Having problems praying

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Charlotte408

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It’s driving me crazy. If I didn’t think I was crazy, I might actually be crazy. 😃

((Isn’t it that crazy people don’t actually know they are crazy, or something like that?))

The one thing that I’ve always been is a good prayer-er. Even when I didn’t go to church, I had my faith and prayed. Now I’m in RCIA, doing great, singing in the choir…and it’s like, I’ve hit this WALL.

I sit down, and start to pray, and get maybe two words into it and my mind is flooded with…conversations…maybe that I’ve had during that day…or…just randomness, a conversation from a show on TV. I try to focus my mind and its just impossible. And then, sometimes I feel like, even if I could do it, I’m drawing blanks. Like I’ve prayed so much I’m starting to feel like I’m just saying the same thing over and over again and maybe God’s getting tired of hearing it? Or he’s not there listening? I don’t know its a total lack of connection it’s hard to explain.

Is that normal? I know people go through dry spells of faith or what not…and I’m definitely not having one of those, but maybe a dry spell of prayer? How do you get through this? I know buddhist who mediate try to control their thoughts, but my Pastor says that we don’t mediate in that way - and I cant control this frekn noise anyways.
 
As far as saying the same prayers over and over again- there is nothing wrong with that. If you feel the need to keep praying it then keep doing it and God will continue to listen.

As far as all the other racing thoughts during your prayer time- maybe just try to find peace in your mind. Instead of outright praying, just sit and listen and try to visualize Jesus in your mind. Fr. Richards says that praying isn’t always about talking to God, sometimes it is more about just listening to him. Just try to sit in prayer, be silent, be engaged, and just be present. God is there with you and you may be able to hear him better in silence.

I think we all go through spells of “tough prayer” due to stress or spiritual clutter. It is a normal process, but don’t lose faith and fade away from prayer.

God’s blessings,
Joshua
 
Thank you…

but yeah I’ve tried that too and it’s just incessant noise. I was thinking, usually I sort of make up prayers as I go along, it’s a lot of thanking, praying for people…that sort of thing…I was thinking maybe this would be a good time to print out some prayers, you know the kind that are already formulated and have been with the Church - and forcing myself to just sit there and read them. I might not experience that feeling of ‘connection’ but at least I’ll be able to get a good prayer out.
 
One thing you could do is take the first thought that pops into your head during prayer and ask God, “What are you trying to tell me?”

I think your idea about printing up a few prayers to use is a great idea. Use a few for a beginning (Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be), and then pray on your own, and then use something to end (such as Salve Regina or Prayer to Guardian Angel). Keep it simple, and try to be consistent.

For example, you could start with the Sign of the Cross and then say something like, “Here, I am, Lord” or “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Express yourself to God in any way you can, and give some space to him so that he can express himself to you (which could be in some of those thoughts racing around in your head). End with an Our Father or a hymn that you love and then the Sign of the Cross.

Also, have you tried to pray a litany? There are many out there.
 
I suck at praying. Always have.

Maybe you could try the rosary. I see this as the Catholic version of meditation. 🙂
 
I’m slowly getting back into prayer. I think devotionals are really great ways because they can help you. They come in all sorts varieties from long to short. Our daily bread is a great place to start.
odb.org/

You can get it in a book format as well as online as an app etc. It begins with a story and a piece of scripture to mediate on.

You can buy a devotional bible. There is a really good women’s Catholic devotional bible that costs about $20 on amazon.ca

The possibilities are endless.
 
You can try meditating on the Jesus Prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”

Keep saying this and meditating on it, it should get you back into focus…
 
You say you’re in RCIA right now- keep in mind, it isn’t an uncommon experience for people going through RCIA to undergo trials in their everyday and spiritual lives. Just keep praying in whatever way you can manage. The most important thing when undergoing dryness or trials in prayer is not to decrease your prayers, but rather even to increase them. God looks at our love and our intentions. It is our prayers’ union with Christ’s prayer for us on the Cross that makes them pleasing to God, and not necessarily how easy or beautiful they are. Don’t worry about trying to control your thoughts- you can’t. Paying attention to distractions and temptations gives them power. Just as soon as you take notice of them, bring your attention back to your prayers. And if you do this 1,000 times in 5 minutes of prayer, and only manage to pray “Jesus, I love You!” or “Lord, help me!” a dozen times in that period, know that this is truly very pleasing to God. Its YOU He thirsts for.
 
Here’s a prayer I have memorized and which I say every night. I find it really articulates my struggle to do what God wants me to do. Maybe it will help you, too!

Dear Lord,
Teach me to know the obstacles which, consciously or unconsciously, I am placing in the way of Your grace in me. Grant me the strength to set them aside and if I am negligent therein, vouchsafe to remove them Yourself regardless of how much I may suffer thereby. Enable me to grasp and treasure the sacramental and spiritual communion by which I may drink Your blood from the wound of Your most loving heart. Grant that our inner conversation may never cease; that I may never seperate myself from You; and that I may not stand in the way of the grace which, through me, should be poured out upon other souls to give them light and life.
Amen.

God bless!
Sarah
 
When I was young, my father said one day that he would take me fishing
somewhere nice. From then on, I reminded him from time to time what
he promised. Guess what happened.

Promise of God Mt 7: 10-11
If you then are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more
will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

What does that sound like. Like my earthly dad. You know what to do now
don’t you.
 
St. Faustina

When I came to meditation a host of absurd thoughts swarmed into my head, so much so that I had to struggle throughout the whole meditation. (608).
 
Nelka said:
St. Faustina

When I came to meditation a host of absurd thoughts swarmed into my head, so much so that I had to struggle throughout the whole meditation. (608).
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Thats what it’s like it’s crazy. And it comes with anxiety…

I was actually starting to worry I was getting fanatical or something. You know how you see people that are ‘overly religious’ and just crazy. My ‘thought/voices’ keep telling myself, maybe I’m taking this too seriously, or spending too much time involved in it…

I’ve been singing in the choir too…up until like 2 or 3 weeks ago. It’s weird. The first week I had a good reason not to go, I had a massive headache ((I’ve always suffered from migraines)) so I was like, ‘eh they’ll understand…if I’m sick I’m sick’… But then the next week I just didn’t ‘feel like it’. And then the next week the thought was ‘you haven’t gone - it’s going to be awkward, you’ll have some explaining to do’.

I think I lost my mo-jo 😦

And it’s just so bizzarre because I’ve been on FIRE you know?? And not even just me, I’ve seen the Lord working through me and touching everyone in my family…my cousin recently converted and is back and active in the church…my Mom…where mindsets were dark and outlooks were dismal, I see so much hope…and love…and growth…

But then all of a sudden I lose it. And I’m worried if I lose it, those people might loose it or think I never really had it…ugh…there goes my mind again :o
 
Something very upsetting happened to me recently so I have been praying every day. I ask for certain things to happen to make it better. Thing is, I get so upset thinnking about it and talking about it. Prayer just drags it all up because I get so emotional because I want the solution so badly. So it means that because I am praying a lot, I am spending most of my day crying and being upset. So I am thinking of stopping praying because I’m afraid I’ll make myself ill. That can’t be right. Can anyone help?

Actually I clicked ‘reply’ because I oculdn’t see how else to submit my question. I wish I knew how to work forums! If this is all wrong, I’m sorry.
 
YPat said:
Something very upsetting happened to me recently so I have been praying every day. I ask for certain things to happen to make it better. Thing is, I get so upset thinnking about it and talking about it. Prayer just drags it all up because I get so emotional because I want the solution so badly. So it means that because I am praying a lot, I am spending most of my day crying and being upset. So I am thinking of stopping praying because I’m afraid I’ll make myself ill. That can’t be right. Can anyone help?

Actually I clicked ‘reply’ because I oculdn’t see how else to submit my question. I wish I knew how to work forums! If this is all wrong, I’m sorry.
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Oh sweetheart now I feel bad - because I’ve been there too and that’s very hard to deal with. I say cry, pray and cry and let it all out. I’ve had some things go down in my life that were pretty bad, and I have cried to the point where I’ve made myself ill…so I can totally sympathize - but you need to get out. So cry.

Maybe this will cheer you up? Sorry I’d pray for you but I’m sort of in a funk 🙂

youtube.com/watch?v=zOHJghBU0XA
 
Charlotte408 said:
It’s The one thing that I’ve always been is a good prayer-er. Even when I didn’t go to church, I had my faith and prayed. Now I’m in RCIA, doing great, singing in the choir…and it’s like, I’ve hit this WALL.

I .
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it is a normal process and part of spiritual growth, as God takes away the ability to direct your own prayer verbally and mentally, so that he can move you to the next level. Ask your RCIA director or pastor to give you some guidance on the various stages of the spiritual journey. The best books for beginners on this topic are both by Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Spiritual Passages, and Journey toward God. Also good by him, in discerning the Holy Spirit, is A Still Small Voice. He never wrote a bad or unhelpful book in his life.
 
Charlotte408 said:
And it’s just so bizzarre because I’ve been on FIRE you know?? And not even just me, I’ve seen the Lord working through me and touching everyone in my family…my cousin recently converted and is back and active in the church…my Mom…where mindsets were dark and outlooks were dismal, I see so much hope…and love…and growth…

But then all of a sudden I lose it. And I’m worried if I lose it, those people might loose it or think I never really had it…ugh…there goes my mind again :o
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YPat said:
Something very upsetting happened to me recently so I have been praying every day. I ask for certain things to happen to make it better. Thing is, I get so upset thinnking about it and talking about it. Prayer just drags it all up because I get so emotional because I want the solution so badly. So it means that because I am praying a lot, I am spending most of my day crying and being upset. So I am thinking of stopping praying because I’m afraid I’ll make myself ill. That can’t be right. Can anyone help?
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Satan is attacking you.

He wants to annoy and confuse you.

He wants you to give up with prayer.

Keep going, you will get through it.

It happened to me earlier but you have to fight him by pulling yourself closer to Jesus.
 
Thank you. You have been so helpful. Please continue to pray. I will too.
I had more than one rpely but can’t see how to reply to more than one.
Still can’t see how to start a thread. I sprt of pushed in and put my problem as a reply to someone else’s. How do I start a new one of my own, anyone?
 
YPat said:
Thank you. You have been so helpful. Please continue to pray. I will too.
I had more than one rpely but can’t see how to reply to more than one.
Still can’t see how to start a thread. I sprt of pushed in and put my problem as a reply to someone else’s. How do I start a new one of my own, anyone?
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Scroll up, hit ‘spirituality’ to take you back out to the main forum. At the top of the forum hit the button ‘new thread’ 🙂
 
Sounds to me like you’re having a dry spell in your prayer. Think of it like this. When Jesus was on earth, he had a normal human body. Then He died a terrible, horrible, cruel death. Then He arose and had a transfigured body. So it is with prayer. Prayer is good. Dry spells are terrible and awful. When you get out of that dry spell, you become so much deeper in your relationship with Christ.

Do you see what I’m saying?
 
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