A Lost Soul

I was talking to a friend tonight about what was going on in his life with his wife, daughter, and things in general. I asked how they met and he told me that he dated his wife for 4 years before they had a daughter. They loved each other and got married for a short amount of time before their feelings for each other turned. I asked why they did not feel the same for each other and was informed that they came from very different backgrounds. She was raised with a strong sense of family in a religious home where as he was raised in a broken home. His parents did not get along, the family life he was exposed to was an unhealthy one. My friend said that while he wants to be a better, more responsible man and repair things for his family so it didn't turn out like his childhood, he did not know how. I had mentioned if he had truly given religion a serious effort to help him in his relationship with God and his reply was yes and that was why he felt he could not be a religious man. As a child of 10 his two best friends were murdered. He started going to church and was accepted by the community but years later found out that the pastor had sodomized children. When these events came to light in the public eye, the congregation forgave the pastor and tried to cover it up stating that God forgives us for our sins. At this point he gave up his religion and told me that he believed there are unforgivable sins that no one should get away with. I told him that the experiences he had in life were not the shortcomings of God but rather the choices of men. I said that he should not give up his faith in God because of these peoples poor choices. He seemed disinterested and became distant from our conversation later saying that he prayed about these things but felt no answer from God. I could see where he felt alone in life without a reason to live except for his daughter. I tried again to explain to him the role God plays in our lives; how He works through us and to not give up on his walk but he would not have it. Mathew 18:14-16 compares us to lost sheep: "Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn't want to lose even one of these simple believers. If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him work it out between the two of you." I felt utterly useless in trying to help him find his faith again and it was one of the worst feelings I have ever had. I wish I knew what to say or how to help him but I do not. I suppose I learned from talking to him that some people are just too hurt to repair their faith and all I can do is pray for him and talk to him again, in hopes that he can resolve his own issues with accepting God in his life.