacher.
I believe I sounded somewhat confusing in my last message and you did the best you could to help me. I’ve heard too many stories of people who have prayed for forgiveness repentance and giving their hearts to the Lord many times only to feel no different and even more lost. Just this morning, I’m nightshift and an insomniac I listened to testamomies were a man just gave Jesus his sin and put all faith in the cross and it worked so I pleaded that to God, meant it, prayed for faith and help…slowly coming out of it but I know How I’ll feel later.
Another thing I wanted to ask about is dreams. If you NEVER dream about Jesus or anything about Jesus except last night I dreamed I got up off an alter and felt no different and woke up shaking. Does you or anyone have info on dreams and how they relate? I know certain food or medicine can make us have jacked up dreams of nothing, or stupid stuff but to never dream bout peace with Jesus at all?? Please write a list of every name on this board that’s hurting and place it on the alter at ur church. Prayer changes things and I need it worse than ever.
I would encourage you not to focus on your feelings. Your emotions & feelings can lie to you – you simply cannot trust them. What you can trust is God & His promises. Focus on what you know to be true. Choose to believe what God has said. The feelings should come in time – but using your feelings as a test for whether or not God is at work is a big mistake, and probably the reason you feel so confused & frustrated.
As for dreams, I am certainly no dream expert. But once again – why would you focus on dreams (which are probably one of the most unreliable things in the world) instead of what God has said in His Word (which is completely reliable). I cannot really remember any specific dreams I’ve had about Jesus, but I know I’m His child based on what the Bible says and on my relationship with Him through prayer.
Hope that helps…
I have been struggling with salvation assurance in different ways off and on. I have days or moments when I worship in the car or church or wherever when I am in awe and know I love the Lord. Other times though and still I wonder if my love for Him is only selfish and I just love His gifts. I also struggle with passages that seem to put Christians in a place of overwhelming spiritual ability. Sometimes when I read Paul’s letters and all the other epistles I am scared because I am not as strong as them. It seems like they are being led by the spirit in everything. I live a normal life I feel like for the most part. Where is the tremendous fruit that scripture talks about? Where are the converts? Where is the dramatic life change? I hear Christians talk about sanctification being a process, but anytime “sanctification appears in the Bible it seems like being sanctified is almost equivalent with justification. Why does shedding sin in my life seem like such a process, but Romans 7 is about the only verse where sin seems to be in any NT Christians life in the Bible. I don’t understand why I’m like this if I’m a Christian? Can anyone help as well as pray for me?
Hi Jacob. I’d recommend the book A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith. I think you’d find it very helpful.
Thank you guys so much!!! Your testimonies have been so helpful and God is really using all of you!! I’m 15 and this year in January I fell down to my kness and cried out to Jesus and asked Him to forgive me of my sin and to save me. The life that I was living before was absolutely rebellious against God. I had a filthy mouth and I remember being very disobedient, dishonest, disloyal, and disrespectful towards my parents, other family members, friends, enemies, and yes, God. Not only that but i was hanging out with the wrong people and i was doing the wrong things. I remember being heavily addicted to lust and video games and so on. I was lazy, ignorant, and also arrogant. Didn’t care for school or anything like that. I remember the night when I cried out to Jesus. Some of you might think this is a weird place for all of this to happen but it is what it is. One night I was in the shower and I remember when I got in the shower I just stood there and started to think about my life and the way I was living it. I felt like at that moment God opened up my eyes and for once I could see that the things I was doing was wrong and sinful. I grew up in a Christian family so I knew about God and Jesus but I never lived for them or had a relationship with them. But anyways, I started to think about Jesus, and I started to think about how He is so loving and forgiving. I began to weep, I fell down to my knees and Cried out to Him asking for forgiveness of my sins and to save me!! Guys im telling you I could feel the Lord’s presence, and it was such a peaceful and comforting presence. I could also feel all of the burdens being lifted off of my shoulders. Do you guys know how the Bible says, you are to be “born again”, well im gonna to yell i felt like I was being born again in that moment. I could feel it physically, mentally, emotionally, and yes, spiritually!!! After that I really started to live for Christ!! I was reading the Bible and praying and talking to others about Him. I had this deep desire and passion of wanting to get closer to Jesus!!! But then one day i fell into the temptation of lust and ended up watching pornography. I remember after i had opened my heart up to Christ and invited Him to be my Lord and Savior, I went for several moths without viewing pornography. So after i had committed this sin i can remember just being so mad and upset at myself because of what I had done, I can actually remember at one point I almost puked because i felt so disgusted at myself. As time went on I began to view it more and more and it had now entered this new life that Christ has blessed me with. I knew it was wrong and sinful and every time i comitted that sin or any other sin i would confess it to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness. Then the doubts about my salvation started to rush in. I can remember feeling like I was saved one day and the next day feeling condemned, and it still feels like this sometimes. Eventually I got baptized because i felt like the Lord was calling on me to do so, so I did. When i got baptized i was hoping that all of this doubt and also the struggle with lust would leave me, but it didn’t. Guys I can’t tell you how many time I’ve asked Christ to save me and forgive me ever since this started to happen. If there was a guinness world record of how many times somebody has said the sinners prayer i would probably be one of the people, and think about it this just started happening about 5 or 6 months ago. But anyways, my struggle of lust has been dying down and today I started to have doubts and I cam across this blog and it has really helped me and also taught me!! I will be praying for you guys and If you guys will, please do the same for me!! These doubts are not fun to go through so please help. Also if you would please leave some word of advice on what else I can do!! Thank you and may the Lord Jesus be with you all!!!
Where to begin? God knows those who are His children. We have a baby book. In it our names are written and the date of our physical birth. So look at it like thus…The Lord also has one and we may not know the exact date of our redemption but HE knows. He is the only one who matters. If one accepts that Jesus the Son of God died on the cross paying the price for our sin and
rose again you are saved. That is the power of the holy spirit that you are turning to God. Phil 2:13
I have actually been so incredibly frustrated and depressed because here’s the problem……you have one group of Christians telling you that when you ask Jesus to save you and accept him as your savior that you are saved. That he will change you but you will still struggle with sin but he will forgive you. Then you have the other group of Christians who say that most people won’t be saved, that when you are saved there is an automatic change and that you CAN stop sinning. They are also to careful to point out that if you are not doing everything God commands 24/7 for the rest of your life you will go to hell. Then you have the Christians who are in between the two extremes. For example just today I was researching if you should stay with an unbelieving spouse…. one person preached that you should stay with your spouse because you could bring him to Christ, and then just a few clicks away there’s another person saying that God hates it when people stay with an unbelieving spouse more than he hates divorce. People like to tell you….well you have to read your Bible and listen to God. Well what good is it if there are a thousand different interpretations and opinions of how to translate what God is saying? Who do you listen to? I just feel doomed, like I’m never going to get it right. My heart mostly tells me that God being a harsh and demanding God is probably the more likely. I’ve been reading the Old Testament and it makes you feel like God is just itching to punish you. So yeah, I struggle with knowing if I’m saved or not, I really don’t know what to think anymore. This whole mess has been bothering me so much that it’s literally making me feel sick to my stomach, I have tremors, I cry my eyes out and feel like I’m on the verge of a panic attack. I mean is this really how I’m supposed to feel? I just don’t know.
It can be very confusing, can’t it. But here’s the thing – We can trust the Bible. It is God’s Word to us. Yes, there are many interpretations. But not all interpretations are created equal. What I mean is that some interpretations twist the Word of God – or ignore parts of the Bible. Or are a lot of opinion mixed with one verse taken out of context.
On the other hand, there are those who diligently study the Word of God – not with their own agenda or opinion – but genuinely seeking to study & understand it the way God intended us to. We must be like that – studying for ourselves, and listening to those who diligently study as well.
I’d highly recommend listening to Truth for Life by Alistair Begg. His preaching and teaching is so Biblical and will be helpful to you. Always look to the Bible for yourself – but he will greatly help you in your study. Here’s the website: https://www.truthforlife.org/ (There’s a podcast, too)
Thanks so much for answering me. I am so desperate and need help and most people discourage me instead of encourage me. You have definitely encouraged me.
Amanda, God knows you cannot possibly do everything right 24/7 which is why He sent his son in our place on the cross. Pray to ask the Lord to convict your heart when you sin & be quick to repent earnestly. He’ll forgive you & then you & He will work together to rid your life of that particular sin & then you’ll move on. If we were convicted of all of our sins at one time, it would be terribly overwhelming and the Lord knows this. So He works on us a little at a time. Pertaining to an unbelieving spouse, well – it should probably have been addressed before marriage, but since it wasn’t, it is not the Lord’s desire to abandon your marriage, but to consistently pray for your spouse to come to Jesus. Do not harp on him – won’t do a bit of good and may push him further away. But love him and allow him to see Jesus in your actions and in your words. 🙂 I would suggest you go online and see if you can find a bible study called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) near you. It’s an amazing study done all around the world at the same time. I think it would be beneficial to you (and everyone else for that matter). Give yourself some slack – God’s got you in this!! Blessings, friend!
Hello, My name is Chelsea. I was baptized twice at my Apostolic Church and Now at my Protestant Church when I was 10. When I got baptized it wasn’t just about the water, but I really wanted to follow Jesus. From then on, I have had a passion and a fire for Jesus, he has been with me through the fire and the rain. He put it on me and a friend’s heart to start a prayer group at school, and he has helped me to endure, He gives me a reason to sing and a reason to rejoice. I don’t have his peace like I should, I go to bed worrying, throughout the day worrying. I think if I wasn’t his, he would not have given me a desire to do what is pleasing in his sight and a passion and a desire for him, that only he can give. Please lift me up in prayer, I can pray as well, but I just don’t have peace, his peace, and I want to be rest assured.
I struggled a long time with this. I got saved when I was seven but later on I struggled with doubts and would ask Christ in my heart over and over again. I found out that I have ocd. One of my favorite verse is john 6:47 “I assure you, if you believe in me, you have eternal life.”
I grew up attending a Lutheran church. When I was 14 we started going to a Baptist church. On a Sunday morning when I was 15 I realized that I was not saved. I only thought I was going to Heaven. I knew I needed to be saved. I talked with my pastor and he had me recite a prayer (accept Jesus as my savior) the following Wednesday. I felt so relieved! Then I knew I was going to Heaven!
Now I’m 19. Lately I’ve been struggling (am I really saved? even though I didn’t know a lot about faith and Christianity 4 years ago did that count?) Thoughts like this have been going through my head. And I also kept repeating the prayer of Salvation. I would have moments of relief then those thoughts would come creeping back into my mind.
I don’t want to believe Satan’s lies!
I’m really glad I read this blog/post! I need to read those verses and grow deeper in my relationship with God and trust Him!! And don’t make salvation hard. If I asked God to save me, then He did. I don’t need to doubt Him!
Thank you. Praying for all of you and please pray for myself as well!! It’s comforting knowing that I’m not the only one going through this! God bless, everything will be okay 🙂
Dear God,
I pray that none of us believe Satan’s lies! And that we have Your peace!! Amen
Hi everyone. I’ll get right to it.
I have seen HELL at a very young age. I was around 10 or 11 when it happened. Something gently lifted my head off of my pillow and then “Boom”!! Instantly in hell. Flames all around me and my mouth was stiched up. I was watching myself from above. Then I saw a chair. Then suddenly, the devil with those 2 ugly horns appeared faster than the speed of light. He sat and started laughing at me intensely. I have never seen someone laughing like that in my life. I couldn’t talk so in my head, I asked the Lord to take me out ASAP. Luckily, God didn’t let me feel the fire or any pain as others would describe hell, but it was dark and the only thing I saw was Flames all around me and the devil himself. Scariest thing anyone could ever imagine. Then when God took me back to my room, my head was still tilted up off of my pillow, then I started to hear groaning or moaning sounds around my room while my eyes were open. After 15 seconds or so of it, My head was let back down gently. You know, I have always wondered until this day why I got that dream at such an early age. I assumed that God was letting me know that hey “ there is a hell buddy and I don’t want you to go there” or for me to warn the world. Just a bit confusing to me. I prayed prayed and prayed to know what the EXACT meaning was for that vision. Then…..years and years later, Jesus appears to me in my barracks room one night. I was in the army at this time. It was pitch dark and I was about to fall asleep when a bright white face with perfect curly hair appeared on the corner of my wall. It was a bright outline of a face with perfect curly hair. I could remember the waves coming down the sides of the head. Seemed like it was inside a picture frame. It went from one corner to my room to the next, slowly, then to the next, then he stopped at my FRONT DOOR. Right above it. Then boom, disappeared. I was working for the Lord as a chaplain assistant in the army and I know I was already saved and asked God in my life, etc. keep that in mind. I’m a sinner of course. But that vision had me confused also. Was God saying he’s protecting me, or saying that he’s at the door waiting for me, or? I just don’t know for sure. Then after all that, years later, being in sin of course, I got spiritually attacked numerous times by demons in my room mostly at bed time or later. Many times you guys. Scary stuff. Won’t go into detail. God allowed me to see these demonic attacks in my life to probably show me that I had been allowing different types of sin to manifest itself, therefore making way for spiritual attacks. I have seen a few more visions about the rapture as well. Recently, a woman that has been praying for me for many years had a vision of a male voice speaking to her about ME. She said she knew it was God himself. She is a pastor by the way. She said that God said that I would be mighty to the pulling down of strong holds for Jesus. That I would teach people how to overcome strong holds. That I would help the homeless and the hopeless, people that tried scuicide and many others to come to God, etc. I know God has a call on my life. I just have to walk in that path 100% and stop letting the worldly things hold me back. With everything I have said in this message, please pray for me you guys. I really want to figure this out and get a different perspective. WhenGod showed me only Hell and not Heaven, that always had me thinking that I was destined to go to hell in the future when I die. I worry too much over this. If anyone can shed some light I would really appreciate it. God Bless you
Praying for you. Please keep in mind that visions, dreams, what others say they heard about you, etc – all of these are unreliable. They might mean something – they might not. They might be from God. They might be from Satan. They might be our own minds working overtime. But the Word of God is 100% reliable, so we must base our beliefs on what the Word says, more than on personal experiences. Hope that helps a bit…
I am much older than most of those who have expressed their struggles with doubt regarding their salvation. My heart weeps, because I too have had seasons of insecurity. Yes that’s true, age has nothing to do with these insecure thoughts we all have them. These thoughts can originate from the soul of man the mind, will, and emotions or simply an attack from our enemy Satan. The soul or flesh does not produce the life of God. It’s our spirit that is born again because the Holy Spirit takes up residence at the moment you are saved. He communes with our spirit. The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth. John 16:13 God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? The Bible expresses that we should gaze into the perfect law of liberty. This tells us who we are in Christ. For example: I am alive with Christ. Eph. 2:5 I am Holy and without blame before Him in love. 1Peter 1:16 Eph 1:4 the Idea is to gaze into the mirror of God’s word, that reflection is who we are. Trying to overcome doubts in our own strength will produce nothing but unbelief. So when these doubts arise run to God’s word and be set free!
I’m 52, I know I’ve been to the alter and asked Christ, into my heart I’ve even reaffirmed and asked Him to retake my heart and show me how to live for HIM. I TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL but when my own children are disrespectful and hurtful I feel as if I’ve failed to show in my life God’s amazing love. I doubt my own salvation . I know God lives me and I know I fail him daily. Please pray that I won’t doubt my salvation
I am 15 years old and have been doubting my salvation for probably seven months now. It’s terrifying to think that I could go to hell one day if I’m not saved. I know that the Bible says to repent and trust in Jesus in order to have eternal life. In my heart I feel like I believe that this true, but with all of the concerns I have been having lately, I’m not really sure what to think. I get easily confused by reading verses such as the Repent or Perish (Luke 13:1-9) and Faith Without Works Is Dead (James 2:14-26) verses because they make it sound like I have to do good works to be saved. I don’t know if these verses have brought this upon me but I am always super cautious about sinning. For example, if I decide to take a break from completing my homework, I might have a voice inside of me that says, “Am I procrastinating right now? Procrastination is a sin.” Then I will choose to continue my homework or continue with my break. I may be trying to be good to be saved when I do this or merely trying not to sin because I know it’s wrong. All I want is to be saved the way the Bible speaks of and not by works. In addition, I often doubt the existence of God despite there being tons of evidence for it. This makes me more afraid because if I don’t believe that God exists, then I must not be saved. I have talked to my Christian family about me doubting my salvation and they all think that I am saved. I still don’t know what to think. Is there any way that you may be able to help me?
Hello, one thing that may be helpful is to realize that our salvation isn’t about our faith. It is all about Jesus & what He has done. We should not look at our faith at all – we must look at the object of our faith. Here’s what I mean: When I was struggling with this, I would go around and around in my head about whether or not I had enough faith. “If I’m not sure I have enough faith, doesn’t that mean I don’t have enough faith?” It was an impossible nightmare – but I was missing the point.
The point is that is that it’s not about how much faith we have but Who we put our faith in. We cannot look at our faith and say “Do I have enough?” but look at Jesus and say, “He is the one I am trusting.”
We might often find ourselves saying “I don’t know if I have enough faith.” But let’s finish that statement. “I don’t believe I have enough faith in _______.” What goes in that blank? God. We are really saying “I don’t believe God.” Now is that true? Do you believe God or not?
It is not a matter of mustering up enough faith to believe. It is not a matter of feeling like you believe. It’s not even a matter of never having a doubt. It is a choice. I’ll say it again – it is a CHOICE to believe what God says. To give your life to Him.
Whether you ever have a doubt doesn’t affect WHO you are putting your faith in. Your salvation never has & never will rest on YOUR faith but on the ONE in whom you are putting your faith – and He is as 100% sure and reliable.
So don’t look at your faith. Don’t look at your emotions. Look at your will (the will is who you really are). And choose to believe Him. Choose to look to Him every time you doubt. Choose to trust in what you know to be true every time your feelings tell you otherwise. And pray that the Holy Spirit will work in your heart & confirm His truths to you.
You might find the chapter Difficulty Concerning Doubts from the book A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life to be helpful.
Hi, thank you so much for helping me with that. I’m sorry but I’m still confused after what you told me. Do you mind if I ask you two more questions? Here they are:
How do I choose to trust in Jesus even though I doubt His and God’s existence often?
Why does the the Bible say that we need to repent or perish if we are supposed to trust in Jesus to be saved?
Q1: I’m sorry if I was confusing. It’s hard to understand where you’re coming from based on just one comment on a blog post. The answer here depends where you are. Do you believe but simply have doubts from time to time? Or are you not sure if you believe? If it’s the former, then you need to simply focus on your belief. Choose to trust, and pray and turn to the Bible when you doubt. But if you’re not sure if you believe in the first place, that is totally different. You have not yet believed. In that case, I encourage you to read the Bible and to also listen to Bible preaching like that of Truth for Life (found at http://www.truthforlife.org.) Listen and consider. Talk to people that you know about it. Pray that God will help you understand. At some point, though, it will still be a CHOICE to believe or not believe.
In either case, belief is a choice, not a feeling.
Q2) I’m not sure I completely understand your question. But the Bible is clear that part of believing/trusting in Jesus is repenting. To sum it up simply, we are all fallen. We sin. We cannot reach God on our own. Jesus came, lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, and died to pay the penalty for our sin. Because of Him, we can be declared righteous – based on His merit, not ours. But in order to receive that righteousness, we must repent – that means to admit the wrong and turn to Him, turning our back on the wrong – and believe on Him. To repent doesn’t mean that we can somehow clean ourselves up or make ourselves better. It means that we turn from our wrong, believe/trust in Him, and ask Him to change us. And He will.
Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to ask any follow-up questions.
I Peter 2:24 sums it up well: Who Himself [Jesus] bore our sins in His own body on the tree [cross], that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Thanks for getting back to me. I would answer this to what you said in question one: “I’m not sure if I believed in Jesus to save me in the first place.” But why does that mean that I have not yet believed?
I ask Jesus many times that I can be saved just in case I’m not already saved. I also ask that if I’m trying to be good to be saved that I can stop doing that because I know that won’t save me. Regarding what I have to do to be saved, I know that I’m sorry for my sins and that I probably trust in Jesus to save me. It’s just very confusing to me and I’m not sure if I am doing it right.
I will still check out the website you shared with me (:
This really helped me rest easy tonight. I was close to tears but I still remember that night when I was 9 or 10 I asked Jesus to save me and I believed on his name. I am going to heaven.
I was not raised in a church. We were poor and didn’t have any way to go to church. My husband died in 2006. I was left with nobody. We did not have children. My nephew began to preach at the age of 13. He asked me to go to his church. I did. I was old when I got saved. Had no knowledge of what I was supposed to do next. I am now 66 years old and I still doubt my salvation. Other people says they feel like the weight of the world is lifted off of them. I never felt like that. I am having a problem getting sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. Is it because I am really not saved?. I worry about that all the time. Please someone reply to this. I am so scared I am going to die without having what I am supposed to have. Help me please.
To those who are still struggling, I recommend listening to sound Bible teaching like that found here:
https://www.truthforlife.org/
Listen a lot, let it sink into your heart & mind, and see how God uses it to change you.
A preacher names Milton Taylor said one time “the devil never kicks a dead horse” someone else told me another time that “thieves do not break in and steal”. The Bible talks about how the devil steals, kills and destroys. Was this a concern to you before you asked God to save you? Or did this worry happen after you asked for salvation? The Bible says God is NOT the author of confusion. I know what your going through i am there myself have been for 13 years. But i know before i asked for salvation i was never confused about this, never thought about it, never worried, never had these thoughts or concerns. I truly believe it is the devil. he knows you, he has studied people like you for 6000 years. he knows what bothers you. As long as we let him be will continue to torture you because he knows he can’t have your soul. So he bothers our minds. We have got to put our foot down and stand on Gods promises. I as well need to do the same. I hope this helps!!!!
I struggled with the worry and fear”Am I really saved ” and kept being tormented by doubt. I said the prayer of repentance over and over incase. Then the Holy spirit spoke to me and said it’s not just about the prayer it’s how you walk with me. Hope this helps.
I struggled with the doubt and fear of “Am I really saved “. I used to repeat the prayer again and again just incase. Then one day the Holy spirit spoke to me and said “it’s not just about saying the prayer it’s how you walk with me “. Yes that’s right I thought. Hope this helps someone.
This is good to read. It is good to be reminded that salvation and sanctification are His work. We just need to believe, receive and abide. It is good to be reminded to eat up those words in the passages shared here, to hungrily feed on them and rejoice in them. Then you are free to walk in Faith, without fear and serve the Lord and overcome the world because HE overcame it for you. What a WONDERFUL God we have!
I really needed this! I’ve been struggling with doubt about my salvation for longer than I can remember. I grew up going to a baptist church all of my life. I’ve went down at my church numerous times & prayed Jesus to save me & I’ve been baptised 3 times but never really lived for Him. Fast forward to April of 2017. I finally told my wife that I’ve been struggling with doubt about my salvation, fear, emptiness etc. I spoke with her father about it who I’m so thankful for him. He’s a very spirit filled Godly man who sent me some sermons by Paul Washer & Francis Chan, but made my doubts worse as Paul Washer is against the sinners prayer. Over the next few weeks i spent hours in his Word seeking assurance of my salvation. I spent many nights in my closet for hours sobbing to God. I read the parable of the sower & felt like it was God Showing me I was the thorny rocky soil that produces no fruit. So on April 27th 2017 I was searching the Internet but Repentance & some how came across Deut 30
It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life.
Deuteronomy 30:12-16, 19-20 NLT. I truly felt that was God telling me that Salvation is close at hand it’s is in my heart & on my lips. It’s not too distant for me. I called my step mom to tell her what I had read & I began weeping & I said to her ” I choose life” so we talked a little more & she prayed for me. That evening I was driving home & Natalie grants song ” clean” came on the radio. I pulled over & began sobbing & looked up at the sky & said ” God Save me”. I felt a release for a very short time & was excited about what God was showing me. I decided to get baptized a 4th time since i felt thats what God was telling me to do. But then anxiety hit harder than its ever hit, I ended up being on anxiety medication because my doubt was so great it but me into depression, I was sobbing all the time. Although it has helped I still struggle alot, I too had days I was terrified of going to church because I always felt so convicted but I would always kneel down front at the alter & cry out to God. I’ve memorized verses to try & combat it but never lasted, I can say that since April 27th I’ve been in my bible & seeking God. I have this desire to know God, do his will, be used by him etc. Then on the other hand I struggle to believe that his salvation is for me ( crazy I know) I know salvation comes through repentance & faith &believing in Jesus but I felt that that excluded me. That made me feel worse because there’s nothing I want to hear than “well done my good & faithful servant”. But I for some reason couldn’t believe that God could actually save me. I can relate to the hopeless feeling of thinking you are alone in this struggle. I’ve been fighting to claim God’s promises in my life & have prayed & cried for God to break these chaino of doubt, unbelief etc. I’ve asked him to forgive my unbelief. It bothers me because I can’t even be the spiritual leader of my house hold because of my doubt & un assurance. I’ve thought how am I suppose to lead my family when I can even have assurance in my own life. I realize that I can never earn my salvation even tho I’ve been trying to earn it & trying to be accepted by God. I realize that God Loves me & Desires a relationship with me. He paid too high of a price for His salvation not to be for me. All I know to Do is to Hope in Jesus & cling to Him with dear life. Pray for me that God would release all of this fear anxiety, doubt about salvation etc. I want to live for Jesus but I’m stuck in this vicious cycle of fear etc. I pray for you all & I’m encouraged that I’m not in this alone
I’ll pray please pray for me I’m jealous of you. I haven’t cried or been in panic like you. I keep thinking I don’t want to be saved. I want to be but I’ve been living this way for so long….. I’ve listened to Paul washer and the other guy to. Good teachers made me see I’m A fake Christian but I’m getting worse everyday. Sinning More. I’m sure I won’t be this way for long but yeah
How are you doing? I wouldn’t be worried its clear from what I can see that u are saved. Pray that I be. I have no heart.
Praying for you God bless!
I deal the exact same way
During the whole year of 2017 I struggled with this I was saved when I was 14or 15 don’t remember was on the fringe of my birthday bu anyways I remember the way I was living before I was saved and it was not good I thought I knew God but I did not but that night with no preacher or someone showing me what to do ( because I knew what to do I was born into a baptist family). I trusted Him alone that night only Christ on the cross for forgiveness of my sins and salvation. But I still doubt but I look to the His Word because it says I am saved. And I remember my transformation
I love to teach Sunday school but always feel unworthy. I really enjoyed reading your article on “doubting salvation”. thank you so much for scripture.
When I was pretty young I asked Christ to save me and was later baptized professing that Jesus was now my Lord. This all took place in the early years of my life (6-12)and I’m not sure I fully understood what it all meant. Now I do. I understand Christ died for me, forgave my sins, and that we only have access to God through Jesus. And I truly love Him and want to follow His Word. Like many on here I prayed to ask Jesus to save me again and again once I understood it all better as an adult. I have witnessed and professed my faith to others… but sometimes I get caught up that I didn’t make my “adult salvation decision” public. So I get worried that Christ may deny me before his Father because I was embarrassed to tell others that I have had a 3rd or 4th conversion experience. Not embarrassed over being a Christian just the weirdness of asking to be saved over and over. I don’t want to mistake the Holy Spirit’s convicting for Satan’s lies that have kept me from growing. Thoughts?
It’s hard to know where these thoughts are coming from, but if you’re concerned about confessing Christ, why not share your story with your friends, a trusted adult at church, or your family? No where in the Bible does it say, “You must go forward in church and stand in front of the congregation and tell them you got saved” – but you’re right, it does talk about confessing with your mouth. So why not confess Him to those close to you? If your prompting is of the Holy Spirit, then you will have obeyed. If Satan is messing with you, then you’ll have (hopefully) shut him up on this one 🙂
You made an interesting comment. You said that you “don’t want to mistake the Holy Spirit’s convicting for Satan’s lies”. During times of intense doubting, I struggle with the question: “Whose voice am I listening to? The Spirit of truth or the spirit of error?” Sometimes I don’t know if it’s conviction, or condemnation/accusation. Am I making sense? Can anyone else relate to this? God’s blessings!
This is probably something I should not do I keep thinking I don’t want to be saved have kinda stopped caring. Please pray I start caring and get saved. Even after I’m saved I still want prayers
I’m 17 and for almost 2 years I’ve struggled with doubts of my salvation. I would turn to scripture and it would give me peace for a second then I would be knocked down again. Then “negative scripture” (ex. “Not all who say Lord Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew) would hit me and I wouldn’t know what to do. I would have a mountain of evidence that I was saved and then a pebble of doubt that was demolish my mountain. Right now, my struggles are ceased but I know God is working on me and He is constantly making me better. This blog was plus the comments are super encouraging and helpful. So thank you!
This sounds all good . So at 65 i am a catholic.i believe in Jesus Christ. I know he will help my family for I will has Jesus to help the need the right way. Catholic is different. Can you answer . What’s will happen to all Catholic. What happens to people raised in addiction homes and homeless. I can tell you there isn’t much people trying to help the poor or need. So do you know someone that loves there neighbor as themselves. For I see all families just looking out for themselves. Wish I knew who helps the poor. U can pray for them but don’t want to take them in your home For you always have excuses and Jesus Help prostitution etc. and show them love and hope help them get on there feet. And if someone gives money that’s that not the way to love them as you love your child For we are all all god’s children. He loves us all. Answer please
Hello,
I wish I could tell exactly what you were asking so that I could answer better for you. Yes, we do have a responsibility to the poor that we sadly are not always fulfilling.
You asked about Catholics. The Bible makes it clear that salvation does not have to do with what denomination we are – neither does it have to do with our works (as is often emphasized by the Catholic church). It is all about the work that He has done – and whether or not we choose to believe in and accept that work.
So if a Catholic has chosen to believe in the work of Jesus by faith alone through grace alone and has given His life to Christ in that manner, then s/he is a child of God. If s/he has not done so and is relying on his/her works to earn salvation, then they are not understanding the Gospel and are not (at least as of yet) saved.
I was saved at a very young age. I was six years old. I remember a pastor showing me a clock. I can’t remember exactly what the story was behind that little clock, but I vaguely remember feeling convicted by it. Maybe it had something to do with how we should not wait too long to be saved, because at some point it could be too late if Christ returns before we accept Him into our lives. I remember sitting on the bed with my father at home and asking to be saved, and then I was baptized some time later. I am 45 now and have doubted my salvation my entire life. I remember sometime after I was saved thinking the rapture had come and I had been left behind! I got off the bus one time and my mother hadn’t made it home yet, and I panicked!! I thought I had been left behind again, and ran 2 miles to a neighboring house nearby!! Crazy!! So at the age of 29 I went to my parents and told my dad I had been doubting my salvation my whole life. I sat at the kitchen table with my father as he read scripture to me, and I accepted Christ again in my parents kitchen. I remember during and right after thinking… “Am I really saved?” “Am I having enough faith?” I continued to doubt!! And I still do to this day. Reading this blog has helped me. I feel it is a COMPLETE attack from Satan when we continue to experience these doubts. I too was raised in a baptist Christian home. I was in church every time the doors were open. I was raised in church! I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that God sent His son to the world to save us!! He was crucified on a cross to save us all from our sins!! I may not understand it all, but I BELIEVE it all. Every single word of it. Jesus rose from the grave 3 days later and ascended back into Heaven some days after that. I know I’m saved when I sit and type this. I know that God is not a liar. His promises are true. It is a complete attack from Satan, and I feel in order to over come that we just have to stay in God’s word and continue reading his promises.