Advice on trusting God?

[Monica4316]

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on how to trust God when nothing seems to make sense. I think I’m going through some sort of a “dark night”. I feel a total absense of God, I can’t seem to find Him anywhere. I constantly experience deep interior suffering, to the point that I feel it physically as well. I don’t know how to hear God’s voice anymore, I don’t know what His will is, or what He wants me to do in a situation that I’m really seeking guidance for. I have a lot of fear and can’t seem to simply let go and trust. Probably it’s this fear that got me into this problem to begin with… but I don’t know how to solve it. I’d appreciate any advice on how to trust God and how to put everything into His hands. The worst part is that I don’t know if something I’ve been experiencing lately has been from God or a spiritual attack (or my mind), so I dont know if I should accept it or reject it, but I feel uncertain about either option and I feel a lot of fear about doing either. This uncertainty and fear is preventing me from fully trusting God and coming back to Him. I decided I’m just going to wait until things are more clear, but what can I do meanwhile? I also haven’t had Communion in 2 weeks because I couldn’t get to Confession, and I can’t seem to contact my spiritual director, I dont know if he’s away or busy.

Thank you

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on how to trust God when nothing seems to make sense. I think I’m going through some sort of a “dark night”. I feel a total absense of God, I can’t seem to find Him anywhere. I constantly experience deep interior suffering, to the point that I feel it physically as well. I don’t know how to hear God’s voice anymore, I don’t know what His will is, or what He wants me to do in a situation that I’m really seeking guidance for. I have a lot of fear and can’t seem to simply let go and trust. Probably it’s this fear that got me into this problem to begin with… but I don’t know how to solve it. I’d appreciate any advice on how to trust God and how to put everything into His hands. The worst part is that I don’t know if something I’ve been experiencing lately has been from God or a spiritual attack (or my mind), so I dont know if I should accept it or reject it, but I feel uncertain about either option and I feel a lot of fear about doing either. This uncertainty and fear is preventing me from fully trusting God and coming back to Him. I decided I’m just going to wait until things are more clear, but what can I do meanwhile? I also haven’t had Communion in 2 weeks because I couldn’t get to Confession, and I can’t seem to contact my spiritual director, I dont know if he’s away or busy.

Thank you

Go to Confession, even if with another priest. Satan hates Confession, because it is about humility, and he knows that when we are humble, we hear our Lord better.

Above all, don’t give up. And don’t give up Communion. It is your greatest help in this world.

I know that when I miss Communion the 1-2 times per year that I do, that I feel physically and spiritually awful for the whole week (which is why I don’t miss much, thank God).

 

[Deacon_Chris]

Take action. When I try to figure everything out in my mind I sometimes get crazier. Get up and get busy.

Do a good deed for somebody today and if they find out you did it it doesn’t count.

I am not proposing some sort of a Norman Vincent Peale positive thinking approach but taking action and doing good can help one to “live through” the depression.

 

[soma]

Monica4316, You want the peace of God and you have come to this forum to join with other minds that want the peace and love of God. That is exactly how peace and love is obtained by uniting with peace and love. The world needs peace and love just like we all do so many members remind us to be human, Christian and yes, even secular humanist.

You came into this world to bring the peace and love of God to others probably more than you want to receive it so you will receive it because that is the way. We have all come from different paths, but we are helping each other on our inward journey. You are a blessing for others who come from a similar route and a blessing for others to know you have the philosophical depth, mental insight, and spiritual guidance to treasure what is right, loving and joyful. Thank you for sharing thoughts.

 

[TheQuestioner]

Go to Confession, even with a random priest. Go and receive the Eucharist. When we stop receiving the Eucharist Satan has us right where he wants us. Remember, the Eucharist is not a reward. We need it.

Also, trust, like love, is not a feeling. Trust (or even hope if you would like) is an action as well. Trust is making a leap when someone tells you to, even if you can’t necessarily see where you are going. It has nothing to do with how you feel.

When you are attacked again, trust in the Catholic Church. No voice of God will tell you to leave the Church He established. If it does it’s not God, especially since it lied to you once before (God cannot lie, even to test anyone). Whatever it asks of you, say “no”. Don’t think of it as not trusting in this voice, but as trusting in God and His Church. Whatever you feel after, however you feel after, offer it up. Use it against Satan. If you will, ask God to take the pain away. But in the end do not avoid it, accept it, live in it, and use it for God’s glory. Anxiety can be used for God’s glory too. Offer it up for your family.

Trusting God, though not easy, is also not complicated. In the end, just do it. Realize that this world is in God’s hands. Everything in it, whether it be men or angels, will be used to bring about His will. Don’t fear, you are His daughter. Confide in your spiritual director, but don’t lean on Him. In the end, the only person you can lean on, the only crutch you have. Trust Him, because He will never let you down, no matter what it may seem like. I know this personally. Leap, even if you don’t know where you are going. Do what is right, those feelings of consolation that brought you to the Church, trust that they are from God. Do not doubt what God has done for you. Trust what brought you to happiness, not what brought you to anxiety and fear, but still, use those things against Satan.

Trust God, just Trust God. Do it, because trust is more than a feeling, it’s an action.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on how to trust God when nothing seems to make sense. I think I’m going through some sort of a “dark night”. I feel a total absense of God, I can’t seem to find Him anywhere. I constantly experience deep interior suffering, to the point that I feel it physically as well. I don’t know how to hear God’s voice anymore, I don’t know what His will is, or what He wants me to do in a situation that I’m really seeking guidance for.

You can hear God’s voice by listening to the teaching of the Church, the Scripture and Tradition. Read the writings of the saints, pay careful attention at Mass and believe it is all from God. You don’t need private revelation to hear God’s voice. The Church is incessantly ringing with it. If God never gave me another private revelation from now till death, I would be immersed in His Word nonetheless, and His voice would be always ringing in my ears. True and valuable private revelation merely reiterates what the Church already teaches. So listen to the Church and just keep holding to what she says with your will, regardless of how untrusting your feelings may be.

Stick in there! God bless you with courage. May His Mother constantly pray for you and His angels always protect you.

I have a lot of fear and can’t seem to simply let go and trust. Probably it’s this fear that got me into this problem to begin with… but I don’t know how to solve it. I’d appreciate any advice on how to trust God and how to put everything into His hands.

It’s done with the will, not with the feelings. Trust is in the will. God called Joan of Arc to trust Him even when she was threatened with burning. She was so frightened that she initially recanted of her testimony. However, her patron saints urged her to trust God, so she reaffirmed her testimony in spite of her terrible fear. Her faith was in her will, not her feelings – her feelings were stark terror. St. Faustina, as you know, experienced the same, devastation in her feelings but faith through the will alone, which is pure faith. For faith is all the more pure when it is most unsupported and alone. God calls us to suffer like Him so that our faith and wills, our souls, will be purified through Him.

Don’t trust the private revelations, but ignore them. Simply trust Christ in the Church through faith (faith in the will), and defy your feelings. Pray for courage and faith and don’t let the enemy pin you down.

The worst part is that I don’t know if something I’ve been experiencing lately has been from God or a spiritual attack (or my mind), so I dont know if I should accept it or reject it, but I feel uncertain about either option and I feel a lot of fear about doing either. This uncertainty and fear is preventing me from fully trusting God and coming back to Him. I decided I’m just going to wait until things are more clear, but what can I do meanwhile?

You don’t need any private revelations to faithfully follow God’s will. God’s will is for you to obey the Church’s teaching, so if you do that, there is no sin. We have from the Church all we need to know to be saved and to follow God faithfully. Don’t worry about any private revelation or spiritual experience that has been troubling you. Remember that the enemy has been assaulting you through these over and over again. Don’t trust anything that is not perfectly united with the Church’s teaching. Don’t focus on private revelations at all . . . now is the time to get off of them and rely on pure faith, however very painful and hard that is.

I also haven’t had Communion in 2 weeks because I couldn’t get to Confession, and I can’t seem to contact my spiritual director, I dont know if he’s away or busy.

Crud; that’s very unfortunate . I doubt that you’re in mortal sin, though, judging from all the other times you’ve thought yourself in mortal sin and weren’t. Remember, a mortal sin must be a deliberate action, not committed under any pressure (complete consent), and committed with full knowledge of its evil at the time it is committed. It also must be grave matter.

 

[nuntym]

+AJPM+

Hi Monica4316.

You have received many great advices here. I think Lief Erikson’s is one of the best. As he said, “Trust is in the will.” To trust in God is to act, to will, the will of God.

What is the will of God? It is where you are right now. And how do you will the will of God? There are two ways: active and passive.

To will the will of God passively is to lovingly accept all that God sends us at each moment. You cannot go to confession now? It is the will of God; He doesn’t want you to go to confession right now; maybe later, but not this moment. Be thankful. You cannot go to the Eucharist because you are not sure whether you are in the state of grace or not? It is the will of God; He doesn’t want you to go to Eucharist until you have “discerned the body of Christ” with the help of your spiritual director. Accept the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord spiritually, everyday…even every hour! Be joyful. Do you feel confused? It is the will of God; He is increasing your trust. Be at peace.

To will the will of God actively is to do your duties of this moment. Does your family need you? Be with them and talk to them. Do you have chores right now? Do them. Do you need to work? Work. Is it time to relax? Relax.

Always will the will of God passively with gratitude, readiness, and trust.

Always will the will of God actively with worship, stewardship, and compassion.

If what you have to do seems too hard, then remember that duties cease to be duties when we have no longer the power to fulfil them. Do you have to go to Mass when you are terribly sick?

May God bless you, and I will add you to my prayers.

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks everyone!! that really helps.

Tonight, I was trying to just be open to God’s will and to want His will to be done, and I felt more peace than I have in a long time. I’ve been living in total darkness for the past week or so, - your prayers must have worked! I also feel my faith in the Church has gotten stronger. I’m taking it bit by bit…

One of the things that is causing all those fears, is that over the past couple weeks, I’ve repeatedly felt ‘something’ tell me to become Eastern Orthodox… I had a lot of trouble believing this voice is from God, because it was kind of harsh (sometimes seemed very harsh and told me I’m unforgiveable), and other times it was gentler, but only in my mind (didn’t produce any graces, good fruit, etc) and when I said ‘yes’ to it, I was left in darkness and felt like God is unmerciful. But when I didn’t say ‘yes’, I started getting afraid that I was saying no to God. Then, the ‘voice’ started telling me that I’m going to hell if I stay Catholic. This scared me so much that I’ve lived in fear ever since, and didnt know how to turn to God! I wish I had a good priest to talk to but over the week I can’t really get to any parish, and I have difficulties getting rides, etc… (I can’t drive). I’ve just been trying to pray.

Would you say that God ever uses fear to bring people to the truth? for example, if someone was baptized Catholic, but later became a Protestant, would God use fear of hell to draw them back to the Church? I don’t know, but I don’t think He would use ONLY fear of hell… and this voice always inspired me with fear, eventually. So I don’t know… I’m trying to not focus on feelings and experiences as you all advised!!

Tonight, the ‘voice’ told me another thing, that I’m going to die tomorrow. But suddenly, I realized that it’s just trying to scare me!! and right when I realized its intent, the voice went away, and I finally felt Jesus’ presence in my life again. He gave me a lot of peace. Now, I’m getting another fear, that God is giving me consolations and keeping me in the Church because I’m closed to His actual will, which is for me to be Orthodox, and that He would give me consolations during my life on earth but after I’ll go to hell. It’s like I’m exchanging my eternal life for earthly consolations. However, this makes no sense at all! Firstly, I’m not closed to the idea of being Orthodox, I said yes to that many times, I just never felt it was the right choice afterwards…it didn’t last, and it was based entirely on fear. I’ll do it if it’s ACTUALLY God’s will, but I don’t want to trust every feeling or spiritual experience. Believing in Catholicism gives me much peace and God has confirmed it for me many times. Secondly, God doesn’t deceive us, - if He is close to us here on earth, He intends to save us! He tries to save everyone.

I’m either spiritually attacked or have serious scrupulosity issues. A short while ago, I used to get continually tempted with blasphemous thoughts, and now this doesn’t really happen anymore, but I get this new temptation to fear… I dont know if it’s demonic or natural… Whichever it is, - I’ll just be glad knowing that I’m doing God’s will.

sorry for this long post, but sometimes I type things out just because describing them helps me to understand what’s going on, and to put everything in perspective.

I’ll just try to trust God more and rely on Him, and this weekend I hope I’ll be able to receive the Sacraments!! Last time I received the Eucharist, all these temptations went away, so that’s a good indication!

God bless!

 

[TheQuestioner]

hmmmm

Voice tells you to join the Orthodox Church, then that you are unforgivable. The second turns out to be a lie. It then says you will die tomorrow but then when even you realize this is a load of B S it decided not to push the idea.

The voice sounds like a coward who picks on a scrupulous person, lies and changes it’s mind often. It’s completely incoherent. It sounds as if it’s plan is to get you so afraid, so frustrated with religion that eventually you simply quit. It could care less about the Orthodox Church or the Catholic Church. It’s gunning after you, and it’s personal. But you know what?..I think it’s actually afraid of you. There must be something in you that causes Satan to gun after you. You may be the type who inspires others, even if you wont admit it.

Listen, that voice is not the voice of God, period. It is the voice of a liar, a bully and a coward. Sound familiar?

Be strong, and never ever say ‘yes’ to this voice again. It is using your insecurity of the nature of your consolations against you. For now, go with this rule. Any consolations that strengthen your faith in the Church, go with them. You have not closed yourself off to grace. You cannot close yourself off to grace unless you want to. Clearly you don’t.

Forget about whether or not God uses fear. Ask yourself why He should. You simply want to please God. With that in mind, why would God need to use fear to get you to do His will? It makes no sense.

My words are just words, the words of a poor child amidst adults in a war that has been fought since the beginning of time. Your fear may act as a wall, to stop words of reason and encouragement from reaching your heart and mind. But please, trust. Every one of us can tell that this “voice” you’ve been hearing is the Devil himself. Of course, with your feelings it may be hard to determine what is truth. But all things, even truth, is from God. Ask God for truth. The next time this voice comes along as God (not the voice) for truth, even while the voice is speaking.

Trust in God and His Church.

Finally, and please don’t think I am being harsh, but mistrust in God isn’t about fear. Mistrust is simply thinking that it is you who can decipher and discern what is going on without God’s help. But we are helpless without God. Mere babies without his grace. There is not one good thing we can do without the grace of God. If you can have the grace to say a good word to someone then that means you have “actual grace”, so you are not closed off the grace. If you have the grace of confession and the Eucharist (and you always do) then you are not closed off to sanctifying grace either. Don’t let this voice or any of your own insecurities make you think you are. Discern the spirits, ask God for this gift too, and pull through. We are all praying for you. Do not so much believe in yourself. Have no faith in yourself. Have faith in God. Grab onto Him and hold on, He through his Church will pull you through it all. Grab onto the mantle of our Lady. Don’t listen to this voice. Don’t destroy yourself (you are the only one who can).

God loves you, for you are his daughter.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I’ve gotten so many “dark nights” that I have come to know them and love them.

They are all the evening before a new dawn, in which I feel renewed in mind and spirit, and overflowing with peace and joy.

Do not be afraid; just continue to follow your faith and do all the wonderful things other posters have said.

And like others have said, for me the presence of God isn’t a feeling, in that I cannot “feel” when He is with me. I can, however, “feel” the effects of such an encounter. Like the Holy Spirit and the wind, you cannot see Him but you can see and feel His effects. I was ill, and now I’m well.

Alan

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Don’t rely on feelings. The devil can make you feel really good too, not afraid at all, and you are plainly under serious attack, having heard things that BOTH the Orthodox AND the Catholics would never tell you (such as that you’ve committed the unforgivable sin, or that you’re going to Hell for being Catholic). So now is a time to just not trust anything you hear and rely completely on God in the absence of consolations or private revelations. Private revelations are superfluous, if you believe God’s Word in the Scripture, Tradition and Church. You don’t need them, though they can help, but now is a time when they’re not helping and where trusting them or believing anything you hear from them is your greatest weakness. Once you’re out of the time of trial and are hearing things that all connect with the Church’s teaching, then you can begin thinking about whether or not some of these things are from God. But for now, just try to tell yourself, “I will not pay any attention to ANYTHING I hear in private revelation, OR to my feelings, but will rely on faith in the Church in the will.”

Your thoughts about converting are not intellectual reasoning . . . they are entirely feelings and spiritual experiences. The Orthodox will be as quick as the Catholics to tell you that this is not reliable. I strongly recommend that you read, “Peter, Jesus and the Keys,” so that your mind will be absolutely certain that Catholicism is true. For the testimony from Scripture and the Early Church is extremely clear on this point.

Here’s the link: amazon.com/Jesus-Peter-Keys-Scriptural-Handbook/dp/1882972546

If you buy a used copy, it’s only $5, but if you get it new, it’s $20. Either price is pennies when set against the struggle you’re going through right now. Not that it will remove you from the trial – I’m sure the devil will simply throw something else at you if you debunk this one – but it will show your intellect plainly that Catholicism is the true faith.

The problem is that your feelings and spiritual experiences, which the devil is able to wreak havoc among right now, are not giving you good guidance, and you continue to give serious consideration to what comes to you through that form of communication.

STOP. Pray to God for the spiritual strength and faith to ignore ALL consolations and ALL private revelations. Rely on faith purely through the will while saying “humbug” to faith through the feelings. If you flee from ALL private revelations, feelings and spiritual experiences right now, you will survive this trial .

You’re in an extreme situation. The level of self-abandonment the course I’m recommending would require is great. But God never intended that any Christian should have to rely on private revelation for guidance, or should have to discern which voice belongs to God. You don’t need to worry about that, because He has given public revelation which addresses ALL the concerns you’ve been raising! God’s Word in public revelation is here for you, responding to all your problems. You can receive it and God’s will along with it if you reject all spiritual experiences and feelings and ignore every one of them, even if they’re from God. God won’t be angry at you for ignoring His voice given through private revelation (as St. Faustina and some of the other saints did). Ignore every voice and feeling you experience and cling to the Church alone until the trial ends. All this requires is your will.

Pray to God that you might have the strength to always give your will to His Church and ignore all feelings and private revelations.

The biggest threat to you is your own personal reliance on feelings and private revelations. In other words, your biggest threat is yourself. If you can throw the “self” out of the equation by, in humility, abandoning all spiritual experiences and treating all of them with disregard, whether from God or the enemy, and cling solely to the Word of God as given in public revelation, you will then be established on rock rather than on the sand of personal discernment.

That sand of personal discernment and private revelation has sent hundreds of millions in contradictory directions. It sent Marcion and his followers in the Early Church into the grave heresy of taking multiple books out of the Bible and turning Christianity into Gnosticism. It sent Arius and the Arians into denying the divinity of Christ. It sent the Protestants into rejecting seven books of the Bible, throwing out Tradition and Magesterium and dividing into tens of thousands of contradictory theologies. Private revelation, when trusted above God’s public revelation, the faith “revealed once for all” (Jude 3) is the seed of chaos and spiritual disaster. Get away from it! Get away from all of them, and like St. Jerome, St. Faustina, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and all the others lovers of the Church, you will find that the Church is all you need and love! The Church holds that one revelation given “once for all,” and because that revelation was given “once for all,” you need nothing added to it.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Read “Peter, Jesus and the Keys” and you will intellectually know that the Papacy (the primary division between Orthodox and Catholics) is from God. Then once you intellectually know that, regardless of what your feelings and spiritual experiences tell you, indeed, ignoring all of them, whether they are from God or not, TRUST THE CHURCH ALONE. Not trust with the feelings but with the will; this you can do.

Like all the saints, you will come to know God’s voice in her and trust in her. This can feel less “flashy” and “exciting” than hearing God’s voice speaking to you through private revelation, but it is nonetheless God’s Voice, and far more sure and trustworthy.

Listen to the Church above all, as the saints did, and then you will in time share in the saints’ delight and in their reward.

Maybe you should read the lives of the saints again, as well as the other book I recommended. There is no denying that the canonized saints truly and certainly knew God, far better than any of us, but they did so by trusting the Church’s teachings above any private revelation. Reading their lives and seeing how certain is their salvation from their writings and the writings about them will show you that God’s Truth is in the Church. For as Jesus said, the tree is known by its fruits, and these are the ones most faithful to the Church’s teaching, and consequently the ones in which faith in Christ in the Church can be most clearly seen.

God bless you . He loves you greatly and is blessing you through this trial by deepening your union with Him. Please follow all this advice; I know it will require very great self-abandonment to commit yourself to ignoring all private revelations and feelings of any kind, but the path of the saints who trusted the Church foremost makes it clear that this will save you from all trials. I’m sure God is deepening your union with Him and His love is within you. You are doing good in seeking His will – just make sure you seek it in the right place, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth (1 Tim. 3:15), and not in transitory feelings and private revelations. You’re doing the right thing; just keep seeking His will. I’m sure He loves you.

Can you completely ignore all private revelations and feelings, at least until the trial ends, as I am pushing you to do?

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks for the advice!! I will try to ignore private revelations and feelings. I’ll also try to receive the Eucharist this Sunday cause I hope that would give me strength.

Intellectually, Catholicism makes sense to me… btw thanks for mentioning that book, I’ll try to get it but there is something that I keep on coming across. The EO always say how Catholicism introduced new doctrines (“heresies”, to them) whereas their Church stayed the same. I’ve read that they have changed their views on divorce, contraception, and the primacy of Rome. But is there any good way to answer this argument… When I research the matter, I can see that many of the doctrines have their basis on the writings of the early Church (for example, I found a whole list of quotes from the ECFs about original sin, which the Catholic Church believes in, but not the Orthodox Church). But this is a significant doubt that I keep coming across - why did the Catholic Church continue to formulate doctrines and have ecumenical councils, and the Orthodox Church did not? The Catholics might say, that’s because the EOC no longer have the Pope, - and the Orthodox would say, that’s because the RCC began inventing dogmas, and only Orthodoxy reflects early Christianity. There is also SO much argument about the role of the Pope in the early Church, and especially the role he had in the councils… it’s just overwhelming trying to research this stuff.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Monica:

Intellectually, Catholicism makes sense to me…

Well, like us, the Orthodox would say that we shouldn’t rely on feelings and private revelations. So . . .

Monica:

btw thanks for mentioning that book, I’ll try to get it

Great . I think it’ll help clarify this, because it has a lot of evidence about the Papacy in it.

Monica:

I will try to ignore private revelations and feelings.

Good . . . That, and holding in faith (faith through the will, not feelings – feelings can be completely distrustful without it mattering) in the Church’s teachings is key. This will be very helpful, if you can throw out all private revelations you receive, whether they’re from God or not. For you have no need of private revelations to direct you between truth and lies, or to tell you about the condition of your soul. The Church’s teaching is God’s Word. Private revelations, and your feelings (which are out of control) are all serious threats that you can defeat by praying for faith in the Church and strength to resist their trials, and which you need to try to ignore, as you are now doing .

Monica:

I’ll also try to receive the Eucharist this Sunday cause I hope that would give me strength.

Excellent . I’m sure that will be helpful, whether you feel good results or not.

Monica:

but there is something that I keep on coming across. The EO always say how Catholicism introduced new doctrines (“heresies”, to them) whereas their Church stayed the same. I’ve read that they have changed their views on divorce, contraception, and the primacy of Rome. But is there any good way to answer this argument… When I research the matter, I can see that many of the doctrines have their basis on the writings of the early Church (for example, I found a whole list of quotes from the ECFs about original sin, which the Catholic Church believes in, but not the Orthodox Church). But this is a significant doubt that I keep coming across - why did the Catholic Church continue to formulate doctrines and have ecumenical councils, and the Orthodox Church did not? The Catholics might say, that’s because the EOC no longer have the Pope, - and the Orthodox would say, that’s because the RCC began inventing dogmas, and only Orthodoxy reflects early Christianity. There is also SO much argument about the role of the Pope in the early Church, and especially the role he had in the councils… it’s just overwhelming trying to research this stuff.

I came across this Abbey in my own personal vocation search: abbaziagreca.it/en/

Here’s the Abbot’s email address:

abate@abbaziagreca.it

And their contact page, on which you can find phone numbers: abbaziagreca.it/en/contacts.asp

They’re a Byzantine Catholic Monastery that focuses its work on healing the divisions between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. It’s a very ecumenical community. Praise God for them . I’m sure if you contact them and tell them what you just said to me, they would be glad to help you in your research and discernment. They are probably better qualified to give help in this study than anyone on CAF.

Remember to focus on the intellectual issues, praying for wisdom and discernment, and ignore the feelings and private revelations as best you can.

God bless you! May His love fill you always, whether you feel it or not, and lead you into deeper understanding of His Truth.

I think the book I recommended and this order will be able to help you a lot. Let me know if the order responds to your emails and proves helpful, if you do contact them .

 

[John_of_Woking]

Monica,

Yours is a very interesting post. The only way you can beat this is to pay no attention to feelings and emotions and have a naked faith and trust in God and above all Hope.

I suffer from scruples/ocd and when I allow paranoia to overtake me I can lose hours fighting a losing battle alone with my mind and the solicitations of the False Accuser.

I can come close to despair and if you start being weak (without God) in the face of these trials you will spiral down in a circle of doubt and fear - like* I usually *do

The remedy is confession, Eucharist and a healthy disdain for the devil’s tricks.

You are added to my prayers.

The Cross will Triumph…always:thumbsup:

 

[John_of_Woking]

I’ve gotten so many “dark nights” that I have come to know them and love them.

They are all the evening before a new dawn, in which I feel renewed in mind and spirit, and overflowing with peace and joy.

Do not be afraid; just continue to follow your faith and do all the wonderful things other posters have said.

And like others have said, for me the presence of God isn’t a feeling, in that I cannot “feel” when He is with me. I can, however, “feel” the effects of such an encounter. Like the Holy Spirit and the wind, you cannot see Him but you can see and feel His effects. I was ill, and now I’m well.

Alan

I love your attitude. I suppose every dark night that comes along is just another opportunity to cling faithfully to His Cross.
It would be nice to feel His Love from time time… but He is in charge and so I pray “Lord do what you will with me!..but be gentle”

 

[TheQuestioner]

Thanks for the advice!! I will try to ignore private revelations and feelings. I’ll also try to receive the Eucharist this Sunday cause I hope that would give me strength.

Intellectually, Catholicism makes sense to me… btw thanks for mentioning that book, I’ll try to get it but there is something that I keep on coming across. The EO always say how Catholicism introduced new doctrines (“heresies”, to them) whereas their Church stayed the same. I’ve read that they have changed their views on divorce, contraception, and the primacy of Rome. But is there any good way to answer this argument… When I research the matter, I can see that many of the doctrines have their basis on the writings of the early Church (for example, I found a whole list of quotes from the ECFs about original sin, which the Catholic Church believes in, but not the Orthodox Church). But this is a significant doubt that I keep coming across - why did the Catholic Church continue to formulate doctrines and have ecumenical councils, and the Orthodox Church did not? The Catholics might say, that’s because the EOC no longer have the Pope, - and the Orthodox would say, that’s because the RCC began inventing dogmas, and only Orthodoxy reflects early Christianity. There is also SO much argument about the role of the Pope in the early Church, and especially the role he had in the councils… it’s just overwhelming trying to research this stuff.

Simply put, the orthodox stopped having councils because of the lack of clear leadership. While the Catholics had a Pope who was pretty much the be all and end all of all controversial issues, the Orthodox had no such buffer. Hence, whenever the Orthodox tried to have a council, not everyone would agree on the decisions made, rendering them invalid (hence no new dogma, the making of which would require that every bishop was in agreement). It’s not as if the Orthodox never tried to dogmatically define aspects of the faith, they could just never pull it off according to their rules. The Catholic Church on the other hand began to further define the aspects of the faith (not formulate new doctrines, which is different I believe) and because we have a Pope who speaks infallibly we can trust that we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

I suggest you read this page to find out more
catholic.com/library/Eastern_Orthodoxy.asp

Btw, I finally ordered a copy of spiritual exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola. I think it may help you too.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I love your attitude. I suppose every dark night that comes along is just another opportunity to cling faithfully to His Cross.
It would be nice to feel His Love from time time… but He is in charge and so I pray “Lord do what you will with me!..but be gentle”

Thank you; few people “get” my drift most of the time, it seems. Let me assure you, with all the Lord has done for me I can only smile in eagerness to see others find peace and joy in this life.

If He knocks and you invite Him in, He says He will come dine with you.

But I think He sends the Spirit to prepare the room and the guests. The room is your heart, and the guests I suppose could be your mind. There can be cleaning and dressing up involved. We have to let go of all judgment.

Be careful what you ask for; you just might get the personal touch you’re asking for!

Also, in regards to the thread topic, I advise you stay the course, and contact your spiritual director when you can. Dark nights can involve purgative contemplation, which is a Good Thing. Meanwhile, live your life like Christ anyway, because it is a superior way to live even during times of doubt and drought. You also might want to check out the first couple chapters of The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John-of-the-Cross and see if anything there speaks to you.

Alan

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you everyone!

the fear of hell is very strong at times, I hope that tomorrow when I receive the Eucharist, God will point me in the right direction.

 

[beckycmarie]

Monica, one of the most effective ways I’ve found to deal with anxiety and trust God more is to say the Divine Mercy prayer - “Jesus, I trust in You.”

In difficult times when I’m finding it hard to trust, I’ll pray instead, “Jesus, help me trust in You.”