I think for those of us who became Christians later on in life, we rode the wave of excitement, of feeling we'd finally made it in life, and nothing could possibly bring us down.  Then, as the years past, the same difficulties in life that had been with us before were with us again, despair, depression, worry over our adult children, etc.  There were always those at church who tried to make me feel like since I'd said the magic words, God would take care of the rest.  Well, I'm still a fervent believer, but also a believer in trials and tribulations that Christians suffer regardless of their faith.  The best thing I think that ever came my way was prayer, and not just at home or at church.  Prayer while walking by the river.  Prayer when working in my yard, and out loud, since no one was around.  And the faith that comes with prayer, since rarely are my prayers answered the way I, a mortal, think they should be.  How comforting the small prayer groups on communion Sunday after partaking of communion, to  go to a small group and freely admit my short comings, my children's problems that cause so much lack of sleep, and my husband's lagging faith during these times with my health.  It is good and wise to pray with others, to openly share with them your problems, to have them put their arms around you in a show of comfort and ministry.  We may stray from time to time, or get irritated with a pastor from time to time, but the actual act of prayer lifts us, maybe not much, but brings us back to the reasons we became Christians in the first place.  One thing I know is this:  "I would be nothing with out God." And we don't have to proclaim anything publicly to be a follower of Christ.  He knows us completely.  We do have to  proclaim it if joining a congregation, and I understand that, and have done that willingly, and those people are so wonderful it's simply hard to explain.  Diane, and born again Presbyterian.