Empty Faith - Any Advice?

[Veritas6]

For some time my faith has been pretty empty and indifferent. I have not been able to find a passionate love for Christ, I seem to be going through the motions without much thought of what I’m doing. I have not had consistent daily prayer and when I do pray I feel empty and uninspired. Time at Adoration is just silence, I do enjoy just sitting in the presence of God, but nothing seems to change. I recognize the peace God brings, but I don’t feel passionately in love with Jesus. I’ve stopped acknowledging God throughout my day.

I realize love is not a feeling but a choice, but I haven’t felt motivated to make the choice to love God, it doesn’t seem like anything has/will change. I recognize times of consolation and desolation, but on average I’ve lacked the desire to give my whole self to Christ; to be completely in love with Him. I feel awful about this, but I’d appreciate your support or advice

 

[Dan_Defender]

Prayer and meditation. St Teresa of Avila said: ‘prayer is the greatest of all gifts, the channel through which God grants us favors, the beginning of all virtue.’

 

[Inbonum]

I realised that true love for God is to do His will. And that means to be obedient to His commandments. That love has nothing to do with feelings.
I completely understand you and encourage you to keep going no matter how dark it seems, your signs on road of faith are God’s commandments. That is only safety, no matter how dark it seems.
I suggest you to find spiritual direction and maybe read first part of Dark Night by st. John of the Cross.

 

[Beryllos]

I have not been able to find a passionate love for Christ,

How are you doing on love for others? Perhaps performing works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal, could invigorate your love of God.

 

[Roadrunner]

You might want to take a look at what St. Alphonsus Liguori says about Spirtiual Desolation

 

[Irishmom2]

I would suggest that you start praying for other people on a regular basis. There are always people that need prayers in the prayer intention forum.

And I would second doing things for other people. Volunteer at your parish to help out with something.
I think sometimes we need to worry less about the cerebral part of our Faith and “do more.”

 

[Veritas6]

How are you doing on love for others?

Typically that’s the most real way I experience love, by loving my family and friends. I work at my church’s food pantry and I definitely desire to serve others. It can be harder to understand how God loves me when I usually don’t have the same sensory experience that I have with my earthly father.

Perhaps performing works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal, could invigorate your love of God.

What does this look like? (Separate from feeding the hungry I do on the weekends). I know I have a duty to feed our homeless neighbors, but it hasn’t particularly invigorated my love of God.

 

[Beryllos]

Feeding the hungry is one of the corporal works of mercy, and there are also the spiritual works of mercy.

I myself am unable to do many public works on the corporal side, apart from almsgiving, but there is my service to my family, plus my wife and I have adopted a few children, so we might be doing all right on corporal works.

The spiritual works of mercy may be even more powerful for building one’s own faith, hope, and love. For me, these seem to really connect me to God’s salvation plan for all people. I’m trying to answer my calling and do my part, so that “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” For me, at this time, this may be the greatest expression of love for God and neighbor.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I know I have a duty to feed our homeless neighbors, but it hasn’t particularly invigorated my love of God.

This is at the heart of loving God.

Mathew 25
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 

[steph03]

Two sugestions;

1- do the Rosary “or” divine mercy chaplet every day
2- also everyday, ask a specific saint to pray for you and your faith… Chose a Saint and stick with him.

To me the above two are like water and sunshine to a plant…bye

 

[annad347]

Have you been able to pin-point when these feelings started to emerge? Maybe if you can understand when you started to feel like you’re love for God has gone cold you can figure out how to get it back?

It’s obvious your faith and love for God is not completely lost or you wouldn’t care if you found it again or not.

Maybe you need to get out of your usual routine, do something different… volunteer for something different.