Do You Feel At Peace?

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dailey

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Do you feel at peace?

I am wondering if anyone would like to comment on this. I personally feel like I am never doing enough (probably because I’m not) as a Catholic. I pray throughout the day and try my best not to sin. I have made improvements in my attitude (I have a bad temper) and have really made an effort to learn more about my faith. I always feel that something is missing though. Do any of you feel this way? Is that a normal feeling?

Before my kids were born and I had a lot more time, I would do some volunteer work. But since I don’t have a babysitter, my kids are with me pretty much 24 hours. I still try to do good deeds, like pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru and things of that nature.

I have tried to p(name removed by moderator)oint what it is that really makes me not feel at peace…and I think its the “love your neighboor” commandment. What exactly does this mean?? I think this is a Huge one for us to get into heaven…the way we treat/love our neighboor…and I don’t think I am doing a good job…:o
 
God bless you Dailey! Perhaps you are seeking the peace the world gives, a peace that makes sense. The peace that God gives is not something you get because of anything you’ve done right, its just a free gift, that makes no sense for what you are doing. Ask God to give you the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that comes fom Him, not you. He will give it!

Another thought is that your neighbor is those dear children you are with 24/7. Ask God to show you how to love them in the midst of the tiring, the every day, the mundane never-ending chores that get undone as soon as they are done, the many taxes on your patience.

The book, Apostolate of Holy Motherhood is good. It helped me when my son was small,and I felt a little cabin fever and spiritual yearning.

Also, any of the Anne volumes or booklets, which can be downloaded for free at www.directionforourtimes.com will truly bless you, I am sure. I like having the little volume to pick up and read, so I have eventually ordered them all. However, you can read it free online. Start reading Volume I, and you can see, by Anne’s example, how you can have a rich spiritual life just living the simple crazy cloistered life of a Mom, today, in modern times and all the imperfections of life. You will see Anne struggles with a temper, too (as do her children) and even swearing and smoking! Yes, God loves us sinners, and does not expect us to change instantly, though, He asks us to change, and is ever-lovingly patient, and He gives us the grace to change. I think seeing Anne grow spiritually, and also stumble and fall, in spite of great graces received, all in the midst of oftentimes-mundane motherhood, will give you a sense of purpose in your own life.

All Anne’s books are approved by her local bishop, are overseen by a fulltime priest assigned to her Apostolate by her Bishop, who has found them to be without theological error, and all are submitted to the Vatican for review. Its the most approval you can possibly get for an ongoing private revelation!
 
dailey said:
Do you feel at peace?

I am wondering if anyone would like to comment on this. I personally feel like I am never doing enough (probably because I’m not) as a Catholic. I pray throughout the day and try my best not to sin. I have made improvements in my attitude (I have a bad temper) and have really made an effort to learn more about my faith. I always feel that something is missing though. Do any of you feel this way? Is that a normal feeling?

Before my kids were born and I had a lot more time, I would do some volunteer work. But since I don’t have a babysitter, my kids are with me pretty much 24 hours. I still try to do good deeds, like pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru and things of that nature.

I have tried to p(name removed by moderator)oint what it is that really makes me not feel at peace…and I think its the “love your neighboor” commandment. What exactly does this mean?? I think this is a Huge one for us to get into heaven…the way we treat/love our neighboor…and I don’t think I am doing a good job…:o
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Hi dailey 🙂

Anxiety is the one emotion that Christians are not allowed to feel. Everytime we go to Holy Mass, during the Lord’s Prayer, we hear the priest pray:

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, it is safe to assume that, although anxiety is not a sin, it most assuredly comes from the Enemy. As St. Francis de Sales says, “This unresting anxiety is the greatest evil which can happen to the soul, sin only excepted” (Introduction to a Devout Life, Part IV, Chapter 11).

To combat it, I would first advice to meditate on this story from the Imitation of Christ:

One day when a certain man who wavered often and anxiously between hope and fear was struck with sadness, he knelt in humble prayer before the altar of a church. While meditating on these things, he said: “Oh if I but knew whether I should persevere to the end!” Instantly he heard within the divine answer: “If you knew this, what would you do? Do now what you would do then and you will be quite secure.” Immediately consoled and comforted, he resigned himself to the divine will and the anxious uncertainty ceased. His curiosity no longer sought to know what the future held for him, and he tried instead to find the perfect, the acceptable will of God in the beginning and end of every good work.

“Trust thou in the Lord and do good,” says the Prophet; “dwell in the land and thou shalt feed on its riches.” (Ps. 36:3)

, Book 1, Chapter 25Imitation of Christ

I would then suggest reading and following St. Francis de Sales’ advice on the two chapters talking about this in the Introduction to a Devout Life. Here are the two links: the first and second.

God bless you.
 
Good advice from Edwin. And, crazy as this seems:
Edwin78 said:
…Anxiety is the one emotion that Christians are not allowed to feel… .
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I do believe that to be true. God really wants us to have peace, I think because peace is the place where we meet God. And how can we grow to know and love Him if we don’t meet with Him? And if we can’t do that, we can’t meet the first commandment, “To love God with all our hearts, our souls, our minds.”
 
I agree with Eliza that the books by Anne would likely be very helpful to you, especially Climbing the Mountain. My spiritual director recommended one of them to me (her spiritual director had recommended it to her!). Then last month when I was on retreat all of them were available at the retreat house. They really show how Jesus can make use of all the little things we offer Him to make us holy and to gain graces for others. You know, when we say the morning offering we offer all our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to Him. But these books show how to make this intentional all throughout the day and show us how much God appreciates and uses our little offerings. I think that when we realize that God is really with us we feel peace in our lives and other people become aware of it too.
 
Thank you everyone for the links and suggestions!🙂

I ordered the book “Divine Mercy in My Soul” by Saint Maria Faustina…it arrived yesterday! I was hoping it would help with my anxiety. I guess it doesn’t help when I read threads on here that talk about how hard it is to get into heaven…according to many of the saints. I have this fear of being of front of Jesus and he tells me I should have done MORE in my life.😦

I just found out a girl I went to high school with is doing missionary work around the world… and here I am sitting in a brand new house.:o Now that I think about it, a lot of my anxiety started when me and my husband started the process of building our house. The guilt was overwhelming. I felt so ashamed because we were moving to a nice part of town, building a nice home, etc. When there are sooo many people out there that have nothing…
 
dailey said:
Thank you everyone for the links and suggestions!🙂

I ordered the book “Divine Mercy in My Soul” by Saint Maria Faustina…it arrived yesterday! I was hoping it would help with my anxiety. I guess it doesn’t help when I read threads on here that talk about how hard it is to get into heaven…according to many of the saints. I have this fear of being of front of Jesus and he tells me I should have done MORE in my life.😦 …
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You would really like the words of St. Therese of Liseaux then. She saw being useless as a help to heaven. She had to trust God completely, as she can’t possibly do it herself.

I have a dog-eared little book of quotes. Here are some I found online:

I am simply content to find myself always imperfect, and in this I find my joy. Good deeds count as nothing, if done without love.

**“I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.” **

"Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be - and becoming that person."

If you are willing to bear serenely the trial of being displeasing to yourself, then you will be for Jesus a pleasant place of shelter.

I love this one:

Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk.

I just found out a girl I went to high school with is doing missionary work around the world… and here I am sitting in a brand new house.:o Now that I think about it, a lot of my anxiety started when me and my husband started the process of building our house. The guilt was overwhelming. I felt so ashamed because we were moving to a nice part of town, building a nice home, etc. When there are sooo many people out there that have nothing…

I would just accept that God has you where you are supposed to be right now (I assume its where your husband wants to be, too, and that he worked hard to get you there and wants you to be happy), and pray that if it is not His will, He lead you to His will, in His time, and that you’d have the grace to follow. Then you can let it go, because you have put it in His hands.
 
In one of St. Paul’s letters he talks about being content in every circumstance, whether he has much or little. I think that, given your present circumstances, the proper attitude toward God would be gratitude. Try to make your home a place where you and your family can grow in faith and love. With a nice home you’re able to offer hospitality to others. That might be other stay-at-home moms with their kids, a student from another country, friends or family members. Maybe you could host a bible study or prayer group.

When I found out that I was going to inherit a little money I felt guilty and I was afraid that would make me feel self-sufficient and that I would feel like I could get along without God. It didn’t. I paid off my mortgage and bought a small used RV. I’ve used it to visit friends and relatives in other states and to stay in while I volunteered for two weeks with Catholic Charities in New Orleans. I’ve invited friends to stay inexpensively with me when attending Catholic conferences or to join me for lunch while there. I loaned it to other friends so they could take a little vacation they couldn’t afford otherwise.

One time I got stuck in the mud beside my driveway. I left the RV there for two weeks. My spiritual director sternly told me to get it out of the mud because I should take care of what God had provided for me. So, in the same way, think of your house as something that God has made it possible for you to have and take care of it and try to use it for His glory.
 
Thank you Eliza and Clair for your responses…they have been most helpful!!👍 I look forward to looking further into the info you have provided for me.

I am SO GLAD I found this forum.🙂
 
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