How to Cope with Anger after Daily Mass Disappointments?

[ethereality]

I’m hoping you will have useful advice, and that you might pray for me and God use your prayers for my benefit.

I’ve tried going back to Daily Mass and keeping faith that God is healing my broken and mutilated body every day, and trying to believe that God will heal me suddenly when I receive the Eucharist, or on the journey to work afterward, or when I wake up the next morning…

My motivation to attend Mass is to spend time with God, deepen my relationship with God, and to be healed. (To elaborate on that last point: Physicians have said there’s nothing they can do, the Church has said there’s nothing God can’t do, and God has indicated in the Bible that He wants to heal us and that we should ask and believe and He will.)

Even so, I experience many problems at Daily Mass:

1. 
   *]I have trouble following the liturgy (they pray from the Japanese Breviary as part of the penitential rite and elsewhere during the Mass)
   *]Not understanding most of everything that is said or prayed (it’s in Japanese)
   *]Not benefiting from the priest’s homily (he usually only explains basic doctrine I learned years ago, or else shares an anecdote whose point is something very basic like “feed the hungry”)
   *]disappointment at not being healed of one physical problem
   *]disappointment at not being healed of another physical problem
   *]not perceiving any message from God other than the Bible passages read, from most of which I have trouble gleaning new information
   *]not perceiving or experiencing God apart from my fixation on the Eucharist or the Tabernacle and trying to convince myself that Jesus is there
   *]frustration with the poor quality of music – congregation a cappella, off key, off rhythm (I want to play their organ to improve it, but lack both physical ability and skill)
   *]mental distractions (unable to concentrate, thoughts flittering about as if falling asleep, or thinking bad thoughts)
   *]not receiving any guidance in response to my prayers and trying to listen to the Holy Spirit
   
   I could bear these quite well, I think, and even joyfully, except for the lack of communication and lack of healing – i.e., the lack of relationship with God. (To me, a relationship is built upon two-way communication and giving. Is this wrong?) I am learning so many things on this journey (as I struggle to understand why and wait to be healed), but the pain makes it seem not worth it.
   
   So then on the 11 minute return trip in inclement weather on my bicycle, I become angry and easily irritated (e.g. pedestrians not respecting sidewalk demarcations, other bicyclists not caring for their surroundings, people directing traffic for school children doing their job inefficiently or needlessly blowing deafening whistles, breathing in car pollution), and I wonder if I’m better off not going to Mass in the first place – 45 minutes and I seem to get nothing out of it but suffering to pray and hope God works with, and near occasions of sin (to lose my temper). (But how is my suffering used to help someone outside my direct influence?)
   
   Again, looking at this situation, it would appear that either God is not there, or that God wants me to follow some other faith (Judaism, Mohammedanism). I must then remind myself of all the reasons to be Christian, which seem to me not that strong, but barely strong enough to continue one more day. Perhaps putting it another way, God continues pushing me to the breaking point, and part of me wants to break just to spite Him for not helping me more.
   
   In summary, I’ve tried again going to Daily Mass, to be healed, to spend time with God, and to deepen my relationship with Him, and I receive the Eucharist but am not healed and my 45 minutes seem wasted not spending quality time with God, and I become angry, perhaps an expression of bitter disappointment. The Protestant thought occurs to me that I can deepen my relationship with God through the Bible, books, and prayers like the Rosary – no need for Daily Mass for that, and that I should quit going so as to spare myself the suffering and near occasions of sin (to avoid losing my temper).
   
   It was suggested to me by someone here that I must change my mentality. He did not specify in what way, and I don’t know how to see life any differently. I’m reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom hoping this will help. However, I think part of my problems is nerves, neurosis, for which a psychiatrist here has only recommended a sedative, which may have side-effects (in addition to expected drowsiness) and which may take months to get adjusted to, in addition to being another financial burden I really can’t afford. Perhaps this serves to strengthen my argument that God really could be helping me more than He is. As I said to a priest two years ago, it’s like I’m asking a billionaire for chump change.
   
   Do you agree with that priest who told me several years ago that “God isn’t going to talk to you; everything He has to say for you is in the Bible”? More generally: What should I do? Am I doing something wrong or is there something I could do better? What are your thoughts?

 

[DexUK]

Oh my, there’s a lot there to answer. I don’t expect I will be able to answer all of it briefly, so please forgive me if I miss something out or fail to answer to your satisfaction.

Firstly, there is more to being a Christian than just the Bible or, indeed, just Mass. That is a reductionist approach. Being a Christian is a state of life and a state of mind in addition to the formulaic elements.

I think you’re expecting the wrong things of Mass and God. The Eucharist isn’t a magic cure for ailments (although miracles have been said to happen in the past). It is, rather, the opportunity for you to unite who you are with who Christ is.

Your perception of God isn’t meant to be only in the form of miracles or burning bushes or thunderbolts from above, but the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit in the soul.

It is good that you go to Daily Mass, but it won’t DO you any good if you think of it as something you do by rote or from a sense of simple obligation or expectation of something happening.

Think of Mass and the other Church devotions as a means by which you can meditate and switch off the intrusions of the outside world (and that includes your expectations, ailments, etc) and simply concentrate on the concept of God, his awesome Creation, the marvels of nature, the fact that, in the form of his Son, God united himself with our suffering: Jesus suffered as we do and, in the apparent defeat on the Cross, Jesus, the Divine being that he was in addition to the human man, united himself with our suffering.

You need not look for a magic cure from without. Look for what is within - when you realise that God and Jesus understand and have been through it all already, then you will start to be open to peace.

Perhaps the guidance you seek has already been given to you - remember, at Mass, we hear that Christ himself said “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you”.

Be open to that Peace.

It’s not a matter of healing an ailment or fixing a broken bone or supplying untold riches out of the blue. It’s the Peace of being at rest with your circumstances, whatever they are.

The Eucharist, if you let it, can be medicine for your soul. Mass, even if you don’t understand or are not happy with the way in which the priest celebrates it, can still be an opportunity for you to spend time with Our Lord in your soul and to unite your soul with His as you partake of the Eucharist. It is a joining, a mingling of Him into you, for a while. Concentrate on that, not just trying to convince yourself that He is hiding in a tabernacle.

If you let Him, he can become part of who you are. What joy that can be! What peace there is in that! The comfort!

After that (and I speak from experience), when you leave Mass the petty irritations of the world barely register. I used to work in the heart of London and when I would leave Masses held during my lunch break, I would find myself able to practically float back to my office, no matter whether I was assailed by crowds, workmen with noisy drills, bad drivers, or anything else I can think of.

I could say more, but that will do for now. I hope it helps.

 

[St_Francis]

I’m hoping you will have useful advice, and that you might pray for me and God use your prayers for my benefit.

I’ve tried going back to Daily Mass and keeping faith that God is healing my broken and mutilated body every day, and trying to believe that God will heal me suddenly when I receive the Eucharist, or on the journey to work afterward, or when I wake up the next morning…

My motivation to attend Mass is to spend time with God, deepen my relationship with God, and to be healed. (To elaborate on that last point: Physicians have said there’s nothing they can do, the Church has said there’s nothing God can’t do, and God has indicated in the Bible that He wants to heal us and that we should ask and believe and He will.)

Mass is where we worship God. Your focus, afaict from what you post, is much more on your being healed than on the other things. Your idea of a deeper relationship with God seems to be predicated on His doing particular things which you have determned.

Remember you said you felt like a child whose absent parent had not written for many years? To me, you are like a child with his eyes focused on the mailbox waiting for a letter, and ignoring the deliveries of flowers and balloons and food which the absent parent is making. The child, focused on the mailbox, waves the delivery men in, and never notices the flowers and balloons.

Even so, I experience many problems at Daily Mass:

1. 
   *]I have trouble following the liturgy (they pray from the Japanese Breviary as part of the penitential rite and elsewhere during the Mass)
   *]Not understanding most of everything that is said or prayed (it’s in Japanese)

1. 
   Get some written materials to help you. English-Japanese missal would be great. Books or print-outs of the readings of the day (or this might be on a smart-phone if you have one and check with the priest before using). And try to learn to responses for the Liturgy of the Eucharist in Japanese–there’s not a lot there to learn. I and most likely others would be able to help set some of thsi up if you don’t know how on your own.
   

   *]Not benefiting from the priest’s homily (he usually only explains basic doctrine I learned years ago, or else shares an anecdote whose point is something very basic like “feed the hungry”)

   Go to Audio Sancto or another source to get audio homilies. The priest is (hopefully) putting in his homilies something for the entire congregation, and that means that the homilies will never be perfect for each person there. Listen to “your” homily before Mass and reflect on it during the homily. (And don’t tell anyone I said to do that!)
   

   *]disappointment at not being healed of one physical problem
   *]disappointment at not being healed of another physical problem
   *]not perceiving any message from God other than the Bible passages read, from most of which I have trouble gleaning new information
   *]not perceiving or experiencing God apart from my fixation on the Eucharist or the Tabernacle and trying to convince myself that Jesus is there

   These are all problems you are having due to unrealistic expectations. Despite the fact that Christ Himself did not receive from God “what He wanted,” you still expect to get what you want. It seems like you are focusing so much on your feet that you are missing the bigger picture by not looking up and around you.
   

   *]frustration with the poor quality of music – congregation a cappella, off key, off rhythm (I want to play their organ to improve it, but lack both physical ability and skill)

   Offer your suffering up for the priest and parish.
   

   *]mental distractions (unable to concentrate, thoughts flittering about as if falling asleep, or thinking bad thoughts)

   Could this be due to your diagnosis or medication? Ask the doctor…
   
   (I’m going to post this without finishing as I am afraid to run out of room)
   
   Again,
   

   It was suggested to me by someone here that I must change my mentality. He did not specify in what way, and I don’t know how to see life any differently. I’m reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom hoping this will help. However, I think part of my problems is nerves, neurosis, for which a psychiatrist here has only recommended a sedative, which may have side-effects (in addition to expected drowsiness) and which may take months to get adjusted to, in addition to being another financial burden I really can’t afford. Perhaps this serves to strengthen my argument that God really could be helping me more than He is. As I said to a priest two years ago, it’s like I’m asking a billionaire for chump change.

   Do you agree with that priest who told me several years ago that “God isn’t going to talk to you; everything He has to say for you is in the Bible”? More generally: What should I do? Am I doing something wrong or is there something I could do better? What are your thoughts?

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I hear much about what you can do actively, but what about contemplative aspect of Catholicism? A lot of us grow up not even knowing about it; I didn’t until I was a 40-something Cradle Catholic.

Check out maybe what this guy has to say about prayer. He speaks of “talking at God,” and “talking to God,” and “listening to God” as stages of prayer:

Armchair Mystic: Easing Into Contemplative Prayer Paperback – April 1, 2001
by Mark E. Thibodeaux S.J.

Especially check out contemplative prayer, which is also written about more than the other two “Expressions of Prayer” in the CCC in 2700-2724. You may find something there about the type of union with God that you desire.

 

[St_Francis]

I’m hoping you will have useful advice, and that you might pray for me and God use your prayers for my benefit.

I’ve tried going back to Daily Mass and keeping faith that God is healing my broken and mutilated body every day, and trying to believe that God will heal me suddenly when I receive the Eucharist, or on the journey to work afterward, or when I wake up the next morning…

My motivation to attend Mass is to spend time with God, deepen my relationship with God, and to be healed. (To elaborate on that last point: Physicians have said there’s nothing they can do, the Church has said there’s nothing God can’t do, and God has indicated in the Bible that He wants to heal us and that we should ask and believe and He will.)

Even so, I experience many problems at Daily Mass:

1. 
   *]I have trouble following the liturgy (they pray from the Japanese Breviary as part of the penitential rite and elsewhere during the Mass)
   *]Not understanding most of everything that is said or prayed (it’s in Japanese)
   *]Not benefiting from the priest’s homily (he usually only explains basic doctrine I learned years ago, or else shares an anecdote whose point is something very basic like “feed the hungry”)
   *]disappointment at not being healed of one physical problem
   *]disappointment at not being healed of another physical problem
   *]not perceiving any message from God other than the Bible passages read, from most of which I have trouble gleaning new information
   *]not perceiving or experiencing God apart from my fixation on the Eucharist or the Tabernacle and trying to convince myself that Jesus is there
   *]frustration with the poor quality of music – congregation a cappella, off key, off rhythm (I want to play their organ to improve it, but lack both physical ability and skill)
   *]mental distractions (unable to concentrate, thoughts flittering about as if falling asleep, or thinking bad thoughts)
   *]not receiving any guidance in response to my prayers and trying to listen to the Holy Spirit

1. 
   The sort of thing you are wanting would come more from a spiritual director, but I understand your difficulties in finding one.
   
   One thing about God is that He also wants to bring people together. The Chuch is a corporate entity with us as members; it’s not just “me and Jesus” as some think. Thus, God often gives us what we need but He does it through people. One of the wonderful things about the internet is that it gives us access to so much of what saints have written, and to their biographies.
   
   So I would suggest doing some spiritual reading. The Imitation of Christ, Introduction to the Devout Life, etc. These are available online for free, in actual books, and on iPieta (a fabulous app for Catholics!).
   

   I could bear these quite well, I think, and even joyfully, except for the lack of communication and lack of healing – i.e., the lack of relationship with God.

   You want to pick and choose your cross instead of acceping those God sends you. He is not healing you–therefore it is not His will that you be healed. Pray for acceptance of His will. Comtemplate Christ in the Garden: Abba, let this cup pass from My lips… but Thy will not Mine be done.
   
   (Pausing again)
   

   (To me, a relationship is built upon two-way communication and giving. Is this wrong?) I am learning so many things on this journey (as I struggle to understand why and wait to be healed), but the pain makes it seem not worth it.

   So then on the 11 minute return trip in inclement weather on my bicycle, I become angry and easily irritated (e.g. pedestrians not respecting sidewalk demarcations, other bicyclists not caring for their surroundings, people directing traffic for school children doing their job inefficiently or needlessly blowing deafening whistles, breathing in car pollution), and I wonder if I’m better off not going to Mass in the first place – 45 minutes and I seem to get nothing out of it but suffering to pray and hope God works with, and near occasions of sin (to lose my temper). (But how is my suffering used to help someone outside my direct influence?) SNIP

   In summary, I’ve tried again going to Daily Mass, to be healed, to spend time with God, and to deepen my relationship with Him, and I receive the Eucharist but am not healed and my 45 minutes seem wasted not spending quality time with God, and I become angry, perhaps an expression of bitter disappointment. The Protestant thought occurs to me that I can deepen my relationship with God through the Bible, books, and prayers like the Rosary – no need for Daily Mass for that, and that I should quit going so as to spare myself the suffering and near occasions of sin (to avoid losing my temper).

   It was suggested to me by someone here that I must change my mentality. He did not specify in what way, and I don’t know how to see life any differently. I’m reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom hoping this will help. However, I think part of my problems is nerves, neurosis, for which a psychiatrist here has only recommended a sedative, which may have side-effects (in addition to expected drowsiness) and which may take months to get adjusted to, in addition to being another financial burden I really can’t afford. Perhaps this serves to strengthen my argument that God really could be helping me more than He is. As I said to a priest two years ago, it’s like I’m asking a billionaire for chump change.

   Do you agree with that priest who told me several years ago that “God isn’t going to talk to you; everything He has to say for you is in the Bible”? More generally: What should I do? Am I doing something wrong or is there something I could do better? What are your thoughts?

 

[SROL]

God deserves all of your efforts.

You don’t deserve his healing (none of us do)

Read about St. Paul’s affliction, The grace of our Lord was sufficient.

Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life.

Get as close to our Lord as you can.

Confess and receive the Eucharist as often as you can.

There is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.

Keep riding your bike to Mass, the Mass is miraculous even if you don’t understand what is being said.

I will pray for your healing! God does heal!

You may become a great saint! I pray you do.

Pray for me and stay strong!

in Christ- Your Loving Brother

 

[St_Francis]

I’m hoping you will have useful advice, and that you might pray for me and God use your prayers for my benefit.

I’ve tried going back to Daily Mass and keeping faith that God is healing my broken and mutilated body every day, and trying to believe that God will heal me suddenly when I receive the Eucharist, or on the journey to work afterward, or when I wake up the next morning…

My motivation to attend Mass is to spend time with God, deepen my relationship with God, and to be healed. (To elaborate on that last point: Physicians have said there’s nothing they can do, the Church has said there’s nothing God can’t do, and God has indicated in the Bible that He wants to heal us and that we should ask and believe and He will.)

Even so, I experience many problems at Daily Mass:

1. 
   *]I have trouble following the liturgy (they pray from the Japanese Breviary as part of the penitential rite and elsewhere during the Mass)
   
   SNIP.
   
   I could bear these quite well, I think, and even joyfully, except for the lack of communication and lack of healing – i.e., the lack of relationship with God. (To me, a relationship is built upon two-way communication and giving. Is this wrong?) I am learning so many things on this journey (as I struggle to understand why and wait to be healed), but the pain makes it seem not worth it.

1. 
   You seem to have a certain idea of relationship and communication, but God is at least an equal part er in your relationship with Him, and He seems to be choosing other ways. You must look for how He is communicating with you, which may be in unexpected ways. For instance, I had some music from Jesus Christ Superstar going around in my head, and I try to avoid that because I think some of it is blasphemous, but God drew a really good understanding out of it for me. This was His communication to me, bit from a totally different and unexpected direction.
   

   So then on the 11 minute return trip in inclement weather on my bicycle, I become angry and easily irritated (e.g. pedestrians not respecting sidewalk demarcations, other bicyclists not caring for their surroundings, people directing traffic for school children doing their job inefficiently or needlessly blowing deafening whistles, breathing in car pollution),

   Oh, yes, there is definitely something going awry if this is what happens right after receiving the Eucharist!
   

   and I wonder if I’m better off not going to Mass in the first place – 45 minutes and I seem to get nothing out of it but suffering to pray and hope God works with, and near occasions of sin (to lose my temper).

   I would like to say that we can push ourselves too hard sometimes. Is it very difficult for you to fit daily Mass into your day? There is no obligation to go, and just as the Sunday obligation is lifted for sickness, etc, it may be that trying to fit Daily Mass in is too much.
   
   My children and I spent a period of time attending DM, but we could not keep it up once school started. Altho we would have loved to continue, we had to *first *fulfill the duties of our state of life. If daily Mass interferes with your duties of your state of life, then giving it up will be a cross for you to bear, bit in no way sinful.
   

   But how is my suffering used to help someone outside my direct influence?

   )
   By offering up your suffering (and joys, works, prayers), you increase the amount of grace in the world. This grace can be used by God to help even people on the other side of the world.
   

   Again, looking at this situation, it would appear that either God is not there, or that God wants me to follow some other faith (Judaism, Mohammedanism). I must then remind myself of all the reasons to be Christian, which seem to me not that strong, but barely strong enough to continue one more day. Perhaps putting it another way, God continues pushing me to the breaking point, and part of me wants to break just to spite Him for not helping me more.

   In summary, I’ve tried again going to Daily Mass, to be healed, to spend time with God, and to deepen my relationship with Him, and I receive the Eucharist but am not healed and my 45 minutes seem wasted not spending quality time with God, and I become angry, perhaps an expression of bitter disappointment. The Protestant thought occurs to me that I can deepen my relationship with God through the Bible, books, and prayers like the Rosary – no need for Daily Mass for that, and that I should quit going so as to spare myself the suffering and near occasions of sin (to avoid losing my temper).

   It was suggested to me by someone here that I must change my mentality. He did not specify in what way, and I don’t know how to see life any differently. I’m reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom hoping this will help. However, I think part of my problems is nerves, neurosis, for which a psychiatrist here has only recommended a sedative, which may have side-effects (in addition to expected drowsiness) and which may take months to get adjusted to, in addition to being another financial burden I really can’t afford. Perhaps this serves to strengthen my argument that God really could be helping me more than He is. As I said to a priest two years ago, it’s like I’m asking a billionaire for chump change.

   Do you agree with that priest who told me several years ago that “God isn’t going to talk to you; everything He has to say for you is in the Bible”? More generally: What should I do? Am I doing something wrong or is there something I could do better? What are your thoughts?

 

[GLam8833]

Don’t forget to be GRATELFUL,
and don’t forget to PRAY, even tho
satan says “It’s no use”.

Pray changes things, esp. YOU,
so, my dear sibling in Christ, pray and
look up, and don’t let anger embitter
your life, satan uses that anger to foil
God’s work in your life, the only way
to diffuse that is a grateful and humble heart!

Hail holy queen, Mother of mercy,
Our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
to you do we lift up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this Valley of tears. Turn, then most gracious Advocate
your eyes of mercy towards us,
and after this our exile, show to us the blessed
fruit of your womb, Jesus,
O clement, O loving, O kind Virgin Mary!
(Pray for us O holy Mother of God, that
we may be made to feel worthy of the
promises of Christ!).
Amen.

 

[fred_conty]

Here is a thought you may want to consider.

Jesus taught us the Our Father … the right way to pray. And in this prayer he said “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others”. So it means we are only forgiven … no exceptions … if we forgive others. To be forgiven we must look at the other person and consider them first. And if we have that outlook then he takes care of us.

In your pain, and I don’ make light of this for I know that pain wears a person down, look outside to others who are suffering and ask God to relieve them of theirs and have mercy on those who are suffering spiritually and physically. Pray for the poor souls who are suffering who are helpless to help themselves.

Pray for those who are definitely headed in the wrong direction in their lives, and ask God to show mercy to them and turn them around so they may glorify and praise him for all eternity for his mercy.

If you do this, you will like what happens to you.

May the Good Shepherd fill you with peace.

 

[Beryllos]

A wise man once said that we suffer disappointments according to our expectations, and one remedy for that is to focus on objectives (goals) rather than expectations. At the basic level, what you want or need is not an inspiring Mass experience. Perhaps it is a good relationship with God, or peace, or joy. Whatever your goal is, work toward it, even in small steps. If one approach doesn’t work, look around for another. Thus our small plans may be thwarted, but we may remain hopeful of reaching our goal.

I am praying for you…
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

 

[St_Francis]

Ah, forget everything I wrote before!!!

I was listening to this video, and realized that you have the same problem I so often have: not getting Praise Him in *all *circumstances.

Don’t like the homily? Thank God for it, even if there is absolutely no little nugget for you in it. Upset about the lack of healing? Thank God for His choosing the best thing for you. People getting in your way on your way to work? Thank God for the lessons in patience and love for others.

So, I was not looking for a talk on gratitude. That was what Youtube tossed up when I ran a search on Catholic and Gramsci. So I have no idea how that particular talk came up.

Now a quote, which I have only because my iPod went dead when the only thing I had to read while waiting was a pamphlet called “Thoughts of the Curé of Ars.” This quote is actually for me (not necessarily for you) because I have trouble getting through Lent–srsly???-- I cannot manage even what I do normally??? So here’s a little help God sent me:
Offer your temptations for the conversion of sinners. When the Devil sees you doing this, he is beside himself with rage and [t]akes off, because then the temptation is turned against himself. *St Jean Vianney, Curé d’Ars *

 

[ethereality]

You must look for how He is communicating with you,

This is hardly a good way to relate to someone. When someone has asked you for help with a serious problem, do you hide clues under pillows, rugs, in the bush outside by the corner?

I would like to say that we can push ourselves too hard sometimes. Is it very difficult for you to fit daily Mass into your day?

It’s in the morning before work, which is basically my only free time, since I try to work until bed. It’s not difficult to schedule, although bicycling in the rain is a hassle – and hurtful, since it requires getting the glasses wet that God is requiring me to use to have less than optimal vision.

 

[Padster]

These are all problems you are having due to unrealistic expectations. Despite the fact that Christ Himself did not receive from God “what He wanted,” you still expect to get what you want. It seems like you are focusing so much on your feet that you are missing the bigger picture by not looking up and around you.

I too have ‘unrealistic expectations’ of having a chronic illness healed. Until that happens, I can NEVER be useful to society. What I have got from God is frustration, despair, anger and uncertainty. He has done things which have thrown me into confusion about my own faith. But heal me of long-standing illness? Nah, He can’t be bothered with that. Instead He has allowed something I cannot understand which only brings shame and guilt upon me.

I offer some advice to my embittered friend. We can’t understand God and the ways of God, nor can we fathom out deep things or things which occurred in ancient times or far into the future. Therefore we should just enjoy life. These aren’t my words, but the words of Solomon. If he couldn’t understand all this God stuff, then we certainly can’t. Solomon certainly heeded his own advice. He got out there and had 700 wives and 300 concubines. He accumulated a lot of money.

Forget the God stuff. It only brings despair if you get into it too much. Contrary to religious opinion, God isn’t very clear in his dealing with humans. Many people who get ‘close to God’ are driven insane.

Best wishes,
Padster

 

[Padster]

This is hardly a good way to relate to someone. When someone has asked you for help with a serious problem, do you hide clues under pillows, rugs, in the bush outside by the corner?

My thoughts exactly. Stephen Fry identified God as being ‘capricious’. That is certainly true, and it explains why a lot of people who have a ‘spiritual awakening’ end up in psychiatric hospitals. Don’t listen to people who claim they have running conversations with God, it is simply not the case.

So I would suggest doing some spiritual reading. The Imitation of Christ, Introduction to the Devout Life, etc

I read the Imitation of Christ intently, and used it a lot with prayer. But the book does not help me anymore. I suppose you could say that I got so deep into spirituality that at the end of it I found nothing. My present state is as a man cast adrift in an ocean of nothingness. I am gradually coming back to normal life, and I can honestly say I have gained nothing from the experience, apart from seeing the world as it really is: a world of pain.

You want to pick and choose your cross instead of acceping those God sends you. He is not healing you–therefore it is not His will that you be healed

You seem certain that healing is not God’s will for this person. So, I ask you, what IS God’s will? Bitterness? Anger? Confusion? Do tell. If you are sure one way then you must be sure of the flipside too.

Do you agree with that priest who told me several years ago that "God isn’t going to talk to you; everything He has to say for you is in the Bible

Oh yes, I agree with that priest. Especially the first part: GOD ISN’T GOING TO TALK TO YOU!!!. But as for “everything He has to say for you is in the Bible”, I am not sure. For example, what can one make of: “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?” [Song of Solomon ch.8 v.8]

Best wishes,
Padster

 

[SROL]

“For if we are insane, it is for God”

Place all of your hope in the Lord Jesus!

It may be Gods will that you be healed, It may not be.

Whatever you must suffer- Do it for love of God

Your daily trials and infirmities may be the making of a Saint

Stay strong! You are already doing more than most.

Have a Blessed Lent and may the Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you!

in Christ-Your Loving Brother

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I was told by the doctors that I’d never recover from my severe psychosis. :whacky:

That’s because the doctors can’t fix it. They can treat symptoms, but not fix it.

Doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. :nope:

But just because it can be fixed doesn’t mean it will be.

 

[SROL]

Please continue to go to Daily Mass and please spend some time in Adoration if it is available.

 

[Padster]

“For if we are insane, it is for God”

If we are insane, it is BECAUSE of God in some circumstances such as schizophrenia, And if we are not insane because of God, then often it is due to a religious delusion. (Again, refer to schizophrenia)

Place all of your hope in the Lord Jesus!

Good luck with that.

It may be Gods will that you be healed, It may not be

Being realistic, you will find that in the majority of illness cases, it is God’s will for the sick person NOT to be healed. That is because the God-apologist usually uttering such nonsense doesn’t really know what to say.

Whatever you must suffer- Do it for love of God

I don’t know about you, but speaking as someone who has suffered terrible illnesses throughout his life (and still suffers), I am tired of God and his games.

Your daily trials and infirmities may be the making of a Saint

He makes that sound like a badge of honour. Being a Saint means basically more of the same: more suffering, hardship, self-hatred and guilt. Fine, if you want that.

Stay strong! You are already doing more than most.

The sanest piece of advice offered so far.

I was told by the doctors that I’d never recover from my severe psychosis.
That’s because the doctors can’t fix it. They can treat symptoms, but not fix it.

Sorry to hear that. It is basically the same situation I am in, only I have a physical illness

Doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed.
But just because it can be fixed doesn’t mean it will be.

You’re right there. It won’t be fixed. Not unless science comes up with something in the future, which no doubt the God-apologists will then class as a miracle that which ordinary humans have accomplished with the toil of their own brains.

Best wishes,
Padster

 

[Julie_de_Sales]

We all suffer throughout our lives, but we know we are not alone, because Jesus loved us so much that "“He himself bore our sicknesses away and carried our diseases.” (Matthew, 8:17). Life is short, and, as St Therese of Lisieux once said, we have just so much time to show God how much we love Him in return. And we can do that especially by bearing our cross with patience and in a spirit of penance.

As for the argument that God doesn’t speak to us, He does: in the Bible, through a priest, through the events in our lives, etc. Maybe He doesn’t always answer our prayers as we would wish, but it’s in those moments particulary that we have to trust in Him. We should be like children with God, and children don’t always understand why their parents act in a certain way or forbid them to do certain things, but they continue to love and trust them.

And when you look at the lives of the saints and martyrs, their suffering was so great, but the consolation of being united with God was greater than any pain. And they were always peaceful and joyful despite the circumstances. And even when we don’t feel united with God (like Mother Teresa felt for 30 years) we should still be joyful because then we love God entirely for himself and not for the consolations that we might receive from Him.

And I would like to share a quote that I found recently, it’s from Jason Evert (big fan ) : “When we walk with God, even the sufferings of this world can become a cause of joy. When we walk from Him, even the joys of this world can become a cause of suffering”

 

[St_Francis]

This is hardly a good way to relate to someone.

Who are you to criticize God’s ways?

When someone has asked you for help with a serious problem, do you hide clues under pillows, rugs, in the bush outside by the corner?

If I were trying to teach someone and that was the best way to teach them, yes, that is precisely what I would do.

This is the third thread on this topic that you have posted in 3 weeks. A lot if people have responded to your cry fkr help, but you need to pay attention to what they are telling you.

It’s in the morning before work, which is basically my only free time, since I try to work until bed.

Why are you *trying *to work until bedtime? No wonder you are having trouble; this is an unbalanced way to live. You’re in Japan, for goodness sakes! You should be out there learning about the country, meeting people, and seeing the sights! Take a class or two!

It’s not difficult to schedule, although bicycling in the rain is a hassle – and hurtful, since it requires getting the glasses wet that God is requiring me to use to have less than optimal vision.

Oh, yeah, you are the only person in the whole of history who has had to suffer with having to wear glasses because your eyes aren’t perfect! No gratitude for the fact that you are not blind, no gratitude for the beauty you can still see! No gratitude for the fact you live in a time when there are glasses available, for the fact you can afford the glasses, etc.

i