I believe every saint goes through a period or a season of dispair. I have wondered this question muyself. "If I am a child of God, how can I sin so much?" I believe many in scripture have had the same experience. Look at Peter after he denied our Lord with oaths and curses. IF we did nto have the witness of scripture one may be led to conclude he was unregenerate at that time, but I doubt that. Eternal security of the believer should never be used as a crutch to sin more, and this has to be balanced with the fact that saints that have fallen into dispair can be reconcilled into the relationship with God through prayer and repentance.

Every once in a while God burns our barley fields to get our attention.

This is the deceit of Satan also that leads many into doubting there sonship in Christ. WHispering into our ears, "You claim to be a child of God and look at what you did" This is heart wrentching and will cause the strongest to doubt. I get comfort from David who experienced the same thing over his life..

Joe

There never was a sinner half as big as Christ is as a Savior.