High and low times in the Christian walk

Do you believe that salvation is not by works?Matthew 7:21-23 (King James Version)King James Version (KJV)Public Domain 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(Red_Letters88;35647)
I am curious,Why would I be in a valley rather than a peak in my Christian walk at the moment? I feel I have been following Christ and his words more now than ever. This past week or so seems like God is just letting me feel alone and confused. I think this has something to do with events that have started in my life recently that I need to take a serious look at.Words of encouragement?
Red, we all have highs and lows, that is quite normal. God never said it would be easy, but rest assured, He will not put more on you, than you are capable of handling. Also, He said...."I will never leave nor forsake thee."The closer we get with God, the more, Satan, sticks his nasty head in trying to make us believe that God is not with us. This is a sign...a good sign...that one is doing what they should be doing.And for this...
lastsecman, Do you believe that salvation is not by works?
Salvation has NOTHING to do with working for it....NOTHING...it is a gift, and all we have to do is accept it. It is quite amazing, how so many take something so simple and twist it.Hang in there brother, keep talking to God, the more you open your heart and mind to Him, the more space He can fill with His love.

(Red_Letters88;35647)
I am curious,Why would I be in a valley rather than a peak in my Christian walk at the moment? I feel I have been following Christ and his words more now than ever. This past week or so seems like God is just letting me feel alone and confused. I think this has something to do with events that have started in my life recently that I need to take a serious look at.Words of encouragement?
Sounds like the beginnings of a wilderness wandering. Not a bad but very good thing. He took Israel out of Egypt to bring them into Canaan. The wilderness experience is necessary for every true believer. The generation that went out died in the desert, it was the generation in them that God wanted. If He's taking you out of the house of bondage, He will certainly bring you into what He has in store. It's not pleasent, I know. Trust and obey of course is the key. He's got you right where He wants you.

Hang in there Red Letters... Jesus wants us to run the good race and be faithful unto the end. Sometimes we go through trials where we are attacked... but we need to remember that God is always there. God even allowed Paul to be attacked (this is after Paul had had revelations about heaven)2 Corinthians 12:7-9 KJV) "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (Paul is says he asked God THREE TIMES to remove the thorn in the flesh, and God says to him... "I work better through your weakness"!!!)Remember this too: "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV)(Paul is saying, "This too shall pass because it can't compare to what we are storing up!")and this: "For God sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek eternal life. We should never regret his sending it. But the sorrow of the man who is not a Christian is not the sorrow of true repentance and does not prevent eternal death. Just see how much good this grief from the Lord did for you! You no longer shrugged your shoulders, but became earnest and sincere, and very anxious of the sin that I wrote you about." (2 Corinthians 7:10-11a The Living Bible (Paraphrased)) (I put this in there because God allowed sorrow in my life to turn me towards Him! And I am so glad that I did. But, do you see how sometimes in our pain we have to lean more on Christ than every before? Like, wouldn't you want your best friend to look for your support if they were hurting? Wouldn't you hope that they would come to you and want the love that you could give them?)Anyway, not to say that I want to commiserate with you, but I have been going through rough patches myself too! I get slammed with condemnation and then it feels like I am running around with my head cut off... but it also keeps me coming back to Him! And so, I am thankful to God for it. I have even told Him that if it will keep me faithful- if that is what it takes right now, than I want it to continue. Not in a masochist fashion, but because I want to stay close to God; and I know how people stray, get bored, fall away. I have seen it SO MANY TIMES and I don't want it to happen. I want to run the course and follow narrow path to heaven, not the large and easy path to... inferno.... hang in there buddy!

Red, here is a scripture that has helped me thru some hard times Paslms 23 001: A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 002: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 003: He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 004: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 005: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 006: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. also this poem entitlted "Footprints in the Sand" One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you."even though it may seem like the vally of death remember that it is only a shadow and the Lord is with you and leading the path remember the foot steps of the rightious are ordered.