Happiness

[seanom]

Hello I am a 15 year old student and I had a sort of conversion experience about 9 months ago. I am doing my best I think to serve and love God, I pray everyday, I try to go to daily mass, rosary, meditation, morning and evening prayer etc… My faith was strong for many months, but recently I have got severe temptations: to become an atheist, to gain material goods, to become lukewarm. My faith is failing and is so inconceivably weak. I do love God to the best of my ability but this emptiness is not making me happy. When I see those who are more worldly and own xbox’s, go drinking and live life freely, they seem so much happier to me. When I read about the lives of the saints and here about there austerities and penance,it just makes me unhappy to live like that and always see life as an exile. My question is how do you live life to the fullest and be happy in your faith and also how can you be a living saint (since God’s will is for us to be saints) and have life in the fullest sense and be happy??? Thankyou for any advice or tips and God Bless you!

 

[BintuluChuchGuy]

Im a 17 year old,and from my own experience,I found that following the path of God is the true way to happiness.Yeah,playing xbox and drinking may seem fun and happy with friends,but it is only TEMPORARY.While living in the light of God,it brings us to ETERNAL HAPPINESS when we die and go to heaven.

The journey may be hard and rough,but the final destination is worth it.But it doesn’t mean that you have to be unhappy.Take joy in the little things of life.

I hope other CAF members can give you better answers,but the main point is that God can truly provide us happiness.Other things can make us happy,but only temporary.God bless you

 

[OneSheep]

Hi seanon.

I have worked with 15-year old students (as a confimation teacher) for ten years now, so I am somewhat familiar with what you are up against in the modern world, even though its been a long time since I have been a teenager.

From what I know, the greatest need in the teenage years is acceptance from a group of peers. Is there a youth group in your parish? If not, find one in another parish and join it. If transportation is a problem, someone there can pick you up. You know, of course, it doesn’t take booze and other trappings to be happy. It does take doing fun things with your friends.

Please, do not let this go unresolved. We sometimes get into the mode that “all I need is God”, which is true, but for a teenager, God is going to speak to you and show you his love and acceptance, in a large part, from a group of people you can trust and have fun together.

Exhile WITH some cool Christian friends!

 

[styrgwillidar]

Happiness is a choice.

Happiness is not having certain things, outside things or more things do not make you happy. It is learning to appreciate and enjoy the things you have vice focusing on the things you don’t.

I have met people who seem to have everything who are miserable. They strive for that one more thing, that one more goal, achieve it, and still aren’t happy.

I’ve met poor people, blind, handicapped, folks who’ve lost limbs who attack each day with a zest and appreciation for each breath. People dealing with things that I don’t believe I could deal with at all, much less still be happy. I’ve learned from them, happiness is a choice, an approach to life.

Make a list of every little thing that you can appreciate- a deep breath, being tired at the end of the day and being able to lay down, the ability to read, access to a computer, your intelligence, the smiles of those you love, the color and form of a flower, the ability to see, to feel, to touch, to taste, a breeze on a warm day, a warm fire or drink on a cold evening, to help someone in need, to allow someone the joy in being able to help you. Everything…

 

[TruthSeeker60]

My faith was strong for many months, but recently I have got severe temptations: to become an atheist, . . .]

Regarding the temptation to be an atheist, being an atheist isn’t really much of a choice. Being an atheist just means you don’t believe a god exists. The only good reason to be an atheist is if you do not think there is sufficient evidence to conclude that a god exist. Thus, if you think there is sufficient evidence, then you should still believe that a god exists. If you do not think there is sufficient evidence, then you aught not believe that a god exist (thus, be an “a-theist”).

My question is how do you live life to the fullest and be happy in your faith . . .]

I’m with styrgwillidar about happiness. Happiness is a choice, as is gratitude, which is related to it. Practicing gratitude and happiness goes hand-in-hand.