Making it "real"

[cbluejays]

Being a 17 year old, I have often struggled in my relationship with God.  Many times, it's like I don't know Him at all, it just doesn't feel "real".  

It seems like my walk with Him is based solely on what my parents have tought me, and how I have been brought up...Basically, I just want to find Him for myself.

Has anyone else struggled with this?  I'm hoping once I get to college, I will really be able to grow in my walk.  But another part of me says "You have another year before you go to college, you should get it right, right now".  

Any thoughts or comments on this would be appreciated...I'll be gone till Sunday at a basketball tournament, so I won't be able to reply to any of them, but when I get back, I'm sure all of the wisdom you people dispense will solve my problem (kidding!)  =D .

[Vlad!]

Has anyone else struggled with this? I'm hoping once I get to college, I will really be able to grow in my walk. But another part of me says "You have another year before you go to college, you should get it right, right now".

Yes, I said that until I got to college. Now I'm like 'once I get out of college, I will really be able to grow in my walk.'

The point is, there's no magical transition that will suddenly enable you to effortlessly take the faith and make it yours. This is something that you must do. If you want my advice:

-Try to figure out what YOU believe. You're not going to get everything figured out (if you do, clue us in ;]), but look at different doctrines of the church and see what makes sense.
-Think about WHY as much as WHAT. God doesn't want us to blindly follow a set of instructions; He could have just made a bunch of computers if He wanted that. He wants us to look at the world through eyes of love, showing others the same grace, mercy, and compassion that Christ showed us.
-Check out some Christian literature (nonfiction) and also grab some art (either Christian or secular) and look at the worldviews they portray. Does anything they say make sense? If you look at the world through the beliefs of this author or artist, can you see some things clearer?

I hope some of this advice helps...

[smartash]

yes, yes, i'm one of the many "church kids" who realized one day "wow, i know my whole family and environment belives all this, but why do i?"
i really think this is sooooooo normal, especially at the time when college is looming. and vlad's right, there is no formulaic or scheduled "right" time. it's between you and the lord.
and because you do feel this way, i think it's a sign that the lord is working on you now, putting that desire for realness, closeness and relationship in your heart.
may the lord bless you on your journey.

[cbluejays]

Thanks to both of you who replied and shared your views...both of your posts have been a real encouragement to me .

In regards to Vlad's comment, about reading Christian non-fiction and checking out Christian art...I have been doing quite a bit of that recently.  The book "What's So Amazing About Grace", really changed my perspective on who God is...although I read it a couple years ago, "The Screwtape Letters" was huge for me, in showing me ways the enemy deceives us...many times I have been able to catch myself falling into satan's traps, thanks to that book.  Another book that has shaped my faith is "Mere Christianity".  Next, I plan on reading that Brennan Manning book, "Abba's Child".  I just need to get the cash to buy it...If anyone has any other suggestions for books that touched your life, or that you think I could relate to, I'd love to hear them...

 

[Vlad!]

The Screwtape Letters is a great book.

I'm an on-and-off fan of the book Unshakable Foundations. I didn't think it was all that well-written, but it makes a strong case for using logic to deduce your faith and goes on to apply this principle to several areas of the Christian life.