I am a Catholic yo-yo

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lookaround

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despite the funny title its actually quite sad

I fall in and out of the Catholic faith almost on a daily basis. Its exhausting! I want to do what God wants me to do but its so hard to figure it out.
Am I alone in this? Has anyone else ever felt this way?
 
lookaround said:
despite the funny title its actually quite sad

I fall in and out of the Catholic faith almost on a daily basis. Its exhausting! I want to do what God wants me to do but its so hard to figure it out.
Am I alone in this? Has anyone else ever felt this way?
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Could you say more about what you mean by falling in and out of the faith.

Do you find it easier to pray sometimes than others? Do you believe in God (or some aspect of the faith) on some days but not others? What is it that happens to make you feel like you’re out of the faith? What is it that brings you back in?
 
You say its hard to “figure it all out.” Does this mean you have trouble understanding aspects of the faith? If so, have you considered taking a course, or just talking to a priest about your struggles?

I will pray for you, that you will find peace and wisdom and healing. I pray that you will find a secure anchor in this great gift that Jesus gave us: His church, the rock and refuge of those who find themselves on unsteady ground.

Sometimes we need to listen with our hearts and trust. Those looking for absolute proofs will find nothing tangible for the senses, but rather His Presence in their own souls. What is more real than this? Throw yourself on the Heart of Your Father who loves you, there you will find your faith strengthened and your soul healed and refreshed. He does not require you to know the right prayers, the right words to say…He only requires you to come into His Presence with faith and willingness to learn. His love will do the rest. His love can work miracles inside you.

Peace and Blessings,
Terrysa
 
A holy abbess once said, “Oh, I’m ready to quit and leave every morning.”
 
lookaround said:
despite the funny title its actually quite sad

I fall in and out of the Catholic faith almost on a daily basis. Its exhausting! I want to do what God wants me to do but its so hard to figure it out.
Am I alone in this? Has anyone else ever felt this way?
Click to expand...
If you do everything out of love for God and others, you can’t go wrong. God isn’t waiting to pounce on your every mistake. He’s wanting you to be at peace in his grace and love. Just know that God is, and that he is the rewarder of those who seek him–that’s really all you need to understand. If you practice that, more will become clear to you. So, don’t be in a hurry to know and to understand. Just be first.
 
Catholicism is not hard to figure out, it is extremely hard to live out.

"And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mk 10:21).

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Do you find it easier to pray sometimes than others?
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it can sometime be hard, but I do it anyway
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Do you believe in God (or some aspect of the faith) on some days but not others?
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I do believe in God, but some aspects of the faith I don’t believe (kind of).
Its hard to explain. God I believe in 100%, but some aspects of the faith are maybes.
SuscipeMeDomine said:
What is it that happens to make you feel like you’re out of the faith?
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I had some bad experiences (and good ones). I don’t think I came into the Catholic faith the right way.
I needed to be baptized and figured the Catholic Church would be as good as any. I realize now that, that is not the attitude a Catholic should have had.
SuscipeMeDomine said:
What is it that brings you back in?
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“Outside the Church there is no salvation” <— that’s a scary reason
but more importantly I don’t want God to be disappointed.
 
It sounds like you haven’t been Catholic very long. When were you baptized?

I think that sometimes it can take a while to start to feel like a Catholic and think like a Catholic.

You said that you pray even when you find it hard. That’s wonderful! You’re not giving up and you’re responding to God’s grace.

Are you going to Mass regularly? Worshiping together, hearing God’s word through the readings and homily, and most important, receiving Jesus in the Eucharist are very important and will help your faith to grow.

Praying regularly, preferably daily, is also a good way to enhance your faith.

I think it’s good to take baby steps. A little bit today, a little bit tomorrow, and you’ll be surprised to see how things blossom.

Don’t worry if things don’t all come together at once. But keep up the prayer time and Mass to start and trust God that things will get better.
 
Some other ideas:

A* Adoration: If your church or one nearby has adoration, spend some time there and ask God to enlighten you. Maybe you will meet someone who inspires you with their faith.
  • Bible Study: Attend Bible Study at your church if it is offered. Or take some online studies (available at salvationhistory.com for free). As you learn the Bible, you will grow in confidence in the faith.
  • Convert Stories: Read convert stories. They can inspire you and help you learn about the faith. Many that I’ve read explain how their research of church teachings (sometimes trying to disprove) actually brought them into the Catholic Church.
  • Ask Questions: If you have problems with a particular teaching, ask questions. Find out why the church teaches what it does. There are good reasons, and God wants you to believe not simply because that’s what the Church teaches but also because it’s what you understand to be the truth.
You might also consider reading The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. This book describes how the devil tries to draw us away from our faith. You might recognize some things happening in your life.
 
lookaround said:
despite the funny title its actually quite sad

I fall in and out of the Catholic faith almost on a daily basis. Its exhausting! I want to do what God wants me to do but its so hard to figure it out.
Am I alone in this? Has anyone else ever felt this way?
Click to expand...
Ask Him for faith, than study Scriptures.
 
I think we all go through “lukewarm” times in our journey. Don’t worry - you are not alone! Never, ever think you’re all alone or the only one who has felt that way. We all have.

Here’s what I recommend - first, remember this: “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10 Don’t allow yourself to be overcome with fear and anxiety about going to hell. Keep your eyes on the prize - that is your *relationship *with God, becoming closer to Him through the Church. When you feel yourself being doubting, just think to yourself that yes, you are a Catholic. Yes, you belive in God and love Him. Then just be still and know that He is God.

When you feel lukewarm, do a few minutes of spiritual reading. Doesn’t have to be much. Or log on here, and ask us to pray for you. People here care about your faith. Above all - please remember that you are NOT alone. I am praying for you.
 
I have been a catholic all my life.

I think I yo-yo the last 20 years of my life.

Then I decided I loved being catholic mostly due to the way we worship at Mass.

I wake up each morning and talk to God and ask Him to guide me and that i place all trust in Him. Then I say the Lord’s Prayer, which really says it all.

He has never ever gave up on me and never let me down. even when i am totaly in error. Which is frequent.
 
Brother( or sister) let me tell ya, It will always be a Yo-Yo. You will never get away from it. You will never have a perfect feeling or finally have it all, till we are with Christ.

IT is not easy. It is not always nice, but our faith is always Good. Dont Get caught up in rules and regulations, do’s and don’ts. It never has and never will be about that.

If the thought that there is no salvation outside the church scares then stop thinking about it. Salvation is not all it is cracked up to be. Salvation implies that there is something that needs done. Guess what Christ already did it. you never have to worry about salvation ever. nor is it something that i think God really cares about(HOLD ON dont tar and feather me yet) Christ does not want us to come to him because we want to be saved. Christ wants us to come to him because we want to come to him. We want to love and learn about him and have a relationship with him. When you come to love him and be with him everything else falls into place.

I personally would say, Stop worrying about what you ahve to do and go to mass once and sit there, dont go up for Communion and see where you are. Look at who is there and realize that you are sitting in house of GOD. not just a building with pews, a HOUSE of God. the thought that the almighty creator of Lava and gravity and Space, stars, electricty and fire, wants to have a meal with you. Now i know there are alot of people who go to mass and take communion but at that moment, God cares for no one else other then the person who goes up and takes communion. no one else matters to him. When i go up he cares for no one else but me. When you go up he cares for no one else but you. that same creator who made the nervous in your body that fire the impules to make your legs move wants to have an intimate meal with you and only you. when you see that an Infinte God wants to share his infinte time with a finite being, it is love at first bite.

I can not tell you how much it means to sit at the table fo king and know you are his Child. nothing should scare you nothing should make you feel unwelcome. once you miss that meal and you understand that To be truly catholic means to have a powerful and meaningful sacramental life with a God who invented the idea of Gunpowder and Rocks and trees, music, sound, color, light, The massive burning ball of fire at the center of Solar System, you cant help but love him back.

And while it will never be easy and it never will be perfect till we stand with our brother Jesus in Heaven, it will always be Good.
 
I spent 2 years or so out of the faith- honestly I think spending some time with a secular perspective is healthy. But my faith came back just like it went- slowly, gradually, and without any real explanation. All i can suggest is trying to wait it out- faith, by it’s nature, can be unstable.
 
lookaround said:
2 years ago on Pentecost + RCIA for 6 months
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Possibly what you are experiencing now is the wearing-off of the newness of the Faith. I experienced this when I had been Catholic for about as long as you’ve been Catholic. It really helps to find a good group of Catholic friends who share your faith- and, though they may not see things quite like you do (it can be hard, when it’s something they’ve had all their life- and you’ve just recently discovered it), they can be a very good support system for you. I also can’t stress enough the importance of finding a good confessor, and going often (AT LEAST once a month- probably more).

It is good that you like reading the Bible- it can really help nurture your spiritual life, if you are into it. I, unfortunately, have somewhat of an aversion to it. I guess part of it is rejection of the protestant denomination I was raised in (which heavily emphasized the Bible). I also am a *very *social person, and I can’t stand doing solitary activities for long periods of time. I *can, however, *spend all day in a quiet adoration chapel- and aside from getting hungry, I’ll be totally content- this may seem strange to some, because I do not talk or physically hear anybody else- and I don’t want to either. I kneel before God, and open my heart and soul to Him- and He tries to shape me into who I am called to be. Please find a place that offers Eucharistic adoration, and go- regularly.
 
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