How has praying and living according to God helped you?

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PelagiathePenit

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Some days I feel like all I hear is punishment for sin. How wretched we are. I think Godly living should be difficult and I DO NOT THINK IT HAS BE AS MISERABLE AS IT SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE.
 
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I think if it’s easy, you’re probably doing it wrong. Jesus was clear when He told us to enter through the narrow gate.

My growing faith has actually turned my life upside down. My increased prayers lately seem to be doing nothing to help my situation - other than keeping me sane. I guess if I had to describe what is happening in my life right now is it’s forward- backwards- and sideways- and it switches abruptly without warning.
As If God is untying the tangled up knot that my life has become.

I have gained much however: My 16 year old’s faith seems to be growing. I have the peace of mind that I am on the road leading to Heaven (via pugatory of course) instead of Hell, My faith is struggling- all the while growing (I know that sounds weird)… and my increased prayer life is no doubt the reason I have managed to keep any sanity I had remaining! Haha

All in all- although I am sad and still shed tears most days, I’m happier living with God. I am genuinely happier with my current sad life- because I know that everything I am doing is more pleasing to Him… and that’s all that matters.

Life isn’t easy- but it shouldn’t be. The devil is hard at work to keep us blind in the hopes of leading us to his prison.

People need to stop feeling like they are being punished- instead they need remember they are being TESTED. They need to buck up and switch their focus on their many blessings.
 
I feel like I am being tested at the moment as well. I am not sure why God flips our lives upside down whenever we try to follow Him.
 
I think that along with praying we are in “contact” with God in that we recognize that we can do nothing in ourselves, but that all roads lead to God. As we pray we also acknowledge ourselves in a good analytical way as we tell god what we need and not necessarily what we want.

Why would anyone think that living in a Godly way is a miserable way life or that everything is punishment? We make our choices, for good or bad. Stuff happens. Some things are wretched such as living in terrible poverty or having a gun at your head forcing you to convert to a religion that fails it’s people and esp. God.

It isn’t our prayers that fail us: it is ourselves. 99% of the time we pray for what we want rather than our true needs or for the acceptance of what god has in mind for us. These are just a few thoughts, but we each must find our own way. Peace.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
I feel like I am being tested at the moment as well. I am not sure why God flips our lives upside down whenever we try to follow Him.
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It’s certainly hard to understand… I feel your pain. I’ve done everything I can to right so many wrongs lately… and with the way things are going at times, it makes me question whether i’ve done them for nothing… or maybe I’ve done them wrong- again.

Think about it this way though: if we let God lead. I mean truly do everything we can to follow him as best we can… those temptations and problems that we have overcome do help sanctify us.

Maybe it’s as simple as that?
 
Joelle_M said:
It’s certainly hard to understand… I feel your pain. I’ve done everything I can to right so many wrongs lately… and with the way things are going at times, it makes me question whether i’ve done them for nothing… or maybe I’ve done them wrong- again.

Think about it this way though: if we let God lead. I mean truly do everything we can to follow him as best we can… those temptations and problems that we have overcome do help sanctify us.

Maybe it’s as simple as that?
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That is where the question of free-will comes in. We must live according to God’s standards. If we will inevitably make an error it is because we selected to do things our own way. It is difficult to let God fully control your life.
 
“How has praying and living according to God helped you?”

For me, it keeps everything so simple and clear.

You see how complex the world is today, however God through his Church provides a clear and distinct path for us to follow.

He helps me through the little moments in life when we most need it, he provides context to a life that is always so fast and everything is important when sometimes we need to step back and realise what truly is important.

Above all for me, Life is a pilgrimage to Heaven. Do what you need to do to get there.

My 2 cents.
 
Louie1983 said:
“How has praying and living according to God helped you?”

For me, it keeps everything so simple and clear.

You see how complex the world is today, however God through his Church provides a clear and distinct path for us to follow.

He helps me through the little moments in life when we most need it, he provides context to a life that is always so fast and everything is important when sometimes we need to step back and realise what truly is important.

Above all for me, Life is a pilgrimage to Heaven. Do what you need to do to get there.

My 2 cents.
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Life is fragile and short yet it feels so long at times. Suffering feels like it will last forever. Feelings come and go, no matter how strong. Memories. It is difficult being a human most days.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
Life is fragile and short yet it feels so long at times. Suffering feels like it will last forever. Feelings come and go, no matter how strong. Memories. It is difficult being a human most days.
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You are so much more than just a Human in God’s eyes, and that’s not just some days it’s EVERYDAY!!!

That last sentence sounds like you are suffering, have you spoken to your priest for some spiritual guidance?
 
I don’t believe God causes my suffering. I believe as a Catholic, I am fortunate that I have the grace to get through it.

There are times that I really have to check myself, and if I was not catholic I would probably have reacted differently. But that is pride getting in my way, not God.

Someone once told me that we are Easter people…but we have to not just focus on the crucifixion. We also have to focus on the resurrection as well. I think this is pretty wise.
 
For me it is like going for a run, the more I run the easier it is and the further I want to run.

I used to find it difficult to pray the Rosary an now after a long time I find it much easier and I want to pray more.

You just need to build up your praying fitness levels.

🙂
 
PelagiathePenit said:
That is where the question of free-will comes in. We must live according to God’s standards. If we will inevitably make an error it is because we selected to do things our own way. It is difficult to let God fully control your life.
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It’s hard, for sure. But I think back to a few years ago- when I was a lapsed catholic and I shudder. I was happier on the outside- having so much fun going out and drinking every weekend. We have a nice house, good friends and good cars. But in all my happiness- I was never truly happy. I felt so empty and sad, and the thought of dying terrified me. I couldn’t handle stress well (still a work in progress). I had to make some very difficult decisions… had to uproot my entire life and end my relationship with my son’s father (17 years together- unmarried).

Life is hard- making the right decisions to live a life for God will never be easy- but at least I’ll be happy:)

Funny- sometimes I wonder if I’ll be lonely on my own with my son- but I don’t think I’ll really feel alone at all. I’m so happy with the way things are working out right now- even if they are nerve racking, new and scary- my next chapter is going to be centered around God. I have much to look forward to:)
 
Joelle_M said:
It’s hard, for sure. But I think back to a few years ago- when I was a lapsed catholic and I shudder. I was happier on the outside- having so much fun going out and drinking every weekend. We have a nice house, good friends and good cars. But in all my happiness- I was never truly happy. I felt so empty and sad, and the thought of dying terrified me. I couldn’t handle stress well (still a work in progress). I had to make some very difficult decisions… had to uproot my entire life and end my relationship with my son’s father (17 years together- unmarried).

Life is hard- making the right decisions to live a life for God will never be easy- but at least I’ll be happy:)

Funny- sometimes I wonder if I’ll be lonely on my own with my son- but I don’t think I’ll really feel alone at all. I’m so happy with the way things are working out right now- even if they are nerve racking, new and scary- my next chapter is going to be centered around God. I have much to look forward to:)
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God bless you for this response. Just trust in the Lord Pelagia!!! God is with me.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
Some days I feel like all I hear is punishment for sin. How wretched we are. I think Godly living should be difficult and I DO NOT THINK IT HAS BE AS MISERABLE AS IT SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE.
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I agree. However I can also understand when people go through tough times in life which leads to their faith being challenged. Being faithful to God should have ups and downs throughout life. However, when we go through these peaks and valleys, we should be letting God in to join us for the ride.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
Some days I feel like all I hear is punishment for sin. How wretched we are. I think Godly living should be difficult and I DO NOT THINK IT HAS BE AS MISERABLE AS IT SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE.
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I don’t know who you are listening to but it certainly is not my take on the Catholic Church. Godly living should not be any more difficult and any other kind of living. The sun shines on the righteous and well as sinners. In fact, I find that having become a Catholic, I have found more joy and happiness because there is so much more to live for and to rejoice in.

When hard times come, as they will for all of us, we can find comfort in the words of Christ, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The Church is my hope and my happiness. Christ lifts my burdens and lifts my heart and soul. Most especially because Christ has given us His Mother to help us through our sorrows.
 
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