Mary17

As much as I dislike asking for help. I think it's time I asked for it.

I feel like their are times when my spirit is broken. When I really hate the person looking back at me in the mirror. I always seem to doubt myself and think I'm not good enough. People often be-little me and say they are better. I really do feel like a failure. It's a dream of mine to pull it all together. To beable to live up to a higher standard. I want to beable to meet the expectations I have set for myself. But I always become so discouraged. Please, can someone give me some advice? I could really use some support on this. I'm tired of doing everything alone.

Thanks.

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Mary-I'm a top ace reporter! I get down to the dirt. I don't play around!

Padelford

I was feeling like that all the time a while ago. I only have one peice of advice. I think you should find a very good friend and say everything about this to them no matter what. That's what I did.

Thats all I got...

Oh and Pray to God...

Theophilus

God don't make no junk, Mary. Everyone is valuable in His sight. And His sight is the one that matters the most.
So great is His love that He sacrificed His only born son so that we could become sons and daughters of His as well.
Take comfort and have peace in the fact that you are safe and secure in His family as are all those who believe in and obey Him.
Your problem (and it is common these days) amung teens and many older adults as well is a matter of dis-organized thinking.
We all have troubles. And we all have at times a poor self image. We all have those who for what ever reason put us down. Don't let them steal your peace from you.
Take solice in the words of the apostle Paul ,who had great trials and learned by the Grace of God to have contentment in all things.

Phi 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Phi 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Fellowship with christians your own age will most definately help. For they can relate. Look to your parents and confide in them as well. They were teenagers and love you more than anyone else on the this earth.And last but certianly not least ,trust in the Lord.


Sincerely content
in Him
Cliff

Iskij

hi Mary, no matter how you may feel about yourself; God loves you anyway.

Pray constantly. Seek Him. Write down your plans, your concerns and offer them all to our Lord. He alone can give you peace and contentment. He alone can change your heart and give you comfort during this time.

Lastly, only God can judge us because he alone knows what's in our heart so don't let others' opinion affect you. (I know that's hard to do but just give it all to God and look up to Him)

I'll be praying for you.

MartyLK

I'm praying earnestly that the Lord will fill your heart with the peace only he can give. And that you may have full assurance of faith, and filled with joy. That you may be comforted and strengthened in your inner being.

Let God's word dwell in you richly. Meditate on it day and night.

Even though it doesn't seem like anything may be working in your favor, the Lord says it is and you'll need to trust his word. Ask him for help to trust and overcome any doubts.

One person Jesus encountered on his journeys here on Earth said: " I believe, help me overcome my unbelief".

Boanerges

Mary I am so sorry for your pain- I don't like the person in the mirror either but thank God there is something else going on in my life- I am litterally dieing to my old self and finding a new me in Jesus- when you let go- I mean really let go and start trusting Him thats when you see a new person emerging- don't try to better yourself by living up to a list of standards that is legalism and always leads to failure, frustration and worse- don't spend all your time and energy trying to please others cause that will meet with limited success at best- I reccomend total surrender to God- immerse yourself in His presence and Word - it is only in that place you will really find out who you were created to be- God has given you gifts and talents this world will be incomplete without- don't sell yourself short but instead find your real self out- I pray you find His peace-Larry

Mary17

Padelford-When I find those good friends to whom I can open up to. That really wouldn't be a bad idea. =)
Theophilus-Yes, peace. Knowing that I am special in God's eyes, and that I do have a purpose. Being more content, and accepting the obstacles. Thank you for reminding me that. ^_^
Iskij-Hmm, being filled with the Lord. Not these negative thoughts. I guess I just have to release all this anxiety. Allowing God to take over.
MartyLK-Not losing faith. I see, letting him in my heart.
Boanerges-Starting a new life with God. Being completely sure, and giving myself over to him. Letting him control every aspect of my life. This is how I will find my reason for being here.

Thank you so much, things are starting to become clear. I am no where near perfect nor am I expected to be. But God loves me anyway. Their will always be people who will disown me. But if I keep holding on, and never give up. And letting Christ work through me. I know it will all be okay. Their is no reason for me to feel so down.

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Mary-I'm a top ace reporter! I get down to the dirt. I don't play around!

Boanerges

Amen sister-

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

I have learned ( and am still learning) to rejoice at all times no matter how rough it gets- I have set my heart to rejoice thru the myriad of trails I am being exposed to- I have set my heart to rejoice in the multitude of my weaknesses and shortcomings for when I am weak and inadequate He is so very strong-it is here in the place of trying that our faith can really grow- if I can cope with life on my own it is one thing but when I have to do it leaning on Him He gets the glory.
God gave us each other to lean on but even here the flesh so often gets in the way- there is truely one alternative- one must die to the old and be risen in the new way of life-
I would like to leave you with these two scriptures :


1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

MartyLK

Someone, I think, Larry, quoted me some scripture that has to do with the blessing of being persecuted and treated terribly by the world. I know that scripture but it wasn't on my mind till it was brought to me. I am being troubled because of my faith in the Lord. Whether it looks like it or not, it is a result of my relationship with Jesus and my hope in him. They are trying to get rid of me and punish me for their reasons but it is being done, ultimately, because of what I am.

Satan tries to remove the comfort of those blessed words by trying to make me think I am suffering at their hands because of wrongs I might have done. I haven't wronged them and I know, with certainty, they are doing what they do, unwittingly doing Satan's will, because I belong to Christ.

You too must see the joy in those words of Christ, that when the world shuns you and treats you terribly, it is because of faith in Christ.

The Lord says to know we are blessed when that happens.

Bassmasa

Hey Mary,

I don't have much to add that hasn't been said already, but one sentence in your opening post caught my eye:

I think that's the basis of your entire issue. Why are you following the expectations YOU set for yourself? Did you make yourself? Do you know what's best for you? NO! God is the Creator of you and HIS expectations should be what we're all striving for.

Romans 9 says

God is the potter, we are merely His creations. As humans, our expecations for ourselves are always flawed...we can't see 5 minutes in front of us, much less over the course of our lifetimes. But God can. He is preparing you for something wonderful. You sound like you've hit rock bottom...right where God wants us to be when we approach Him. Right now, you are a fresh ball of clay that God can mold how HE wants, not how YOU want.

You will never reach the expectations you set for yourself. Even if you did, those expectations would be probably be flawed to begin with...who knows better, the potter or the pot?