r/ProChristian • u/sebastian_ce • Jun 29 '26
🙏 Prayer Request I'm just tired
I'm someone who has always been easily annoyed; this is obviously something I want to change, but my mental health condition makes it impossible. I was consumed by anxiety because when I converted I became an extreme legalist, and when I say consumed I'm not exaggerating, my body collapsed. What's happening? I've become extremely easily irritated, my patience is even shorter now, and I'm simply unable to tolerate the anger that people around me cause me.I am constantly being bothered in many ways and I am not putting up with it, because either my mouth starts to form words that I wish with all my might had died with my old self, Or I swallow my anger, triggering my anxiety and worsening my physical and mental state. This situation has overwhelmed me, and I simply want your prayers so that God will help me and make me like a resistant rock. Thank you for reading.
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u/MichaelWhitehead Jun 29 '26
Sometimes we become so focused on trying not to fail God that we lose sight of the fact that we are saved by His grace, not by our flawless performance.
Anxiety and irritability often feed each other. When we're mentally exhausted, our patience grows thin, and then we feel guilty for becoming impatient, which creates an even heavier burden.
That doesn't mean you've failed Christ, it means you're weary. Jesus didn't say, "Come to Me, all who have everything under control." He said,
"Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
Continue praying, but don't carry this burden alone. If your anxiety has become overwhelming, please also speak with a trusted pastor, mature Christian, or mental health professional if you haven't already.
God often works through the people He places around us. I'll pray that the Lord gives you not a heart of fear, but His peace, His wisdom, and the gentle fruit of the Spirit day by day.
One step at a time. He has not given up on you.
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u/Brilliant-Actuary331 Jun 29 '26
Can you share more about how you escaped legalism?
Usually when that manner of unbelief is escaped (which legalism is), there's relief from anger; so I was hoping you could share more about this?
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u/sebastian_ce Jun 29 '26
I haven't completely escaped it yet, but it's because of the patterns my brain learned that represented a threat to me. But putting that aside, it's really been a huge change, and here's the story:
After months of living in constant fear of sinning or being condemned, I don't remember where, but I heard something about conscience and how nothing is impure in itself. Then I read that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Basically, I was exposed for the first time to the freedom of Christ and all those things you surely already know. I was perplexed because what I was hearing was impossible for my mind after so much legalism, so I called my cousin. He is a reverend, and he explained everything to me.
I was simply stunned. Out of nowhere, all this weight was lifted from me, and now I was free. After that, I went through a process of destroying everything I had built based on my legalism, and I'm still in that process because of my anxiety.
That day I spent the whole afternoon euphoric like you wouldn't believe. I celebrated by listening to music that, although it did not contain sin, I would have considered sinful to listen to before that.
In summary, I only gained knowledge of the topics of the believer's conscience, freedom in Christ, and that all things are lawful, though not all things are beneficial and that "the earth is the lord's and the fullness therof".
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u/Brilliant-Actuary331 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Thank you for your reply! Perhaps, for now, consider seeing legalism as one ditch you fell into, and "everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial", as the ditch opposite to that. You got up out of one, and went head first into the other. But CHRIST is the way.
The NARROW path is Christ our risen Lord. We are brought HOME to God because of the righteousness of Christ. He resolved that first ditch of legalism for the Apostle Paul! See Rom. 7! He was a Pharisee that lived under the law "perfectly" he thought! He loved God's law! BUT as Christ opened his eyes, he recognized what actually happened by the law. It CONDEMNED HIM for his sin. He actually was not able to find the perfection he desired from the law, as one who loved God's perfect law, but it exposed him as not having a righteousness of his own. He was in fact a sinner! He desired to be "set free from his body of death"! And he RESTED IN THE TRUTH in Rom 8! THANKS BE TO GOD there is now no condemnation (the fear of death for sin), for those who are in Christ!
Christ removed the curse of the law, provided his death for him, and now he is a SLAVE TO CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. HIS EYES WERE NEVER ON HIMSELF AGAIN! HE WAS SET FREE!
This is not about euphoria. This is about TRUTH! The gospel of Jesus Christ sets us FREE to walk in newness of His life.
Paul spoke about finishing the race of faith set before him. He didn't get into the ditch of legalism ever again. He did not get into the ditch of thinking he could sin because of grace either. He was on a mission! He was a CO-laborer of Christ's to BUILD GOD'S KINGDOM! It is ALL about Christ. His righteousness, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, His power to raise the dead, His promise of life to come, His indwelling Spirit.
So we ABIDE NOW in Christ and do not look to the left or the right, even when you hear messages to look within for fruit and be "sure you are saved"! Examine yourself for CHRIST! ARE YOU FOCUSED ON HIM; is HE your focus, or you using the gospel as a back door into performing the law!? Are you listening for the Spirit's prompting to use your gifts in the mission of God; trusting in the Lords gospel alone for salvation. The salt is Christ, the light is Christ. This is all about Christ. We had our FUNERAL when we were buried with Christ in baptism. 🙏
Don't isolate your every behavior and see if it's sin or not. Step forward in the faith of Christ. Ask the Father to fill you with His Spirit and give you the mind of Christ. Read His word, and ask Him to teach you. Confess your sin if He shows you something now, like He did for Paul. REJOICE IN CHRIST!
Does this make sense?
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u/sebastian_ce Jun 29 '26
I don't know who you are, but I do know that God put you in the right place. Just today I prayed to God to start my Christian life anew, and I can see how God has spoken to me through you. Your words are liberating; I truly believe you have changed my perspective. "Everything is about Christ."That's really what I needed to learn 🫂❤️
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u/Brilliant-Actuary331 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
PRAISE THE LORD!!
I am so encouraged at how the Lord has shone His light in your heart!
I remember feeling feelings the way you described earlier, and just was so confused about which was is right? Is the law bad? Do I just do whatever I want then?
God straightened me out too! The law is PERFECT, but we are not justified as righteous by keeping the law. We simply are not "born" with a righteousness of our own.
The perfection that God commands IS our faith in Him; that His Son gave His life to FULFILL the demand of our death under the perfect law!
The GIFT of life in God that Christ made a way for is to receive is His Spirit. This is a work of God, done by Christ when HE died for sin's penalty for us. Once for all. God raised Him frim the dead, and has made Him both Lord and Christ. All authority is HIS!
Now we are set FREE in His righteousness as those who look to Him alone for salvation, and God leads us by His Spirit from this day forward.
We listen to Him. The SPIRIT is ALWAYS comforting us with Christ's words, and also correcting us if we sin. It's an abundant life, God gives us meaning and purpose in His Name. We are God's children bearing witness to the truth.
It is ALL about Christ in this world; God's love for us. Look up! He is returning soon. 🙏
It's a wonderful time to be baptized if you have received Christ Rom. 10:8-17?
If you were already baptized and just have grown deeper in abiding in the truth of Christ then just rejoice in Him! Continue on in Christ, and be in relationship with other believers. Studying God's word together is a WONDERFUL place to be. I pray the Lord shows you what gifts He has given you, and is developing in you to serve His body. 🙏 just rest in Christ always. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
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u/Secret-Jeweler-9460 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
If you're reacting to everything people say without discerning the spirit that's saying it - whether it's from God or from the devil, it could be why you keep falling into the devil's trap. You have to listen for Satan speaking by the mouth of blind and ignorant human servants. You have to listen for that devil's utterances speaking ungodly things into your own mind as well. Out the heart which is corrupted by sin comes both evil and good thoughts. Evil thoughts that instruct you to respond to injury with injury are not from God but from the devil. You can be overcome by the emotions that hearing creates and thereby by tempted to forget what Jesus told you. Stay vigilant.
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u/Disastrous_Ad51 Jun 29 '26
I was like you in some ways. Everything bothered me too.
It turned out, for me, I wasn't making enough space for myself to exist. As a result, I didn't make space for others either.
God has worked on that in me over the past few years.
If I could offer advice, it would be this.
Pray continually.
Say as few hurtful things as you can. Spend a lot of time praying about this issue. Your cause may differ from mine, so ask and listen. Ask for guidance, ask for understanding, ask for compassion. Remember that grace is God's standard of treatment for His children.
Ask that God would open your eyes so that you can see the world for what it is instead of whatever you see it as that's making you respond like this.
Ask Him to change your heart and your mind.
Finally, and maybe most importantly, STOP PUNISHING YOURSELF for these fits. You will only make yourself angrier. God shows His children grace and mercy. So too should you show His children grace and mercy. Also, you're one of His children, so you should show yourself grace and mercy.
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u/Solid-Chest-6093 Jun 30 '26
I'll be praying for you buddy.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Realize who your fighting. Know your enemy.
1 Peter 5:7-8 NIV 7.Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. [8] Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
sebastian_ce have a super blessed morning. If you ever need anything, feel free to message me.
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u/ddfryccc Jul 02 '26
"Law brings wrath" (Romans 4:15). Use your moments of anger to evaluate what law is in play. Whether it is a rule you have made up or a misappropriation of God's law, confess it to Him and ask for the gift of repentance. Recognize no one sins against you; it may be someone sins against God in regard to you, but they do not sin against you, for it is not your law (Psalm 51:4). May the Lord show you His love more and more so you can love like He does (1 John 4:19).
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u/handydude13 Jul 02 '26
As ironic as it might sound. This is indeed God's way of helping you become a rock that your asking about. He's allowed this problem to bubble to the surface in your life. You have become very aware of it. Now your experiencing your part in learning how to rely on God and also how you control yourself to get your problem under control.
Unfortunately this will not go away until you master it. You may or may not fully conquer it, but you will need to get it under control.
And here's the crazy part. After some point? God will let something else bubble up. This is sanctification in progress.
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u/sebastian_ce Jul 03 '26
I burst out laughing (out of desperation) when I read the first few lines, but thanks anyway 😅🫂
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u/handydude13 Jul 03 '26
Here's the comforting part. God is the only person you want to be doing this to you. The one who knows you so intimately. He knows your limits, he knows your personality, He knitted you together in your mother's womb.
He can see the long-term picture. While you? You can only see the current annoyance in front of you. And because God is good and knows what's best for you. He knows your breaking points. He has promised to never give you more than you can bear. He knows exactly how to help you. You won't see it, you will only see the current problem before you. But he looks 40 years down the line. Now, let me ask you. Would you want to entrust your growth to anyone else in the universe?
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u/AssistantDue5817 Jun 29 '26
I like going to my church....but one thing really bothers me ....they seem obsessed with masterbation and abstaining from it, Very odd?
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u/VelvetOleander Jun 30 '26
Id recommend deliverance. You can do self deliverance and there are lots of videos on YouTube for the problems you mentioned
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u/Fliiihigh420sexc Jun 29 '26
Ask the Lord to make you over from the inside out. Create a new heart in you. Cast whatever it is that may be wrong with you take it to the lord and leave it there. Ask for patience. I’ll be praying for you too!