Discouraged for not being firm enough

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pwlj_christ87

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Hey guys,

I have made a full conversion back to the catholic family since around october of last year and have felt tremendous joy happiness peace and supernatural expierences after mass. I remember once after a mass back in december I felt 100 Percent firm in mind body and soul, as if I were already in heaven, so to speak.

Well my changes have had an impact on my friendships and I think my friends and many people such as classmates have said things about my change. For the most part though, I stay home and dont go out.

This past weekend a friend of mine had a birthday and so I met up with a group of friends that I used to hang out with and there was alot of drinking going on, smoking, filthy talk, immoralities… but this is just how they are, I even got pretty upset while hanging out on a balcony because one of my friends and his grilfriend were making fun of catholics, the church and priests, also stating a bunch of ignorant stuff about our holy fathers resignation… i defended the faith, church and our fathers resignation to the best of my ability and they didnt know how to answer…

The entire time that I was out at this party… and on to the club, I felt like I didnt want to be there that I had no part in it… that It was as if I was putting one foot back into hell…
many of my friends talk openly about sexual acts with their girlfriends, and others were into drus… these are peopel ive always known but i cant stand for this

and I knew I shouldnt have went that same night, i went against my consciounse, because I tried to justify the fact that I needed to socialize more…Im an outoging person but im getting lonely with my faith… and being alone all the time can lead me to having serious attacks from satan as the past 2-3 days… its as if he tries to wipe my entire mind off god…

well today i went to confessio nabout this… and other stuff… and was told of the story of the parable of the prodigal son which i am aware of, and the priest told me that the prodigal son never went back after he came back… and it made me discouraged because I feel like I should have "stayed’ as well… even though I did not do what others were doing…

anywas, i dont know where im going with this but I guess I havent fully adjusted to catholic social life and dont know what its like… my local parish is doing a bible study which i have always wanted to join maybe i should do that (even though I study the st ignatius bible, catechism, and mini bible amlmost every night?)

i wish i coudl be firm in my faith, i think i am solidly grounded, but i hate how sometimes i give in to hanging out in such company, for the sake of not being lonely.,

this occasion of me going out has lead satan to attacking me for the past 3 days straight

😦

thoughts? advice? thanks your brothe rin christ
 
i mean the most importatn part of all this what is at stake eternally, but not only that but my eternal salvation should be confirmed here on earth through righteousness… and righteousness and good is way better than any evil and any person with a concious knows this, so the fact that we have eternal life is just a bonus on top of being just…
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
Hey guys,

I have made a full conversion back to the catholic family since around october of last year and have felt tremendous joy happiness peace and supernatural expierences after mass. I remember once after a mass back in december I felt 100 Percent firm in mind body and soul, as if I were already in heaven, so to speak.

Well my changes have had an impact on my friendships and I think my friends and many people such as classmates have said things about my change. For the most part though, I stay home and dont go out.

This past weekend a friend of mine had a birthday and so I met up with a group of friends that I used to hang out with and there was alot of drinking going on, smoking, filthy talk, immoralities… but this is just how they are, I even got pretty upset while hanging out on a balcony because one of my friends and his grilfriend were making fun of catholics, the church and priests, also stating a bunch of ignorant stuff about our holy fathers resignation… i defended the faith, church and our fathers resignation to the best of my ability and they didnt know how to answer…

The entire time that I was out at this party… and on to the club, I felt like I didnt want to be there that I had no part in it… that It was as if I was putting one foot back into hell…
many of my friends talk openly about sexual acts with their girlfriends, and others were into drus… these are peopel ive always known but i cant stand for this

and I knew I shouldnt have went that same night, i went against my consciounse, because I tried to justify the fact that I needed to socialize more…Im an outoging person but im getting lonely with my faith… and being alone all the time can lead me to having serious attacks from satan as the past 2-3 days… its as if he tries to wipe my entire mind off god…

well today i went to confessio nabout this… and other stuff… and was told of the story of the parable of the prodigal son which i am aware of, and the priest told me that the prodigal son never went back after he came back… and it made me discouraged because I feel like I should have "stayed’ as well… even though I did not do what others were doing…

anywas, i dont know where im going with this but I guess I havent fully adjusted to catholic social life and dont know what its like… my local parish is doing a bible study which i have always wanted to join maybe i should do that (even though I study the st ignatius bible, catechism, and mini bible amlmost every night?)

i wish i coudl be firm in my faith, i think i am solidly grounded, but i hate how sometimes i give in to hanging out in such company, for the sake of not being lonely.,

this occasion of me going out has lead satan to attacking me for the past 3 days straight

😦

thoughts? advice? thanks your brothe rin christ
Click to expand...
I think the bible study is a great idea. You might also see if there are social activities you can join. I am single and sometimes I go out to a restaurant for dinner with other Catholic singles. I have some friends from a Christian women’s ministry I go to.

In college many of my friends (including my boyfriend) were not Christian, They drank and had sex. I did too to fit in, so I can see where you’re coming from. I regretted it.
 
yeah i think i will join it feels like god put this bible study right next door to me because its something he wants me to do, and something ive wanted to do… so ill check that out, as for my friends i think i am going to keep far from them maybe theyll come back into my life one day
 
Yes, I know it sounds like hard advice, but the best thing you can do is make new friends. If you hang around a crowd long enough, you are likely to pick up their habits.
It’d be good if you could make some Catholic or otherwise Christian friends, maybe meet them through your local mass. 🙂
 
OxygenMan said:
Yes, I know it sounds like hard advice, but the best thing you can do is make new friends. If you hang around a crowd long enough, you are likely to pick up their habits.
It’d be good if you could make some Catholic or otherwise Christian friends, maybe meet them through your local mass. 🙂
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thanks brother i think this is why i was attacked by satan following being with them i started to sort of pick up their habits not the fundamentally wrong ones but more so the swearing im still dissappointed that i gave back in to hanging out with them
 
Lisa1967 said:
I think the bible study is a great idea. You might also see if there are social activities you can join. I am single and sometimes I go out to a restaurant for dinner with other Catholic singles. I have some friends from a Christian women’s ministry I go to.

In college many of my friends (including my boyfriend) were not Christian, They drank and had sex. I did too to fit in, so I can see where you’re coming from. I regretted it.
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and thanks 🙂
 
Definitely do the Bible Study. Try to get involved in other activities at your parish so you make new friends that share your love of Christ. It sounds like you have already confessed for your mistake of going to the party. HE has forgiven you, so let it go. If you struggle with returning to sinful behaviors and feel you are being attacked by Satan, there is a book by Neal Lazano called Unbound. He lays out an approach for praying that might help you. I found that certain types of situations would leave me feeling as if I was being attacked by Satan. My priest recommended this, and it was very helpful to me. God bless you!
 
Know where you are coming from. 20 years ago, you’d find me in a bar on the weekends, both nights, pouring alcohol down ALL ON A FAKE ID mind you yucking it up with party crowds, lusting and offering money to near-nude or fully nude women and LOVING IT!

Never finding a wife in any of these places, thank God, you will find me among the most lonliest of men these days. 38, still single, friends are all married or still in the same lifestyle.

2 dear friends who came into the church, and for reasons that now, God forgive me as I don’t know 100% were either not real or they just thought they wanted to be Catholic, barely speak to me and couldn’t care less about the RCC One friend is into eastern religions, Ghandi and meditating. He is even into lucid dreaming. Point blank told me that he faked everything about being Catholic. I reminded him that he cannot fake his baptism and it still didn’t seem to faze him.

The other friend met a Catholic girl, who wasn’t exactly ALL IN to the faith, knocked her up twice, never married her, lost custody of the kids and pretty much told me that that was the reason he “can’t go back to church.” Umm…you got me because I still can’t figure that reasoning out.

It’s sad. I mean I live a lonely life. Here lately, my money has been TIGHT and weekend highlights for me are a)confession and b)Mass.

Keep hanging in there kid. Try to hang out with fellow Catholics your age in healthy outings. Peace be with you!
 
WaitingForJesus said:
Definitely do the Bible Study. Try to get involved in other activities at your parish so you make new friends that share your love of Christ. It sounds like you have already confessed for your mistake of going to the party. HE has forgiven you, so let it go. If you struggle with returning to sinful behaviors and feel you are being attacked by Satan, there is a book by Neal Lazano called Unbound. He lays out an approach for praying that might help you. I found that certain types of situations would leave me feeling as if I was being attacked by Satan. My priest recommended this, and it was very helpful to me. God bless you!
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thanks I will look into that book I have many to read 🙂
 
Hey 🙂

Are there any youth social events in your Church? I know many Churches from my culture host family and youth parties where there is dancing. It’s alot of fun actually. If there isn’t a youth group in your Church, it would be more than great if you started one!

I think it is better for you if you stop hanging out with people that will lead you to sin. Since you are already struggling, don’t place temptation right in front of your face. Sometimes it is okay though, you stepped up for your faith and showed courage! Remember that Jesus always hung out with sinners. But also remember that if you will be hanging out with these people, you are only to shine God’s light.

Since you went to confession for this, then accept God’s forgiveness and do not doubt His mercy. He forgave you, done. Now you need to forgive yourself and steer this negative energy and emotions into doing good.

Ps. do you pray the rosary? Start today, it’s a perfect way to begin!
 
just_came_back said:
Know where you are coming from. 20 years ago, you’d find me in a bar on the weekends, both nights, pouring alcohol down ALL ON A FAKE ID mind you yucking it up with party crowds, lusting and offering money to near-nude or fully nude women and LOVING IT!

Never finding a wife in any of these places, thank God, you will find me among the most lonliest of men these days. 38, still single, friends are all married or still in the same lifestyle.

2 dear friends who came into the church, and for reasons that now, God forgive me as I don’t know 100% were either not real or they just thought they wanted to be Catholic, barely speak to me and couldn’t care less about the RCC One friend is into eastern religions, Ghandi and meditating. He is even into lucid dreaming. Point blank told me that he faked everything about being Catholic. I reminded him that he cannot fake his baptism and it still didn’t seem to faze him.

The other friend met a Catholic girl, who wasn’t exactly ALL IN to the faith, knocked her up twice, never married her, lost custody of the kids and pretty much told me that that was the reason he “can’t go back to church.” Umm…you got me because I still can’t figure that reasoning out.

It’s sad. I mean I live a lonely life. Here lately, my money has been TIGHT and weekend highlights for me are a)confession and b)Mass.

Keep hanging in there kid. Try to hang out with fellow Catholics your age in healthy outings. Peace be with you!
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I admire that your fighting the good fight and comforted in knowing im not alone, Im along your side brother there are tons of people I meet that talk the most abusbities (sp?) about things of god and I am just glad to be a part of a family. In hindsight, I would have preferred to stay at home that night and focus my efforts elsewhere, the comfort I recieved at the club was nothing compared to true friendship that you can expierence by simply playing a card game or tennis with friend/s that share the same faith, and the actions within the club just further made me realize how truly the problem of sin is in the world… thank you for your blessing i wishy ou the same perhaps one day we can discuss our wordly struggle in the grace and glory of heaven peace be with you
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
Hey guys,

I have made a full conversion back to the catholic family since around october of last year and have felt tremendous joy happiness peace and supernatural expierences after mass. I remember once after a mass back in december I felt 100 Percent firm in mind body and soul, as if I were already in heaven, so to speak.

Well my changes have had an impact on my friendships and I think my friends and many people such as classmates have said things about my change. For the most part though, I stay home and dont go out.

This past weekend a friend of mine had a birthday and so I met up with a group of friends that I used to hang out with and there was alot of drinking going on, smoking, filthy talk, immoralities… but this is just how they are, I even got pretty upset while hanging out on a balcony because one of my friends and his grilfriend were making fun of catholics, the church and priests, also stating a bunch of ignorant stuff about our holy fathers resignation… i defended the faith, church and our fathers resignation to the best of my ability and they didnt know how to answer…

The entire time that I was out at this party… and on to the club, I felt like I didnt want to be there that I had no part in it… that It was as if I was putting one foot back into hell…
many of my friends talk openly about sexual acts with their girlfriends, and others were into drus… these are peopel ive always known but i cant stand for this

and I knew I shouldnt have went that same night, i went against my consciounse, because I tried to justify the fact that I needed to socialize more…Im an outoging person but im getting lonely with my faith… and being alone all the time can lead me to having serious attacks from satan as the past 2-3 days… its as if he tries to wipe my entire mind off god…

well today i went to confessio nabout this… and other stuff… and was told of the story of the parable of the prodigal son which i am aware of, and the priest told me that the prodigal son never went back after he came back… and it made me discouraged because I feel like I should have "stayed’ as well… even though I did not do what others were doing…

anywas, i dont know where im going with this but I guess I havent fully adjusted to catholic social life and dont know what its like… my local parish is doing a bible study which i have always wanted to join maybe i should do that (even though I study the st ignatius bible, catechism, and mini bible amlmost every night?)

i wish i coudl be firm in my faith, i think i am solidly grounded, but i hate how sometimes i give in to hanging out in such company, for the sake of not being lonely.,

this occasion of me going out has lead satan to attacking me for the past 3 days straight

😦

thoughts? advice? thanks your brothe rin christ
Click to expand...
Hang in there. Don’t despair or become discouraged it is about the next life not this one. Prove yourself here as a loyal and obedient pilgrim.

My wife and I had a hundred friends between us. We drank, cussed, blasphemed, judged, lived immoral lifestyles… you name it. We had a conversion. Two years ago.Needless to say there were pains involved in leaving those friends…but it became too hard that early in our coming back to faith to be attacked on all sides constantly.

I almost equate it to AA. After you become sober you shouldn’t just go hang out with the same folks that were watching you kill yourself with booze, you need to make a break to be more successful. Once you grow in faith and courage, down the line strike up that relationship see if you can evangelize then.

I say like a band-aid separate yourself, run to the Church and Jesus, run to confession.
 
SonSearcher said:
Hang in there. Don’t despair or become discouraged it is about the next life not this one. Prove yourself here as a loyal and obedient pilgrim.

My wife and I had a hundred friends between us. We drank, cussed, blasphemed, judged, lived immoral lifestyles… you name it. We had a conversion. Two years ago.Needless to say there were pains involved in leaving those friends…but it became too hard that early in our coming back to faith to be attacked on all sides constantly.

I almost equate it to AA. After you become sober you shouldn’t just go hang out with the same folks that were watching you kill yourself with booze, you need to make a break to be more successful. Once you grow in faith and courage, down the line strike up that relationship see if you can evangelize then.

I say like a band-aid separate yourself, run to the Church and Jesus, run to confession.
Click to expand...
thank you, I will follow your advice and admire your story. I think there is more to my problem than that appears at the surface. I look at my firends as people who have always been with me, and as a good person who believes in god I always want to give them the benefit of the doubt when not seeing them for a long time and place my hope that we can have a night that doesnt revolve around the same tendencies we always did. But in so me giing in to this, it makes me a part of there atmosphere, their sinful ways, and it makes me try to justify why they are do in it, almost to the point to where i see it as alright, not that I do, buti dont see it as seirous as it is and that is why i am discouraged… but no more.

i am taking the plow and not looking back anymore,i dont care , im not going to frustrate myself and be some sort of target that takes abuse to their garbage, i will move on and pray Oh my Jesus for them …
 
Get involved in a ministry , volunteer at your parish do proactive things to keep yourself busy and not a lone, there are other Catholics who you could learn from and probably more than could learn from you, Good Job for standing up for your faith against your friends I know it cannot always be easy

I have a similar situation where my friends some not all drinking way to much and are as you described your friends and ive been to Birthday parties

I always get them a Catholic Book or rosary along with a gift card and don’t drink and defend the faith given an opportunity
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
thank you, I will follow your advice and admire your story. I think there is more to my problem than that appears at the surface. I look at my firends as people who have always been with me, and as a good person who believes in god I always want to give them the benefit of the doubt when not seeing them for a long time and place my hope that we can have a night that doesnt revolve around the same tendencies we always did. But in so me giing in to this, it makes me a part of there atmosphere, their sinful ways, and it makes me try to justify why they are do in it, almost to the point to where i see it as alright, not that I do, buti dont see it as seirous as it is and that is why i am discouraged… but no more.

i am taking the plow and not looking back anymore,i dont care , im not going to frustrate myself and be some sort of target that takes abuse to their garbage, i will move on and pray Oh my Jesus for them …
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Of course I don’t mean to minimize your difficulties. My wife and I had these friends for years upon years we all did everything together. Just hang in there.
 
Praying for you to stay strong and find God-loving friends! It’s okay, even good, to keep your friends in prayer. (Just not spending time with them and doing the sadly sinful things they are doing.) If they know of your conversion, perhaps one or some of them will come to you to find out more about seeking God for themselves.
Blessings,
RC 😉
 
rafarose said:
Hey 🙂

Are there any youth social events in your Church? I know many Churches from my culture host family and youth parties where there is dancing. It’s alot of fun actually. If there isn’t a youth group in your Church, it would be more than great if you started one!

I think it is better for you if you stop hanging out with people that will lead you to sin. Since you are already struggling, don’t place temptation right in front of your face. Sometimes it is okay though, you stepped up for your faith and showed courage! Remember that Jesus always hung out with sinners. But also remember that if you will be hanging out with these people, you are only to shine God’s light.

Since you went to confession for this, then accept God’s forgiveness and do not doubt His mercy. He forgave you, done. Now you need to forgive yourself and steer this negative energy and emotions into doing good.

Ps. do you pray the rosary? Start today, it’s a perfect way to begin!
Click to expand...
im going to start to find some sort of groups i can associate with although im reaching my mid-twenties so it would have to be an older crowd around my age , thank you for your advice i appreciate it and yes i pray the rosary i need to do it more often though
 
18trouble said:
Praying for you to stay strong and find God-loving friends! It’s okay, even good, to keep your friends in prayer. (Just not spending time with them and doing the sadly sinful things they are doing.) If they know of your conversion, perhaps one or some of them will come to you to find out more about seeking God for themselves.
Blessings,
RC 😉
Click to expand...
thanks:)
 
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