Can I be saved?

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ForgiveMeLordFJ

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Hello–
I have an unfortunate story to tell about myself and I am glad I recently found this website by means of expressing myself. Growing up, I would always go to church on Sunday mornings with my family-it became tradition. I was involved and was signed up for the Youth Catholic classes-Catechism. I received my First Communion as a child, then Confirmation a few years ago. I am 19 years old now and up to when I was about 15 or 16, I stopped attending mass with my family on a regular basis, even though they kept going. Of course both my parents wanted me to go and really pushed me to go but I suddenly stopped. Ever since, I have felt lost in life. I see no purpose in being here on Earth. I have, in the last year, been experiencing severe stomach problems as I began my first year in college. The doctor’s have done numerous tests on me and can’t find a reason behind my disability. My question is, could God be punishing me now as a way of getting back at me for turning my back on the Church? I try to pray on most nights but don’t seem to be receiving an answer. I truly want to be saved because I know the devil had part in me questioning my faith and my reason for being alive. I have full trust in God but I want to know what my first step should be as a way of being saved. Is confession my first step or will I be turned down no matter what for my actions? I want to be saved but I am feeling hopeless. Please send me your answers as I will greatly appreciate them. If you think this is too personal to talk about on a thread, I am sorry. I am just in need of urgent help. My e-mail is FJimenez12@gmail.com for any personal responses you may have.
Thank you,
FJ
 
Welcome!

The first and most important bit of advice I can give is that you see a Priest, go to Confession and speak with him. Return to the Sacraments, Jesus is waiting with open arms for you.
 
Dear FJ,

God is not punishing you for turning away from Him. He is a loving God and loves us no matter what! He is ready to welcome you with open arms. I am sorry to hear about your illness, but perhaps God is using this as a way to draw you back to him. Find a Bible and read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Know that God loves you just like that father loved that son.

Please find a priest and make a good confession. You will not be turned away. We are all sinners and in need of God’s forgiveness! It sounds like you could really use the graces of the sacrament, not to mention someone to talk to. I will pray for your healing, both spiritual and physical.
 
ForgiveMeLordFJ said:
My question is, could God be punishing me now as a way of getting back at me for turning my back on the Church? I try to pray on most nights but don’t seem to be receiving an answer. I truly want to be saved because I know the devil had part in me questioning my faith and my reason for being alive. I have full trust in God but I want to know what my first step should be as a way of being saved. Is confession my first step or will I be turned down no matter what for my actions? I want to be saved but I am feeling hopeless.
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Hi FJ, welcome to CAF. 🙂

Of course you can be saved! Yes, I would recommend going to confession as soon as you can. Jesus is waiting for you there! He wants you to come to Him so He can bestow His abundant mercy upon you. I also think a sit-down conversation with a priest (before or after confession) to help you find your way would be great.

Don’t despair, don’t feel hopeless. A few words that say it better than I ever could:
Romans 8:38-39:
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38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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The following are Jesus’ words to St. Faustina, as recorded in her Diary. For more information on the Divine Mercy (which I HIGHLY recommend – it is such a blessing!!!) check out the link in my signature. 🙂
“In the evening, Jesus gave me the subject for meditation. At the first moment, my heart was filled with fear and joy. Then I pressed myself close to His Heart, and the fear vanished; only joy remained. I felt entirely like a child of God, and the Lord said… ‘Fear nothing…Before I made the world, I loved you with the love your heart is experiencing today and, throughout the centuries, My love will never change.’”
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From the Conversation of the Merciful God with a Despairing Soul:
Jesus: What joy fills My Heart when you return to Me. Because you are weak, I take you in My arms and carry you to the home of My Father.
Soul: (as if awakening, asks fearfully): Is it possible that there is yet mercy for me?
Jesus: There is, My child. You have a special claim on My mercy. Let it act in your poor soul; let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth, and life.
Soul: But fear fills me at the thought of my sins, and this terrible fear moves me to doubt Your goodness.
Jesus: My child, all your sins have not wounded My Heart as painfully as your present lack of trust does - that after so many efforts of My love and mercy, you should still doubt My goodness…Tell Me all, My child, hide nothing from Me because My loving Heart, the Heart of Your Best Friend is listening to you." ❤️
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Come home to Jesus in His church. It doesn’t mean your health problems or any other problems in your life will go away immediately (in fact, they might get worse, or they might never go away), but you will be close to Jesus in the sacraments, which will strengthen you for the journey and your purpose in this life. I will remember you in my chaplet of Divine Mercy today, and in my Rosary tomorrow morning. God bless you!
 
Thank you everyone for such insightful and powerful words!

Kage_ar, I am definitely returning and will be attending a mid-week Mass tomorrow morning (without receiving communion because it is a sin) and try to speak with a Priest, one-on-one.
ChristinaM, as soon as my mother gets home from work, I will ask her for the Bible and read the passage you suggested. Thank you for praying for me and reminding me that we’re all sinners and we all need His forgiveness.
Belle10, the passage you provided is the most motivational piece I have read in my young life. Thank you, also, for praying for me.

Everyone’s reply truly gives me a great amount of hope as I will begin my journey to returning and sticking with my Faith immediately. I appreciate you all for replying and may God bless you all.
Fernando
 
ForgiveMeLordFJ said:
Belle10, the passage you provided is the most motivational piece I have read in my young life. Thank you, also, for praying for me.

Everyone’s reply truly gives me a great amount of hope as I will begin my journey to returning and sticking with my Faith immediately. I appreciate you all for replying and may God bless you all.
Fernando
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It’s a great community of support here, hope you’ll continue to post and keep us updated on how you’re doing. (So glad to hear you’ll be going to Mass and speaking to a priest!!)

If you liked the excerpt from the “Conversation of the Merciful God with the Despairing Soul,” you should definitely read the entire thing in St. Faustina’s Diary. Go to thedivinemercy.org/ for information on the message and more.

God bless you! 🙂
 
FJ, go here thedivinemercy.org/momm/index.php and you can find out if the Mother of Mercy Messengers (MOMM) will be doing a presentation near you on the Divine Mercy. If they are anywhere near you, find a way to get there – you will not regret it! 😃
 
Welcome home, SJ. :heaven:

If your parish has Adoration, spend a Holy Hour with the Lord. I find such peace there!

About your stomach… I don’t think God is punishing you. I don’t think He works like that. I have found with myself that my body makes puns. I used to get back and neck aches in college, when I was carrying too much of a load, for instance. And my stomach used to hurt when I had swallowed some bad idea. Could this kind of thing be happening with you?

Anyway, I hope that your stomach problems will go away as soon as you’re reconciled to the Church, or soon thereafter.

In the meantime, offer it up for the souls in Purgatory, or for those suffering from stomach cancer.

As a recent Catholic, I didn’t “get” the whole “offering it up” thing until my beloved great-aunt Betty, in her 90’s, fell and broke her elbow and cracked her pelvis. Then I lovingly offered up my pain (from fibromyalgia) for her to have less pain and heal faster. She did heal faster than they expected, and I finally felt good about hurting for other people… if that makes sense.

Ruthie
 
Ruthie,
Thank you for your welcoming words. I have a question about when you said “In the meantime, offer it up for the souls in Purgatory, or for those suffering from stomach cancer.” I know you gave an example with your great aunt but I still don’t quite understand what you meant by offering my pain up for the souls in Purgatory? Can you please clarify that for me. I would appreciate it.
Thank you,
Fernando
 
ForgiveMeLordFJ said:
Hello–
I have an unfortunate story to tell about myself and I am glad I recently found this website by means of expressing myself. Growing up, I would always go to church on Sunday mornings with my family-it became tradition. I was involved and was signed up for the Youth Catholic classes-Catechism. I received my First Communion as a child, then Confirmation a few years ago. I am 19 years old now and up to when I was about 15 or 16, I stopped attending mass with my family on a regular basis, even though they kept going. Of course both my parents wanted me to go and really pushed me to go but I suddenly stopped. Ever since, I have felt lost in life. I see no purpose in being here on Earth. I have, in the last year, been experiencing severe stomach problems as I began my first year in college. The doctor’s have done numerous tests on me and can’t find a reason behind my disability. My question is, could God be punishing me now as a way of getting back at me for turning my back on the Church? I try to pray on most nights but don’t seem to be receiving an answer. I truly want to be saved because I know the devil had part in me questioning my faith and my reason for being alive. I have full trust in God but I want to know what my first step should be as a way of being saved. Is confession my first step or will I be turned down no matter what for my actions? I want to be saved but I am feeling hopeless. Please send me your answers as I will greatly appreciate them. If you think this is too personal to talk about on a thread, I am sorry. I am just in need of urgent help. My e-mail is FJimenez12@gmail.com for any personal responses you may have.
Thank you,
FJ
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God’s not punishing you, but YOU may be tapping yourself on the shoulder and trying to get your own attention! So congratulations on your journey.

Your desire for salvation counts for a lot. Offer up your pain and suffering and talk to a priest. God wants you! It’s not hopeless at all. 👍
 
Sailor Kenshin, I could very well be doing that to myself.
Thank you! 🙂
 
ForgiveMeLordFJ said:
Hello–
I have an unfortunate story to tell about myself and I am glad I recently found this website by means of expressing myself. Growing up, I would always go to church on Sunday mornings with my family-it became tradition. I was involved and was signed up for the Youth Catholic classes-Catechism. I received my First Communion as a child, then Confirmation a few years ago. I am 19 years old now and up to when I was about 15 or 16, I stopped attending mass with my family on a regular basis, even though they kept going. Of course both my parents wanted me to go and really pushed me to go but I suddenly stopped. Ever since, I have felt lost in life. I see no purpose in being here on Earth. I have, in the last year, been experiencing severe stomach problems as I began my first year in college. The doctor’s have done numerous tests on me and can’t find a reason behind my disability. My question is, could God be punishing me now as a way of getting back at me for turning my back on the Church? I try to pray on most nights but don’t seem to be receiving an answer. I truly want to be saved because I know the devil had part in me questioning my faith and my reason for being alive. I have full trust in God but I want to know what my first step should be as a way of being saved. Is confession my first step or will I be turned down no matter what for my actions? I want to be saved but I am feeling hopeless. Please send me your answers as I will greatly appreciate them. If you think this is too personal to talk about on a thread, I am sorry. I am just in need of urgent help. My e-mail is FJimenez12@gmail.com for any personal responses you may have.
Thank you,
FJ
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I pray for you and may God bless you! Honey there is nothing wrong with your test of faith…on the contrary, it just showed you are still faithful even in your distress…Go see your priest, speak to him about what you feel, let him guide you…God may not send the answers to your prayers right there and then but then again, the advice you might receive from here might be one of those answers…sent from GOD through one of his faithful servants here on Earth…
Keep your head up and your faith even higher…
I sometimes feel alone as well, especiallly when things with my family are not going well…But I came here, got advice and feel much better about my situations…that’s why it’s great to be in community…what is it that is said “As long as there is faith among the community God is there?” Or something similar to that?! So you are not feeling well, pray that God might help you with your illness and see how great His love is for you and how much he loves you…I will pray for you as well…We all have our crosses to bear, some greater than others, but I tell you that with support and GOD everything is possible!! 😃
 
Find a Bible and read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Know that God loves you just like that father loved that son.
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ChristinaM, I have to be completely honest with you. I did not read The Parable of the Lost Son until now, not because I’ve been busy but out of pure laziness. I just had to sign in as soon as I finished reading it and say thank you for recommending that passage to me. I honestly started to cry and felt hopeful again.

I also have to let everyone know that I have not gone to Confession yet. I moved a few weeks ago and I’m having trouble locating my nearest Church. I’ve called them twice to make appointments but they aren’t taking any at the time. I’m not using that as an excuse so I will definitely be going this upcoming Saturday afternoon. Thank you EVERYONE once again for your ongoing prayers and patience with me.
Fernando
 
ForgiveMeLordFJ said:
iluvmybabies, thank you so much! That meant a lot, really
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Every time I feel I have lost my way I turn to God, family, friends, and this forum for advice…It helps…and God sends us answers through different people and in different ways…You are in my prayers…Take care and hope you have a blessed day! Keep your head up and your faith even higher!!!
 
ForgiveMeLordFJ said:
ChristinaM, I have to be completely honest with you. I did not read The Parable of the Lost Son until now, not because I’ve been busy but out of pure laziness. I just had to sign in as soon as I finished reading it and say thank you for recommending that passage to me. I honestly started to cry and felt hopeful again.

Fernando
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It won’t be the last time! Can’t tell you how often a Church Moment or Confession has made me blubber like a baby.

Good luck. 👍
 
Thank you for the information kage_ar. That helped out a great deal. 👍
iluvmybabies, that is very true-
the advice you might receive from here might be one of those answers…sent from GOD through one of his faithful servants here on Earth…
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:yup:
And Sailor Kenshin, I will be looking forward to those moments. 🙂
 
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