How do I believe without wavering?

[ArtwithHeart]

I can’t understand the Lord.

What does it mean to have faith? I’ve asked so many things to God but he says to ask without wavering. How do I ask without wavering? I ask God for things and needs, but I can’t stop the doubting thoughts in my mind. People tell me to pray to God for confidence and faith, but how can I ask that when even there I waver in my petition.

In the bible, Mark 11:24, it does say, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received, and it will be yours.” How do you do that? How do you believe? And is it really that easy? I’ve never heard Catholics talk about this verse. The only people I’ve heard talking about his verse are those prosperity preachers who cannot be trusted.

I wanna be able to pray like Elijah. I really admire this prophet from the bible. I want to be able to pray like him and find answers to my prayers like his. He was able to get God’s approval and bring back to life the widow’s son, even control the weather. I know it wasn’t him, it was God’s power. But how was he able to have that much faith in God? How do you truly believe? I know he was a good man that followed God, so he was among God’s favored ones. But how can I reach his level when no one can truly stop sinning? The only person free from sin is God.

How was Elisha able to ask for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and get it? I want to be able to pray fervently to God. People tell me that speaking to God as I would speak to a friend is a way of praying. But I also need to adore him and have powerful prayers. But I don’t have eloquent words for him to adore him. How can I have a powerful prayer life like Elijah?

I want to believe. I do talk to God, but end up having an angered conversation with him that he does not deserve. He has blessed me with life, a home, clothing, love, family, friends, food, freedom and much more. So I don’t know why I get mad. After moments like this, I get mad at myself and feel unworthy to talk to him. So then, I don’t pray for days, thinking he doesn’t want to listen to my ungrateful mouth. My mind gets so angered it says, “There is no way God exists.” But my heart and soul can’t stop praying and can’t stop believing that there is a God. There is a God. The whole world shows it. I just feel like I haven’t become worthy for his answers and missions.

And another thing that troubles: Saint Augustine says, ¨Pray as though everything depended on God.¨ But how do I make sure I´m not treating God as a genie? I don´t want to see God that way. But I do know that everything depends on God.

I want to make him proud. I want to be able to pray for others. I want to be able to feel and hear him like many saints did. I want to be able to have faith like Elijah and pray like him. I want to have the humility of Saint Martin de Porres. But I also fear of the trials God will have to give me. I’m afraid for the times he will have to test me. How do I believe? How can I ask without wavering?

 

[Dan_Defender]

but I can’t stop the doubting thoughts in my mind.

And here lies the problem. Faith is a gift. You have to be patient and pray as this is a process where things will get clearer in time. Do not give in to impatience.

 

[Justin_Mary]

And another thing that troubles: Saint Augustine says, ¨Pray as though everything depended on God.¨ But how do I make sure I´m not treating God as a genie? I don´t want to see God that way. But I do know that everything depends on God.

Pray the Mass every week. Unite all your prayers to Christ every week through the Mass.

Pay attention to every word, spoken or sung, every gesture of the priest & the congregation. Believe & feel every response.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

A lot of the things you’re asking for come slowly over time, and are earned, like fruit that you grow yourself, as opposed to fruit that is given to you.

Maybe a better prayer would be something like, “I am here, what do want of me?”

So I don’t know why I get mad.

Is this something that’s a problem elsewhere in your life? Maybe it’s not really a spiritual issue.

 

[dochawk]

Doubting is not a lack of faith; it is normal.

Not doubting at times is a sign of outright insanity . . .

 

[Mary888]

Be patient with your self. God is patient with you. He loves you. You may not understand why at times, but He does all the time.
The Saints had doubts too, but they persisted.

 

[Justin_Mary]

What does it mean to have faith? I’ve asked so many things to God but he says to ask without wavering. How do I ask without wavering?

I may not have been clear with my earlier post. The point I wanted to get across is you don’t have to be unwavering now. That is why Jesus gave you His Mother, & Mother Church.

Pray with the Mass, pray with the Church, the body of Christ. You’ll receive every spiritual gift & in due time a strong unwavering faith.

 

[ASC]

“Jesus, I do believe. Help my unbelief.”
From the Gospels.

 

[englands123]

I want to make him proud. I want to be able to pray for others. I want to be able to feel and hear him like many saints did. I want to be able to have faith like Elijah and pray like him. I want to have the humility of Saint Martin de Porres. But I also fear of the trials God will have to give me. I’m afraid for the times he will have to test me. How do I believe? How can I ask without wavering?

Your answer is right there my friend…

Do you honestly believe only Saints and Prophets have spoken to God and heard God speak.

They are all servants to God as we are. That’s a big mistake and wrong teaching
.
John the Baptist cousin of Jesus wavered during his time in a cell. The lords response:

Jesus Praises John the Baptist​

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; YET the LEAST in the kingdom of heaven is GREATER than he.

My point is do not put any Saint on a pedestal. Many make this mistake. Gods relationship is different with every individual for a good reason. Be yourself and trust your heart…

Also try learning to understand each of the different personalities of God ?
Father , Son and Holy Spirit. This confuses many.

The Bible tries to explain to us that God can be anyone of the three at any given time. Perhaps try praying differently example being :
Monday Pray to the Father.
Tuesday Pray to the Son the good Shepherd.
Wednesday the Holy Spirit.
Thursday all three as God.

You may be surprised by what you hear back in complete silence.

God Bless.

 

[libbeylu]

Well…I can only present the best definition of Faith that I live by to this day…and I do get emotional when reading it…
**FAITH: Being sure of what we hope for and **certain of what we do not see.
I have this confident, peaceful feeling that God is always with me. When I was a young girl, we would attend Mass on Sundays, however I had never attended any of the programs and was not Confirmed. After High School, I got a job and worked and always had a cross in my car attached to the review mirror in my Volkswagen. I was ignorant of the faith, but after marriage, I insisted we get Married in the Church, but he did not want to…that was the reason for getting a divorce. Afterwards, I attended the Catholic church, got confirmed, and say the Rosary Daily. I have had many trials and tribulations in my life. Everything leads back to God…I Love him…he is always there for me…This is a personal journey for me…Although I am Certain of my Faith, there are challenges I have had to face. Nothing comes between me and my Faith!

 

[Dan_Defender]

Doubting is not a lack of faith; it is normal.

You man of little faith, why did you doubt?

 

[Michael16]

OP:

Psalm 46:10a: Be still and know that I AM God…

One day, I was at the supermarket after work. I was beset with doubts: My sins, my life, my future, feelings of unworthiness.

I couldn’t control these thoughts or make them go away. The only thing I could do was just look up to God in my mind and throw myself completely on Him and let Him do what He willed.

Guess what?

After a while, the interior chaos subsided and all was calm and I was okay.

I hope this helps.

 

[po18guy]

James 5 also says that “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss”

We are far better off if we accept what befalls us as part of God’s perfect will (or permissive will) for us. He intends to bring good from whatever happens to us. As odd as it sounds, we are far more blessed if we ask for suffering than if we ask for relief - as we join ourselves more perfectly to Christ only in love, generosity and suffering.

Saint Paul teaches:

Romans 5:2-5​

Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 

[John10]

Start by thinking of God as a loving Father. That is I think the main message Jesus gave us.

God knows our limits and capabilities (and each of us is unique), so allow God to mold you according to His will and you will be fine.

The most effective prayer in my experience is to ask the Lord to help us to do His will, because that is something we know for sure He will assist us with and provide everything needed to accomplish it.

Having said that we must also put our two cents, even when most of the heavy lifting is done by God.

I think that is what Saint Augustine means when he says ¨Pray as though everything depended on God" and also “Work toward your goals as if everything depended on you”.

 

[dochawk]

You man of little faith, why did you doubt?

I’d like to think for the same reasons as Mother Theresa and other figures . . .

Doubt is normal.

Faith is acceptance in the face of that doubt.

 

[fhansen]

You can get to the point where you KNOW that God exists and can answer your prayer/request if it’s within His will. You just can’t predict what’s within His will at any particular point in time. Darn. And Elijah, also, may well have struggled with this issue at other times of his life incidentally.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Maybe you need to take the focus off your feelings and focus more on God’s goodness.
Would you get mad at the stumblings of your little kid learning to walk?
We all get scared and stumble and fumble. Just get back up and keep moving in the right direction.

And like in any relationship, talk to God every day. Listen to His word by reading the Bible. Learn everything you can about Him. And trust in the process of your developing spirituality

 

[EloyCraft]

As you get to know Jesus more and more, you and He will relate more intimately. Your belief in Him can become as real as family. Your belief in your kin’s existence is unwavering yes?

 

[ArtwithHeart]

Sometimes I feel like my doubting is the obstacle of me seeing any miracles in my life. I feel like God has indeed cursed my fathers life. He still firmly believes in God, but everything he seems to do fails. He is getting older, tired. I ask God to help him and bless him, but no answer. I guess I don’t ask with faith. And that’s the thing I don’t understand. How do I not waver? How do I ignore those doubting whispers in my head?

 

[Annie]

I feel like God has indeed cursed my fathers life. He still firmly believes in God, but everything he seems to do fails. He is getting older, tired

Your father still believes, despite what you perceive as his failures. Failure happens, but that is out of our hands. What matters is our perseverance, not in being successful according to the world, but in holiness, in following God.

ETA: Your father seems not to have failed in one area: you!