zach_doe

Thank you all for your replies. There has been a lot of good advice and direction given, I imagine i will read over this thread from time to time when things get tough, thanks again all.

Tiancum, thank you for your reply, I had not quite thought of it in that light before, but that gives me added hope. Do you think that with each weakness, we are supposed to learn a lesson from that weakness and that we won't be delivered until we've learned our part? Just a thought I had. Surely the Lord does not like it when we sin, therefore I do not believe that he wants me to struggle with my weakness for years, I believe that he wants me to forsake my sins from this very hour and to never sin again. If that be the case, it stands to reason that if we take years in overcoming, it is a direct result of our own inadequacies and not a lack of divine help. Dr. T, thank you for your replies as well, though you be of a different religion, we are of the same faith, that faith being in Christ. I have my own beliefs about being saved, redeemed from this fallen state and restored to a place in God's mansions, but my real question is not how it is that we eventually return to Father, but rather, how it is that we mortals can obtain divine strength and assistance in our daily struggles. Nevertheless, thank you all again for your replies.

Hi all, I am currently struggling with some major weaknesses in my life and am finding it very difficult to overcome. What makes things worse, is the fact that I am wholly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have a testimony, I love the gospel with a passion, it is who I am. But notwithstanding this conviction, I still am as weak as anyone I know. It shames me and cuts me to the core when I give in to my weaknesses because I know what i am doing, I know how wrong it is, I know that it is contrary to happiness and I can not have the beautiful things in life while I am a patron to this evil. Now so far this post probably looks like it belongs in the Advice forum, but I wanted to stick it into this gospel discussion forum because I want more than advice, I want the doctrines and principles of Christ to assist me in overcoming. I know that in and of myself, I can not overcome. I've tried, countless times, to white knuckle it and just push forward with sheer will power, hoping that i could just finally overcome. Result... failure. Now here is the hard part... I've also tried with everything I am to submit to God, to plead for Christ to remove it from me, to study the atonement, to rely upon Christ for deliverance, to read scriptures every day and to pray on my knees both night and morning. I have done all of these things, hoping and pleading that i would be set free. Result... failure. This breaks my heart, it breaks my will, and it hurts like nothing else. I have never been one to doubt, but recently, it has been difficult to keep doubt from creeping in. If Christ truly can take our burdens from us, If he truly can set us free if we just do what he has asked... why hasn't it worked for me? I know that the Lord never violates his agreements, I know he never fails to uphold his end, and so I know that whatever the problem is, it is on my end and not His. And now for the questions that I would hope for answers to... How do we apply to saving grace of Jesus Christ to ourselves? How do we lay hold upon the enabling power of Christ's Atonement? How does God change us, change our very hearts, so that we have no more desire to sin? What must we do so that Christ will save us from our sins? Now, these may seem like common questions, and no doubt there are quick and easy answers to them. But thats not what I'm looking for, I don't want the cliche response that is so common. But rather, truly think about these questions, let them sink, and hopefully someone, anyone, will be able to help. Thank you all for your time in reading this, I appreciate any help or advice that i can get, thank you.