I am born again but have a "secret sin".  I can't find the strength to stop, but I know it is upsetting God and keeping me out of his favor.  I am afraid if I die I will go to hell and I have known what I need to do for over 5 years but wind up at square one over and over, even after repenting...have I crossed the line?  Will God really forgive me?
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My friend, there are no secrets before God, and when He decided to save your soul at the cross, He decided to do so regardless your sins, He accepts you with all your problems and weaknesses and He has no problem identifying Himself with the worst you. Remember when God called Himself the God of Jacob? Well, He could've said I'm the God of Israel, but instead, He used Israel's original name, Jacob, which stands for "cheater" other than Israel, which stands for "Prince". Meaning? He has no problem with identifying Himself with the worst you, He is still your God. \n\nYou cannot find the way to stop because you're dealing with a weakness! The way of dealing with weaknesses is letting those close to you know so they can help you stand firmly. How to pretend fighting something that seems like a whole army all by yourself? Find a group of friends that support you in prayer and daily life. What you fail to conquer today will eventually conquer you. You must realize the One in you is greater than anything that might come against your love for God. \n\nGod doesn't need to forgive you anymore because He already forgave you 2000 years ago. Jesus asked Peter to forgive seventy times seven, and Jesus wouldn't ask Peter to do something He himself is not capable of doing, you are forgiven. This is not an excuze to continue sinning, but a new and more powerful reason to realize God's mighty love for your life and an engine to give Him your best daily. Your fear of going to hell should not be your motivation for pursuing sanctity, it should be your devotion to God and passion for Him, your conviction, your faith. Don't act out of fear, but out of faith. Five years is a lot of time, but His word says He's the all Mighty, Eternal God and that His hand has not been cut to aid you, it's right there and He'll never give up on you, He believes in you, the Jesus in you (Read Psalms 37:23). Ask the Holy Ghost to aid you get rid of this habit. It is proven when you do or don't do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. Try and live your liberation day by day until it becomes your new habit. Paul himself wrote that he did what he didn't want to and didn't do what he wanted to. We died to the flesh along with Christ on the cross, Christianity is about realizing this little by little until we reach the stature of the Perfect Man. So don't be discouraged, keep going, seventy times may the righteous fall and seventy times he shall rise again and again and again. The worst thought you can ponder is the thought of defeat, keep in mind you're a conquerer, a chosen lineage. Analize what factors are feeding your weakness and eradicate them from your life, people you know, objects, thoughts, habits, places, replace them for things and people that add to your life and spirit. Make of the Holy Spirit your companion and always keep an atmosphere where He can dwell in and keep you listening to His voice, His correction and conviction. I congratulate you for asking about this and I hope I have answered your question. God Blessed you.
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we're all sinners - God knows that since he made us. If you're making an honest effort to move forward and live a Godly life, then you're doing the right thing. just keep on asking for forgiveness and seeking help where you need it. If you find you're stumbling in the same areas like sexual sin or cheating, etc., find a group of Christians that you can be accountable with. \n\nGuilt is just the devil's way of tripping us up and keeping us from happiness. remember that Jesus died for every sin, none is too great to confess. That's the beauty of grace and mercy.\n\nI've been a Christian for many years and I don't have it all figured out. It's a work in progress. Think of Paul's letters - he stumbled and kept going. and David gave us some of the most beautiful Psalms out of his suffering, disappointment, weaknesses and all the while still praising God.\n\nRemember, Jesus' death on the cross has love written all over it. We're never worthy but we are loved:)
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Your thoughts are foolish if you say hell consists of all the "fun" people.  Even if this were true, it certainly wont be a party, but a place of doom and sorrow and torment.  Not to be taken lightly my friend.\n\nIT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE - YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN IF YOU ASK THE LORD WITH GENUINE SINCERITY, TO FORGIVE YOU.\n\nAnd you too can go to heaven one day - the ONLY unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and even then, it does not mean you will go to hell.\n\nMy friend, you can get on your knees before God and ask Him, in Jesus' name, to forgive you for all your sins.  You can tell Him you acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life, and ask Him to come into your heart and change you.\n\nThe only time its too late to do this is when your body is dead and your spirit has already been allocated to eternal damnation.\n\nJesus loves you and waits for you.\n\nIf you need help, please contact me at ccc4jesus@yahoo.com.\n\nBe blessed.
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A good place to see how God both protects and yet allows testing is to read the book of Job. There are of course many other verses to prove this also but Job is almost completely about just that. God chastens those He loves and test us often. He never tempts us to sin however and always gives us a way out. Only through trials can a Christian grow and become refined. We are all as Christians to emulate Christ and His whole ministry was temptations overcome without sin, trials and tribulations and so on. He said if they do this to the master will they not also do likewise to you so do not be surprised. The most important thing is that it builds our faith on almighty God and when the next trial comes we are stronger not because of ourselves but because we have seen God bring us through a previous hard time with awesome results if we just hung in there. As far as death no one dies a moment before God allows it unless of course we chose to play god ourselves and hurry the process. I hope all this helps if you need more help just email me....
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Sarah,\nYou sound so much like me it's scary!  \n\nI recieved the Holy Ghost when I was 11 at a Pentecostal church.  I was a faithful Pentecostal for years after that, but eventually I also made some mistakes, sinned, and also left the Pentecostal church altogether.  I stopped feeling God and I believed I had blown it with Him. Years later I met a friend who was a strong Christain and he basically took me to different churches, taught me, and helped me come back to the Lord.  \n\nIn the process I learned that God never left me.  He was with me before I was born, then He filled me with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit never left me either.  My problem was that satan was lying to me and I was believing him.  The truth is just because we are filled with the Holy Ghost and saved, it doesn't mean we will automatically become perfect or stop sinning.  We still make mistakes and when we do we need to repent and God will forgive us. Recieving the holy Ghost does change your life, but it is a process. You don't just get it and that's it. \n\nWhen God filled you with the Holy Ghost, you began a relationship with Him. It's like when a great guy asks you out.  Now you have a great new boyfriend, so what next?  Do you just ignore him and that's it.  No, you talk to him, spend time with him, build your relationship.  The two of you also make mistakes, fight, and forgive eachother.  All the while your relationship grows and so does your love.  That's how it is with God.  The problem is satan doesn't like that and the first thing he'll do is try to condemn you. You'll make a mistake and he will tell you how horrible and non spiritual you are. Those are lies. \n\nOne of the best bits of advice I have recieved is this, "Remember God is still God no matter what happens or how you feel." He created you and knew all about you before you were born.  He also knows all of your flaws and all of the good things about you.  Even still he created you and eagerly awaited for you to accept Him so He could fill you with the Holy Ghost.  He always has and always will love you and desire a personal realtionship with you. Even now, He has not changed. He is still the same God you knew before and He still wants you back.  Whatever sins you have committed, all you have to do is confess to Him and He will forgive you.  But you have to accept his forgivness and forgive yourself.  Don't hold on to the past or mistakes.  Don't accept condemnation. You don't have to be spiritual or even good because He is. Just let him give you his love and goodness. \n\nIf you want the "feeling" again, pray and ask Him for it. (I have lost it and he gave it to me again). But the more important thing to remember is that it is more than just the feeling. God is still God weather you feel him or not.  He is just as much with you no matter how you feel.  He said "I will never leave nor forsake you." Sometimes he tests our faith by not allowing us to feel him because he wants us to believe in and trust him no matter how we feel. We really can't always rely on our senses because God is so much bigger and our senses don't give us the whole picture.\n\nThere's so much more I can tell you if you want to email me.  Just remember God will never leave you no matter what you've done. (Don't believe the lie that he has.  He hasn't.) You can still run to Him and He will forgive every sin and take away all of the bad things. Always remember He has never left and He never changes. Also don't condemn yourself when you don't feel him. Everyone goes through that.  Even Jesus himself did! Those are just the times when you have to believe and trust in him more.\n\nHope this helps and God bless.
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Makes sense to me.  Some think they have sinned too much and can't be forgiven when the scripture says flat out they can and will if they just accept the forgiveness and repent.  They doubt God which is exactly what Satan wants you to do.  Think you are too far gone to get any forgiveness.  Is Jesus' sacrifice enough or would He have to hang for longer for you to think it is enough to cover YOUR sin?  Maybe not the best example but could you think of a better one?
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I'm sorry to hear that you stumble in this area, but I assure you that all of us fall short.  And remember that there is no condemantation for those who are in christ.  The bible says that we should confess our sins to one another and then we may be delivered.  Short answer...yes, it's a sin.  And not only that those impure thoughts are the breeding ground for all those things that you mentioned you haven't done yet.  But there is hope.  I suggest that you pray for God to reveal to you who to confess this sinto...could be your pastor or even an elder who loves you but will hold you accountable.  Have them to pray with you.  Stay away from all media that wll entice your weakness.  Stay away from the people that ignite any impure desires.  Pray without ceasing and God will deliver you.
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true repentance only comes from a life of unceasing prayer.  If you are truly a christian (believing that if you want to enter eternity you can only do it through Jesus Christ).  you have no help other than what Jesus Christ will give you.  I can't help you, yahoo answerers can't help you, nor can your mother, or father, or sister or brother or anyone else.  However, as stated in other discussions, noting is impossible to God.  If it is his will that you receive his help, then he will give it to you, only when he is ready for you to have it.  and not before.
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You need to reach out to Him! The Lord hears all, and you need Him! Start by SINCERELY and very truly repenting for your sins and the sinful life you have lived. Understand and admit that God is your only saviour and that you realize you need His help, unconditional love, and guidance. He will not let you fall and he calls out to you even when you feel you cant here Him. It is very true that you will feel Him in your heart and he will bring you comfort, healing, and peace, plus so many other wonderful things, but sometimes there is a point where we cant just feel everything. If we know we have made things right with God, then we have to trust His word. Start getting into His word and trusting Him. Whatever that music was, if you think it would not please God or doesnt bring you hope or contribute faith, get rid of it! There have been times when I would not let things go, and though God will work on this with you, it holds back your growing and maturity with God. All negative media does. Leave it alone, and if it is hard, ASK God, he CAN and WILL answer and do what is best to help you. He helps me everyday! What kind of God would ask so much and then not be willing to help you in return? He WILL my friend! Read your bible  for more faith! \nBeing reborn means that you will be born into a completely different life. You might be ignorant, or for a nicer word, unaware of these new things, but God is the master and you also need to know that you cannot fulfill his tasks without Him helping you and directing. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, especially not you. He is calling out YOUR very name, and He becons you to the a life of eternity. I hope that you will run after this call, fight the struggle, and not a battle but a War, and live FRUITFUL, which was the joyess experience I so wonderfully came upon! Dont listen to those who try to push you away from him. Let Him cleanse you and refresh you of this dirtiness and unholyness which has tried to consume all since Adam and Eve. Satans works. Though The devil will fight for you, and those who dont listen to God hear satan much more, and you are no match against him, no christian is, but with God he stands NO chance. There is going to be temptation, but put it ALL in God's hands. He will speak to you and make changes in your life! Last I think, you are not alone. Always talk to God, nothing is too small for Him or too big for Him to handle ever, and talk to other christians, they will welcome you to lean on them, and will be sure to pray for you! Start going to church! And any burden that is too heavy for you to carry, like forgiving, serious situations, give them to God. He loves to handle these things, and is sooo pleased with you when you hand them over to Him!  \nTrust me, the bible (in better words) says the more of the word you let in, the more evil comes out. God is not sitting back, trust me, he has an incredibly special and fulfilling plan for you full of so many things! He is all powerful and will change your life around once you seek it and bring it to Him, like it seems you are going to do now.  He has already started on me, and I am so excited! Let Him in your heart, to break down those walls. Make yourself a living, breathing sacrifice for Him. Dont worry, it's all step by step. He starts out slow! Like David! My pasture was preaching one sunday about David's process. "Before the giant, the bear, the lion and the palace, he was just a sheepherder." lol Which is no shame! You dont have to worry, because God is going to take care of all this, and I will make sure to pray for you as well! \nI hope all this helped, NEVER GIVE UP! God will supply you with everything you need, and sees better than anyone on the internet can! He knew all your going through would happen before you even knew, he was just waiting for you to seek Him. God could have made us like christian robots, but He loved us, and he gave us a choice to love Him back. By the w
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I too faced a similar situation where bad things happened at my "old church" and I ended up leaving it. At the time I was immiture in my walk and I ended up turning away from God for a period of time. That was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. What I should have done was seek him more than ever before. \n\nAt that time I felt like I was going against God becasue I didn't agree with what was going on at the church. This couldn't have been farther from the truth. The truth is we live in a fallen world and people do make mistakes. Even those we look up to and count on are not perfect. They too can dissapoint us. What happened at your church was very wrong. If you want to stay that's fine, but if you feel lead to leave, that is perfectly fine too. As you pray about it God will speak to your heart. Don't be afraid to listen to him. The important thing to remember is that people are people and God is God. People make mistakes but that doesn't change who God is. He is still perfect. He still loves you like crazy. And He never changes. No matter what is going on around you or how you feel, God is still the same.\n\nRight now you are going through a time of testing in your walk with God. You're right if you want to leave your old church, and if you continue to trust God He will lead you to another, the right one where He wants you to be. However you don't know yet because before He does He's allowing you to go through this time of testing. Will you trust God still even though you don't have an answer yet?\n\nRemember God promises "I will never leave you or forsake you" ((Heb 13:5)\n\nRight now I'm reading a book called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I highly recommend you check it out during this time in your life. It is changing my life. It's a popular book you can get at Wal-Mart or any bookstore Christian or otherwise.\n\nDay 14 is titled "When God Seems Distant." Here are a few quotes I highlighted as I read it. They might help you out.\n\n"God is real no matter how you feel."\n\n"The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving him when he seems distant."\n\n"But often this feeling of abandonment or estrangement has nothing to do with sin. It is a test of faith - one we all must face: Will you continue to love, trust, obey, and worship God, even when you have no sense of his presence or visible evidence of his work in your life?"\n\n"God ios always present, even when you are unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to measure by mere emotion. Yes, he wants you to sense his presence, but he's more concerned that you trust him than that you feel him. Faith, not feelings pleases God."\n\n"Tell God exactly how you feel. Pour out your heart to God. Unload every emotion that you're feeling...God can handle your doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions."\n\n"Never dubt in the dark what God told you in the light."\n\n"Trust God to keep his promises. During times of spiritual dryness you must patiently rely on the promises of God, not your emotions, and realize that he is taking you to a deeper level of maturity...so don't be troubled by trouble. Circumstances cannot change the character of God."\n\n"When you feel abandoned by God yet continue to trust him in spite of your feelings, you worship him in the deepest way." \n\nHope this helps. Just never forget that God will never leave you and He will get you through this time. You will come out of it stronger in Him than ever.\n\nMany blessings!
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Dear Bill, I would Like to explain why a person goes to hell and Howwe can escape the consequences of hell. I would like to ask you a few questions.............\n\nHave you ever lied (even once--fibs, white lies, etc.)? Ever stolen (anything--the value is irrelevant)? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we’ve only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. Nothing you’ve ever done is hid from His holy eyes. Will you be innocent or guilty on the Day of Judgment? Listen to your conscience. You know that you will be guilty, and therefore end up in Hell. That’s not God’s will. He provided a way for you and I to be forgiven. \nHe sent His Son to take our punishment: "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He was bruised for our iniquities. Jesus then rose from the dead and defeated death. \nYour own so-called “goodness” can’t get you into heaven any more than mine could.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He is the "Door," the only "mediator." There is salvation in no other name, and if you will repent (turn from sin) and place your faith and trust in jesus, God will forgive you of your sins and grant you eternal life. A person dosent go to Hell because they are foolish, but raher because they have trasgressed the Law. Please, turn from sin and trust in the savior today.\nGod Bless\nWDJD
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Just keep going. Have you ever heard "This to shall pass".  You have to pray and ask God for strength to with stand lifes challenges.  We are here until God take us home and we are here for a reason. God just wants you to stick it out.  It will be okay. You can't do anything about the past and unless you intentionally did something wrong (meaning planned it out), than thats just life. We were not promise that life would be peachy. Challenges, heart aches and pain are apart of life. Take care and GOD BLESS
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GOD will forgive anyone who makes a mistake even if you kill someone. So you made a mistake by ending up with someone like that so what GOD will forgive you. I have been married 2 times myself. And only the LORD knows what kinda relationship that I was in the first time. If you wait to long and live like this you will become a cold harted person. My husband now gets upset because when we get into arguments I don't cry and they can be pretty rough sometimes. The reason why is because of my first marriage I just got to the point to where I couldn't take it anymore and I had to get out but I was getting physical abuse. It's not worth messing up your life because of a jerk. The right person will pass you by if you don't make the right move. I am so happy in this marriage and we get along so well most of the time. It has to be really bad for us to get into it. But everyone fusses and argues. Do whatever makes you happy and pray about it and GOD will lead you in the right direction. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please take this as useful information. I have been there I know. And GOD understands what you are going through as well. Good luck.
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THESE THINGS do not send you to HELL,\nLying,Stealing,Cheating, Rape,Child Molestation,Drunkeness, being a Gay Person,Adultery,Fornication,so on and so on.\n\nTHIS send's you to HELL----Leaving the EARTH for GOOD  with-out getting BORN-AGAIN (SAVED), leaving the EARTH for GOOD with-out getting your Spiritman RECREATED by Accepting JESUS CHRIST as your SAVIOUR.  Period.  \n\nYOU must be Born-Again. \n\n Every-body (LOST and SAVED) sin's.  SIN (some kind's) will cut your Physical LIFE SHORT on this EARTH, other's will SEND YOU TO JAIL!!!!!(or should)so on and so on.. YES, JESUS died for our SIN's and all of the Lessor SIN,s can be forgiven.\n BUT THE SIN ADAM DID to start all of this mess on the EARTH, (and open the door to all of the lesser SIN's, lying, murder, etc.)  MESSED UP Adam's Spiritman and Adam passed this MESSED UP SPIRITMAN to EVERYBODY else.\nThe FIRST SIN Adam committed (HIGH TREASON) cannot be FORGIVEN by CONFESSING  it out like a lesser SIN.  The ONLY WAY to get rid of the RESULT's of that FIRST SIN passed on to US (the MESSED-UP Spiritman) is to ASK JESUS to COME into your HEART(Spiritman) and SAVE(Recreate) you.\nAfter that, you confess out the other stuff an JESUS forgive's you, but you WILL REAP what you have SOW. (Curse's in your LIFE, Jail time, execution in some case's  etc.) There are RESULT's to your SIN's even though JESUS will forgive you.\n\nNOW ask yourself this question ('s):\n     HOW many Alcoholic's have quit drinking cause they actually got Born-Again and are on their way to HEAVEN??? And how many time's did they slip into drinking again, and then not drinking again till the died and went to HEAVEN????\n     HOW many People who got actually got Born-Again and kept on sinning, then going to Church and not sinning, then sinning and then going to Church and not sinning on and  on till they died and went Home to HEAVEN?????\n     \n1.  THE UNPARDONABLE SIN is walking AWAY from JESUS ON PURPOSE, knowing what you are doing (not wanting HEAVEN, JESUS, the whole nine yard's) and being in a POSITION SPIRITUALLY where you can commit the UNPARDONABLE SIN.  Baby Children of GOD (Baby Christian's) CANNOT COMMIT this SIN.\n2.  THE UPARDONABLE SIN is never getting BORN-AGAIN on this EARTH befor you leave this EARTH for GOOD.\n\nThese are the ONLY 2 WAY's you can commit the UNPARDONABLE SIN.  This is the only 2 way's you can bust HELL wide open. \n\nSinning after you are a Child of GOD (SAVED) just get's you into TROUBLE down here (reap what you sow), and you will lose REWARD's in HEAVEN later.\nIF you grow enough in the Spiritual REALM to be able to COMMIT the Unpardonable SIN, thenTHERE  is one thing you have to watch out for, IF you get SAVED(and GROW Spiritually Enough) and continue in sin on and on you COULD be sucked into enough Darkness that would lead you into committing the UNPARDONABLE SIN, TO KNOW JESUS IN GREAT DEPTH's OF TRUTH, then mess with sin, on and on, could get you into Eternal Trouble.  YOU would know EXACTLY what you are doing then.  Baby Christian's can not commit it.\n\nSO, to ANSWER your Question----I don't KNOW!!!!!  Only JESUS know's how to help those People, not me, unless HE would tell me Specifically for one person at a time. EACH case is different!!!  \nBut I tell you this, GAY People outta get Born-Again, no matter what!!!!!   ALL of THEM, cause JESUS LOVE's them,and they GOT a RIGHT to go to HEAVEN as much as ANYBODY ELSE, Whether they can quit BEING GAY or NOT!!!!!!\nThere's agonna be ALOT of Children of GOD ALCOHOLIC's who didn't quit drinking, died and went to HEAVEN!!!!\nWhy not GAY's????  JESUS DIED for THEM TOO!!!!!!!!\nDon't worry bout' LESSER SIN's, get theRESULT of Adam's  BIG SIN taken care of FIRST-------------GET SAVED!!!!!!!    Thanky-JESUS    Ditto!!!!
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This concept comes from the idea that if you don't repent from a sin, that you will go to hell, and that there is no opportunity to repent from commiting suicide.  However, most people view repent here as "ask forgiveness."  Repent does not mean that.  It means change the way you think and act.  If we had to ask forgiveness for every sin we ever commit NONE of us would ever go to heaven.  Grace is not such a fine line that if you sin, you are lost, if you ask for forgiveness your saved again, sin again and you're lost again, etc.  There is another problem with this...  There are many ways to commit suicide in which you have time to ask for forgiveness.  Jumping off a bridge, for example.  While I certainly believe it would be a sin to take your own life, I don't think that one sin would necessarily negate the grace that comes from accepting Jesus as your savior.
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well, do a bit of repenting now!  \n\nWhat happens if you die on the way to Vegas.  (you know, for "pushing the envelope" too much - and God's horrible sense of humor decides that taking you before you hit Vegas would be really good payback)\n\nIf you are serious about turning your life around (which it does not sound that way to me) Then you will find your way.\n\nBTW, bit of info for ya.....Amongst all the "sin" of Vegas, it has the most Churches per-capita then any other city int he US.
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actualy god doesnt hate you,\nhe tursts your strength in life. i knw its depressing now to have no way out and think that the last emotional link in your life is going to back out on you just like every one else, but its the exact opposite. dont look for a all the sudden big change, change the little things. find a new job, go out on the town by yourself, play pogs if it makes you happy. dont stress so much and dont think that its your fault for what other people have done or ended up and vise versa. and just belive in your strength over anything else beacuse if there is a god he will help you once youve decided its time for you to be happy and turn your life around.