I’m losing my faith I often feel like I’m talking to my self when I pray , does/did anyone else feel this way I want to believe that there is life aft

[Kandi2003]

Im 15 I plan on joining the church when I’m an adult do to my parent is why I’m going to wait in case you were curious , I feel like abandoning my Idea of join the Catholic Church one day I feel like I’m wasting my time and there is no god , im starting to lean towards atheism.
Did anybody else feel this way when they first started
looking into the faith , i want there to be life after death but I’m skeptical I’m afraid there is nothing after death . I still try to do good in the lords eyes and pray the rosary , but I’m losing faith. What are your thoughts on helping someone regain there faith . Sorry for the bad grammar.

 

[goodcatholic]

Did anybody else feel this way when they first started

Get used to the feeling. it plagues all of us. Young and old. Talk to God like you are talking to us now. He understands everything. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect. I get the feeling he is very pleased with your honesty in reaching out , on the net here. God Bless and good luck.

 

[Kei]

Tell God this.
We believe in God not just on feeling.
Feelings are often irrational and fleeting.

Our relationship with God rises and lowers because it is a real relationship. You don’t always have the same feelings when you’re with someone.
Preservere, do good, pray, and do not worry.

But do not fear death. There is nothing to fear if you live rightly.

 

[steve-b]

Im 15 I plan on joining the church when I’m an adult do to my parent is why I’m going to wait in case you were curious , I feel like abandoning my Idea of join the Catholic Church one day I feel like I’m wasting my time and there is no god , im starting to lean towards atheism.

Who has been, and who currently, is/are your biggest influence(s) ?

Kandi2003:

i want there to be life after death but I’m skeptical I’m afraid there is nothing after death .

Where is this skepticism coming from?

Kandi2003:

I still try to do good in the lords eyes and pray the rosary , but I’m losing faith. What are your thoughts on helping someone regain there faith . Sorry for the bad grammar.

Consider what Peter taught

Re: faith and 7 traits to add to faith

2 Pet 1: (all emphasis mine)

“5 For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; 11 so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Note: education is 2nd. It’s at the top of things to abound in. Meaning it is to be increased without stopping. As are all the other 6 traits. Peter makes a condition. If you do what Peter says here, one won’t fall. Ergo, if one is NOT adding these things in ever increasing amounts, to their faith, THEY WILL FALL.

As a suggestion then

Add these 7 traits in ever increasing amounts to your faith/life, and don’t stop adding to them in ever increasing amounts

1. Virtue , http://bibleapps.com/greek/703.htm
2. Knowledge http://bibleapps.com/greek/1108.htm
3. self control http://bibleapps.com/greek/1466.htm
4. steadfastness http://bibleapps.com/greek/5281.htm
5. godliness http://bibleapps.com/greek/2150.htm
6. brotherly affection http://bibleapps.com/greek/5360.htm
7. love http://bibleapps.com/greek/26.htm

See what happens

 

[goodcatholic]

“doubt your own doubts

Bit of a head spin but pretty good advice I think

 

[Kandi2003]

My father has a lot of influence on me with pretty much everything but Catholicism, I have been wanting to join the Catholic Church for a while now , the reason I want to join the Catholic Church I can’t say I just really feel drawn to it . Where my skepticism comes from I can’t say exactly , I feel like my skepticism comes from a lot of stuff such as social media and other stuff like that .

 

[steve-b]

Tell God this.
We believe in God not just on feeling.
Feelings are often irrational and fleeting.

Our relationship with God rises and lowers because it is a real relationship. You don’t always have the same feelings when you’re with someone.
Preservere, do good, pray, and do not worry.

But do not fear death. There is nothing to fear if you live rightly.

isn’t that a bit nebulous?

 

[steve-b]

My father has a lot of influence on me with pretty much everything but Catholicism, I have been wanting to join the Catholic Church for a while now , the reason I want to join the Catholic Church I can’t say I just really feel drawn to it . Where my skepticism comes from I can’t say exactly , I feel like my skepticism comes from a lot of stuff such as social media and other stuff like that .

I understand.

Re: your father’s influence,
Where is he on your interest in checking out Catholicism, yea or nay?

 

[Kei]

isn’t that a bit nebulous?

Maybe. Maybe not.

In all seriousness, if one leads a virtuous life, the one who knows Christ, how good shall his death be?
Even if one were to go simply to the abyss of nothingness, it still brings an end to suffering. But, as Christ is the True Lord, we know it also brings us much more.

 

[Kei]

Are you close to your time to joining the Church?

If so, there can be a few reasons for this:
A) Joining the Catholic Church can be a MAJOR life decision. Feeling uneasy, having doubts, etc., is natural for most big life changes.
B) I have heard it before that the devil tries to really give it a whirl at those about to convert, you know, keep them from the Church of course.

I would not say your feelings are atypical for one in your state of life.

 

[steve-b]

steve-b:

isn’t that a bit nebulous?

Maybe. Maybe not.

In all seriousness, if one leads a virtuous life, the one who knows Christ, how good shall his death be?
Even if one were to go simply to the abyss of nothingness, it still brings an end to suffering. But, as Christ is the True Lord, we know it also brings us much more.

The last 4 events

1. death
2. judgement
3. heaven
4. hell

all souls who go through Purgatory after dearh, go to heaven.

There is no abyss of nothingness.

 

[Kei]

Indeed. However, those who have doubts may not believe this with great certainty.

 

[steve-b]

Indeed. However, those who have doubts may not believe this with great certainty.

Still, we need to keep things real

 

[Kei]

I do not want him to fear death, lest it poison his well, so to speak.

 

[steve-b]

I do not want him to fear death prior going into this, lest it poison his well, so to speak.

Fear is not bad. I’m reminded of the phrases

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom [Prov 9:10]
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [ Heb 10:31]

 

[Kei]

Fear is not.
Fear of death can be.

There is a healthy “fear” of death and there is an unhealthy one…I sense the unhealthy one from the post.

 

[steve-b]

Fear is not.
Fear of death can be.

There is a healthy “fear” of death and there is an unhealthy one…I sense the unhealthy one from the post.

We still need to be truthful.

 

[ColinFaust]

Kandi2003- I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling with your faith. I have several recommendations that I truly believe will re-ignite that spiritual fire and hunger for God.

First, read books and learn about the Church’s most well-known mystical saints- like Saint Padre Pio, Saint Faustina, Saint Catherine of Sienna, Saint Therese of Lisieux, etc. Their lives are truly powerful testimony to the love of God and His desired holiness for us. Personally, they inspire me greatly and absolutely reinforce my faith in not only God, but the Catholic Church.

Second, attend eucharistic adoration. There have many powerful conversions and signal graces that have resulted from merely being in the Lord’s presence and bringing your struggles to Him.

Third, you could listen to Catholic Answers. Hear the passion of apologists like Tim Staples and discover the beauty and fullness of truth found only in the Holy Catholic Church.

Lastly, and in my opinion most importantly, pray to the Virgin Mary and lean on her Motherly intercession. Humbly and gracefully ask for the graces you need. Specifically- pray the HOLY ROSARY. This is the most powerful thing you can do. Aside from the Mass, the Rosary is the most powerful prayer that we have. Our Blessed Mother has given an unimaginable amount of graces to those who faithfully and reverently pray the Rosary. In my humble view, I can’t imagine Our Lady denying anyone who turns to Her while praying the Holy Rosary faithfully.

Hope this helps, I will pray for you!

 

[Kei]

Is it untruthful to try to demonstrate that even if what his biggest fear were somehow to happen, it isn’t that bad?

 

[Reuben_J]

This may sound unreasonable but I suggest that you pray anyway, especially the basic prayers -morning and night prayers, and don’t forget to say grace every meal. Make these prayers as part of your routine activities.

On top of that try to read the Bible, which should be interesting, regardless of whether you are feeling spiritually dry or not.

Do not miss the mass as it has a spiritual element to it, which you may not realise.

Sometimes faith and joy will come if we are faithful. If not, since they have become your routine activities, at least you can be satisfied that you are doing the things that you need to do.

God bless.