How did this happen?

[d_floyd77]

After confirmation this year it has been like a landslide. I’ve started drinking again. Have swiped a few pills this week. Thankfully I think my lustful ways have been tempered, credit to God.

I just don’t understand. Leading up to confirmation I really felt that I had made an amendment and left those things behind me, then bam, it all came crashing back.

 

[soonfathermauro]

After confirmation this year it has been like a landslide. I’ve started drinking again. Have swiped a few pills this week. Thankfully I think my lustful ways have been tempered, credit to God.

I just don’t understand. Leading up to confirmation I really felt that I had made an amendment and left those things behind me, then bam, it all came crashing back.

Hey floyd dont worry about it its just another of lifes temptations. when I first took my confirmation for a few weeks I was as holy as holy comes but then all my sins and vices came crashing down, and I thought just as you did but now I understand that I took my confirmation as a one time catch all and left it at that. eventually I expanded my faith went to mass, particpated in the sacrements, and fighting my sins was a little easier. I still sin, I cant help it we’re only human but I can fight it better hope this helps
Peace and blessings
Mauro

 

[water]

Something that I read yesterday from “To Live as Francis Lived”

“A tree grows gradually, a thousandth of an inch a day. In your spiritual life, you must be satisfied to progress only gradually, like the tree. Usually you will not notice your growth. Sometimes it may even seem you are growing backward as you discover your weaknesses and failing. But trust in God. Allow God to lead you …”

 

[d_floyd77]

Thanks guys. The problem is that I don’t see myself stopping again now like I had before confirmation.

 

[GemmaRose]

After confirmation this year it has been like a landslide. I’ve started drinking again. Have swiped a few pills this week. Thankfully I think my lustful ways have been tempered, credit to God.

I just don’t understand. Leading up to confirmation I really felt that I had made an amendment and left those things behind me, then bam, it all came crashing back.

You haven’t mentioned if you confess these things. I bring up Confession because in my experience, I can be pretty good… until I go to Confession. Then afterwards when I feel all good and “squeaky clean,” all of a sudden I start getting tempted with lustful thoughts, or I get really annoyed with someone and act uncharitably towards them… this comes from the devil. He gets so furious when we try to “clean ourselves up,” that he starts throwing every kind of temptation at us.

The solution? Prayer and Confession. Pray every day for the grace to resist temptation. Bring out the “heavy artillery” of prayer: Ask the Blessed Mother to obtain this grace for you from her Divine Son (Who never refuses anything His Mother asks of Him). And go to Confession frequently. Go every week. Confession gives you a lot of grace to help you to avoid sin. It doesn’t matter if every time you go, you confess the same sins. The priest won’t think you’re pathetic - on the contrary, he will admire that you that you are trying so hard.

Use every means possible. Go to AA. Although, by the grace of God, I’ve never needed AA, it has helped countless people to stay sober. But the primary things you should do are prayer and Confession.

God bless. I’m sure that all who read your post will be praying for you.

 

[beckycmarie]

After confirmation this year it has been like a landslide. I’ve started drinking again. Have swiped a few pills this week. Thankfully I think my lustful ways have been tempered, credit to God.

I just don’t understand. Leading up to confirmation I really felt that I had made an amendment and left those things behind me, then bam, it all came crashing back.

Dear d_floyd,

Don’t try to rely completely on your own resolve not to sin again; this usually results in a fall no matter how strong your resolution is.

Prayer and the sacraments are the keys to overcoming sin. When you are tempted, ask God for strength to resist the temptation as soon as the thought enters your head. If you dwell on the temptation, rather than rejecting it at the thought and asking God for help, you’ll likely give into the temptation. I’ve found that overcoming temptation gets easier each time you do it; the first few times are the most difficult.

Another suggestion I have for you are the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare Prayers over on Saint-Mike.org. Even if there isn’t a demonic attachment (and often there is with addictions), you’ll be a better Catholic after following the steps.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I just don’t understand. Leading up to confirmation I really felt that I had made an amendment and left those things behind me, then bam, it all came crashing back.

You’ve received the Mystery that makes you a soldier of Christ, so of course, Satan will send stronger demons against you!

 

[LilyM]

Dear d_floyd,

Don’t try to rely completely on your own resolve not to sin again; this usually results in a fall no matter how strong your resolution is.

Prayer and the sacraments are the keys to overcoming sin. When you are tempted, ask God for strength to resist the temptation as soon as the thought enters your head. If you dwell on the temptation, rather than rejecting it at the thought and asking God for help, you’ll likely give into the temptation. I’ve found that overcoming temptation gets easier each time you do it; the first few times are the most difficult.

Another suggestion I have for you are the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare Prayers over on Saint-Mike.org. Even if there isn’t a demonic attachment (and often there is with addictions), you’ll be a better Catholic after following the steps.

Amen! We’re not, none of us, strong enough on our own to conquer sin, only God’s grace and the sacraments make it possible. Pray God for the grace to sin no more, and confess as often as you need, even if it’s more than once a week! And commune as frequently as you can.

Think a bit as well, about the triggers that may cause you to do these things, and either remove yourself from temptation if possible, or resolve to pray before, through and after it if you can’t.

 

[danonwaveland]

You haven’t mentioned if you confess these things. I bring up Confession because in my experience, I can be pretty good… until I go to Confession. Then afterwards when I feel all good and “squeaky clean,” all of a sudden I start getting tempted with lustful thoughts, or I get really annoyed with someone and act uncharitably towards them… this comes from the devil. He gets so furious when we try to “clean ourselves up,” that he starts throwing every kind of temptation at us.

I cannot say enough good things about Confession. I used to have the same problem as GemmaRose – namely, when I came out of confession and felt “squeaky clean,” the enemy brought in the heavy artillery and I would fall again and get disgusted. Lately, I’ve found that the graces of confession have helped me turn away from temptations – at least more often, although I still fall. This has corresponded with more frequent confession – weekly or bi-weekly. So, try to avail yourself of this wonderful sacrament, and remember that you have lots of folks praying for you – the folks on this board. And the Lord, in His Divine Mercy, is pulling for you even more than anyone else.

God bless,
Dan