I find myself struggling

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Seeks_God

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I am at a crossroads in my life and I find myself struggling more and more with my Catholic beliefs. I find myself questioning Church authority, the intentions of people, God, the divinity of Jesus, the right and wrong of sexuality, wealth, etc…etc.
For the most part, I’ve considered myself a catholic and I still have a profound belief in God, but I also find myself questioning everything that I have held as truth. I wonder what the role each of us has in life.
I find myself truly struggling to submit to God and I fear at times that my “belief” is superficial - i.e. that I have the belief in public where family can see it, but I doubt within what I believe…

Do any of you have suggestions?
 
The best thing you can do is pray about it. Ask God to lead you into truth. Don’t expect Him to answer you overnight. It might take Him some time to get you where you need to be in order to accept the truths that He wants to show you. Be patient with Him and He won’t let you down. I promise.

God speaks to us in different ways. You might check out some reading material like Patrick Madrid’s “Surprised by the Truth” books and Scott Hahn’s “Rome Sweet Home” and see how other people have struggled with some of the same things you are struggling with. God will also speak to you through scripture of course.

I will pray for you on your journey! You will be so amazed at what God will do for you when you ask with a sincere heart.
 
for the next week, treat every person you encounter, especially those who irritate or upset you the most, as if he were Christ in person. I think if we put ourselves in the position of having to “practice what we preach” it clarifies for us what it is that we actually believe, and what are the logical consequences of that belief.
 
Seeks_God said:
I am at a crossroads in my life and I find myself struggling more and more with my Catholic beliefs. I find myself questioning Church authority, the intentions of people, God, the divinity of Jesus, the right and wrong of sexuality, wealth, etc…etc.
For the most part, I’ve considered myself a catholic and I still have a profound belief in God, but I also find myself questioning everything that I have held as truth. I wonder what the role each of us has in life.
I find myself truly struggling to submit to God and I fear at times that my “belief” is superficial - i.e. that I have the belief in public where family can see it, but I doubt within what I believe…

Do any of you have suggestions?
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This may sound odd and I hope it’s not offensive, have you ever felt intimate with Jesus Christ or could you define your journey as more “route” and religious? If you have had an intimate relationship with Jesus through the years that you have kept nutured in the sacraments of the church than this experience is perhaps intended for your growth. Sometimes God takes away all feeling and sense of direction leaving us to to rely on raw faith and obedience even though we feel nothing.

Perhaps you could ask the Holy Spirit to shine a light on your soul and reveal any offenses that you may have committed. You can also ask the Holy Spirit for a fresh fire in your soul, *I have done this several times in the past and each time he comes in suprising powerful ways that I would never expect or look for. *

Another thing that I have found that recharges my love is performing random acts of mercy. There is a real power that Jesus Christ releases in our lives when we perform works of mercy and kindness with humility. Most of all be in prayer, never stop trusting Jesus, never doubt his work but in all things give Him thanks and gratitude, know that HE ALONE is in control brother!
 
Seeks_God said:
I am at a crossroads in my life and I find myself struggling more and more with my Catholic beliefs. I find myself questioning Church authority, the intentions of people, God, the divinity of Jesus, the right and wrong of sexuality, wealth, etc…etc.
For the most part, I’ve considered myself a catholic and I still have a profound belief in God, but I also find myself questioning everything that I have held as truth. I wonder what the role each of us has in life.
I find myself truly struggling to submit to God and I fear at times that my “belief” is superficial - i.e. that I have the belief in public where family can see it, but I doubt within what I believe…

Do any of you have suggestions?
Click to expand...
Seeks

Submitting to God means, “letting go.” Don’t follow religion merely for the sake of having religion in your life, but rather, because you desire to know, love and serve God in a deeper way.

So many people have religion, but little faith. Faith requires a surrender of self to God. A death to self. Whatever you hold back will be an impediment to closer union with Him. However whatever you give to God, he will multiply back to you, thousands of times over. You will receive a new life in Christ, that will be beyond religion.

Prayer, especially mental prayer, is important.

Let me ask you, have you tasted the love of God anyway in your life, or are you following religion, because its what you’re suppose to do ?

Jim
 
Having questions or feeling spiritually dry is not a bad thing. God is giving you a chance to learn and grow, and to exercise your faith muscles. Most people go through such stages periodically, or at pivotal points in their lives.

It does help if you keep going to Mass, etc. Even if you don’t “feel” the benefits of this, trust that God is giving them to you. You will be very glad afterward that you did this.
 
Periods of dryness and doubt are normal to experience along the spiritual journey. However, what you are experiencing sounds a lot like the classical spiritual problem of acedia or listlessness, which is basically a feeling spiritual exercises (prayer, eucharistic celebration, singing, etc) are useless, boring and achieving nothing spiritually. Acedia might be likened as a form of spiritual boredom where spiritual activities seem hollow and pointless and time passes extremely slowly and you feel a deep sense of dejection, emptiness and lack of hope and drive.

This is a problem well known to the Christian monastic tradition (it was described by Evagrius of Pontus and St John Cassian and also noted by St John of the Cross). It is one of eight different ‘obstacles’ in the Christian spiritual life, the other ones being all related to the classical capital vices or sins (which in fact came into the mainstream from Pope Gregory the Great, a monk himself before becoming a Pope).

You also sound fairly anxious about something, perhaps something you have done, and this is best resolved by going to confession and getting it off your chest rather than keeping it whirling around in your mind, bothering you all the time, making you feel less peace inside - keep in mind St Paul told us one of the gifts of the spirit is peace, a deep peace which gives us rest and creates in us gentleness, kindness, mercy and charity.

For a solution to these issues you should talk with your priest, confessor, or spiritual director.
 
Jesus is the Son of God, and is one with God and the Holy Spirit.
Why? Because He said so. Do you believe Him? If yes, then
don’t worry about your other doubts, because He Himself will lead
you to all truth. If no, then in what do you believe?
 
Seeks_God said:
I am at a crossroads in my life and I find myself struggling more and more with my Catholic beliefs. I find myself questioning Church authority, the intentions of people, God, the divinity of Jesus, the right and wrong of sexuality, wealth, etc…etc.
For the most part, I’ve considered myself a catholic and I still have a profound belief in God, but I also find myself questioning everything that I have held as truth. I wonder what the role each of us has in life.
I find myself truly struggling to submit to God and I fear at times that my “belief” is superficial - i.e. that I have the belief in public where family can see it, but I doubt within what I believe…

Do any of you have suggestions?
Click to expand...
You are not alone in your struggles!
 
Everyone has struggles in his/her lives, what makes one different than other is how he/she handles his/her struggling.

When you struggle, do not try to understand everything on your own but keep asking God to help you. Praying that you have faith in Him and to know Him better…and especially to cling on to Him no matter what.

Go to Eucharistic Adoration more often and pray.

God bless.
 
water said:
Go to Eucharistic Adoration more often and pray.
God bless.
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To the OP,

You’ve been given much good advice, and I will add only two things. First, you are in my prayers. I’ve experienced this pain you describe before. There is good news: it is temporary. God has a purpose for it, and it is for your good! You will emerge on the other side with a deeper faith than before. But you must persevere.

Secondly, Eucharistic Adoration is by far the best medicine, but I recommend you go ‘empty handed’, so to speak. Don’t try to go to Adoration with a litany of prayers and devotions. Spend most, if not all, of your time in silence and ‘blankness’ of mind and heart. Let Our Lord fill the space. You may sense nothing the first few or many times you do this. But Jesus will not fail to make himself known to you if you will trust Him. Rest in His arms and allow Him to guide you where He wants you to go.
 
Seeks_God said:
I am at a crossroads in my life and I find myself struggling more and more with my Catholic beliefs. I find myself questioning Church authority, the intentions of people, God, the divinity of Jesus, the right and wrong of sexuality, wealth, etc…etc.QUOTE]

When people come to this crossroad in life it is helpful to have a spiritual advisor. This should be a person who will listen to your concerns and walk with you as you work through them. You shouldn’t try to go this alone. Find a good person who you trust that can act as a spiritual advisor. Somebody learned in theology and is willing to walk with you.

If you decide to go this alone, trust in the Holy Spirit.
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I dont really have any good advice but jst wanted to tell you that I have felt and still do at times struggle in a very similar manner. I have given up before but this time trying to get through these struggles and doubts. It helped me and still does, to sit in the still and quiet and jst think about these doubts/struggles - things are beginning to look clearer and I am able to pray now, try it if you can, and dont give up. I will keep you in mind when I pray tonight, I know how you feel.
 
Hi, know exactly what you’re feeling / going through and I’ve read very good advises as well… Pray and ask the Holy Spirit which would be best though and I will pray for you too!

I’m sure all of us here have experienced (one way or another) what you are feeling now.

My 2 cents 🙂

Personally, every time I struggle, I look upon the face of GOD and tell him, Lord I trust in you and I know that you have a plan for me. I say a short prayer and cast all my problems to the foot of the cross and move on. As Jesus said,

Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Yes it’s tough, but there is unexplainable joy while walking with Jesus.

What are we to ask of God’s plans for us but to trust in HIM that he will pull us through every time we struggle. These verses would be fantastic for all of us as Jesus tells us directly / indirectly not to worry, Matthew 6: 25 - 34, of which verse 34 is simply fantastic,

“34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”

I take each day at a time and walk each day trusting in Him that the day will end Gloriously in Jesus name. No matter how bad the day went by.

But I guess the most important thing would be to come to Jesus with a sincere heart and He will do wonders. (the same opinion as Deidre)

All Jesus needs is that We just Trust in Him whole-heartedly.

food for thought 🙂
:signofcross:
 
Seeks God,
there are such things as temptations against faith.
the devil knows what we would need to hear to tempt us away from the faith.
i would not be surprised that doubts/difficulties arise, but this is how God can sometimes severely strengthen our belief in Christ’s teachings. if you can praise God in spite of all the troubles, you’ve no idea how much merit you gain and how pleasing you become.
what i tend to do if temptations arise like that, i think “ok what other church completely bands contraception…” then when i realize the answer is “none” i remember that Catholicism is the true church 🙂 but thats just me. we could go down the list of beliefs and start proof texting, but that might not help.
i went through a bit of a period for a while similar to yours. i realized that God allowed it because He wanted to ask me “Son, do you want to be in my Church? Or are you here because you don’t feel you have any better option?” it was an eye opener.
and an ear opener 😉
i wrote something on my blog (latest entry called Put on the Mind of Christ) that you might find helpful. i was going to message it to you but i couldnt figure out if attachments were possible lol
www.xanga.com/mordocai

please always remember, satan does not care what you believe
just as long as it is not the truth.

may God BLESS you and may Mother Mary keep you close to Jesus’ Sacred Heart,
Mordocai
 
Sounds to me like God is leading you to a more mature faith (if you’ll let him).

There’s nothing wrong with questioning but you have to be willing to listen to the answers; which is where the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit helps.

Of course, not everything can be explained and understood; our faith is replete with mysteries. When you have had some basic questions settled, you might find it easier to trust God and accept that which you cannot ever understand on this earth.

Simply accepting everything you are taught without ever striving for a deeper understanding is not always a good thing because it can lead to superficial religion: just doing something because that’s the “done” thing and not because you know it to be right.

I’ve had an experience recently which set on it’s head my whole concept of myself as a Catholic. It lead to me questioning many things I’d been taught: was it really Catholic, was it the “doctrine of men”? How did that affect my perception of God and my relationship with Him? Had I been living a false religion? That was one of the reasons I turned back to the Catechism and in doing so found myself at this board to ask a question. Since joining I’ve learned much more than I ever bargained for. I’m much less tentative in relating to God than was the case immediately after my “re-awakening” but I have developed a healthy caution of every opinion that is not official Church teaching. I’ve also learned to not ignore ‘gut instincts’ while at the same time not relying solely on them.

God bless you on your journey.
 
I often think that everything is against the Catholic faith of Jesus, so the miracle is that there is any faith at all. This is a clear sign of the Truth.

The Truth always stands alone in the world and is always mocked, derided, exiled, and persecuted and even persecuted by those who too are persecuted.

No wonder then you find yourself struggling. I think it is perfectly normal in this world to struggle to hold onto our faith and if you do hold on you will find that your faith will be strengthened and will grow. We are all persevering.

Persevere and always pray.🙂

In my Living Prayer of life.
 
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