by girltalking 24 Replies latest jw experiences
Dear Girltalking,
Welcome.
How have any of you recovered from the feelings and thought control imposed upon you by the watchtower and when did you finally feel like a person in your own right again as at the moment I feel I have no identity.
It takes time. Lots of time. Posting on this board helps a lot. But it takes a lot of time to get over the feeling of being duped and controled.
Tammy
For TTboy, Wednesday, and AwakendedandFree.
In case I missed your post elsewhere:
t
WELCOMEt
HI,
Your post sounds so similar to another one that I just answered so I will tell you the same thing. It breaks my heart when I see people so lost and hurting.
First off, what you are feeling is very normal. Actually, you may not know it yet, but it is the holy spirit working in you. You are not an apostate. An apostate is someone that denounces God. IT is the WTS that calls people apostates for denouncing the organization. They are not God... they only make themselves out to be such.
I was raised a JW since I was a little girl. In the early 80's I was disfellowshiped. I spent 16 years away from God because I believed what they told me. That God wanted nothing to do with me anylonger and that he would not hear my prayers. I believed it was the truth and that I had been weeded out.
About 4 years ago I started to read the bible again. I could not believe the things I was reading was so different than what I had be taught all those years. It is not a religion that saves you. NO religion or man can do that. The only way you gain salvation is thru Jesus.
Acts 4:12 says..... "Salvation is found IN NO ONE ELSE, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." ...(see, the name that saves us us Jesus not Jehovahs witnesses. They say that....the bible does not)
Titus 3:5........."He saved us, not because of RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE , but because of his mercy."
Ephesians 2:8..."For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith----and this NOT FROM YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of God... NOT BY WORKS, so that no one can boast."
(we are saved not by works which is the oposite of what they teach. All those time card hours reported count for nothing. It is not about the righteous things we do or by the works we do or by carrying a name of a religion. It is a GIFT.... A PRESENT from God. You don't have to do anything when you receive a present. You are grateful for sure.. but you don't have to earn a present. It is given to you in love.
There is nothing we can do to earn such a great present. Jesus did it all. He said when he died..." it is finished.
Like I said, it was awesome to read the real truth in the bible. When I came to undersand these things and became christian it was not that I had all the answers all at once..... but rather I finally was rid of the guilt to read the bible and believe what it said even though it was different than what I had been taught. I now had freedom.
The best thing I can tell you to do is to just read the book of John. Read it like you would read a good book. Get to know the main character (Jesus). I know this sounds silly, but you will be amazed at what you read. As witnesses we knew ALL ABOUT Jesus.... but we never really knew him.
Look what Jesus himself said....John 5:39......"You diligently study the scriptures because you think by them you posses eternal life.......... yet you refuse to to come to me to have life."( who does this sound like? Remember all the studing of scriptures and teaching gaining knowledge means everlasting life? Yet we never really knew Jesus... like a best friend.
So please try and do that for me. Just read the book of John like a good book. ... And don't underestimate the power of prayer. Talk to him just like you talked to us. You will be so amzed at the things that will happen for you.
Remember MOST OF ALL.. THAT this world belongs to Satan right now. The things that occur here are his doing... not God's. It breaks his heart to see such things. Remember, He offered the kingdoms of the world to Jesus becuase it WAS HIS TO GIVE. Jesus knew that.
Lots of agape love gold morning
if you ever need me and have questions feel free to e-mail me .... [email protected]
Hi, GT:
Yep...we've all been there. I remember after researching the Net, sitting with my head in my hands, saying "I don't know what I believe in anymore". But you know what? I knew I loved God and Jesus died for our sins so that was enough for the moment and a real good start. I would sort out the rest through research and study in due time ON MY OWN TIMETABLE without the pressure of the Watchtower...THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I am so-o-o-o glad to be out and you will be, too. So hop on board. We're glad to see you.
Hi GT and welcome.
You have and will find many here that share your experience. They will be of help as they understand where you are and where you are going.
If you primarily identified yourself as a jw and now you consider yourself no longer one, that is why you feel a loss of your identity. As another poster said you are a mother and that is a start to rebuild your identity. You are also YOU and all that includes Daughter-Good person- whatever you see yourself as.
Any substantial change in ones life causes this type of feeling and questioning. Given time it will balance itself out.
Best wishes to you and your family in your journey.
Outoftheorg
