I know, but dont believe. please help

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Matthew_Ruiz

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Well I have battled with my faith for quite a while now. I remember the first time I started doubting what I had been taught was when I was only ten years old. I am 14 now and still battle with my doubts. I have looked at so many arguments and so many stories about miracles and things like that that it seems God and catholicism must be true. It seemsik the early gospel tradition couldn’t have changed so much in such a short period of Timor but still my doubts come to haunt me. I feel like enough evidence exists, but I just cant make the leap. I just cant FULLY believe. I can kinda believe, but thats not good enough. I want tge belief of so many great saints like Padre Pio but for some reason i just cant find it in me. I want it to be real so badly but am afraid it may not be Ive put to much effort and to much time to take no for an answer. But this is what kind of gets to me. That my desire for it to be true may over shadow reality but then i just grt stuck in an endless cycle of “well what about this particular miracle or this particular saint” I jusy want peace and the only way i believe i can acheive that is by believing in God. If youve managed to read through this rambling i thank you and please answer. I eed this.
 
Mark 9:24

Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

So you see others have this problem too. All we can do is cry out like this father did and ask God to assist us in faith.
 
Hello, my friend!

Good for you for wanting faith as strong as Padre Pio’s! That is a lofty goal, but a very admirable one. I commend you for it. But for most good souls, faith takes time. You must pray constantly. Whatever troubles you, pray about and ask the Lord for wisdom. All the answers will not be given to you right away. Spirituality is a journey. It’s not something you can instantly have. We go through peaks and valleys, ups and downs, times of peace and times of unrest. I believe Father Groeschel has a good book about the spiritual journey called The Psychology of Spirituality, if you care to read it. My advice to you is pray and pray some more and keep praying. It’s not a bad thing to doubt. Remember in the Gospel, the Disciple Thomas doubted. He wanted it proven to him and Jesus showed him. Then he remarked “My Lord and my God.”

Remember, God can also be found elsewhere too. He can be found in nature (just looking at a nice sunshine or heavy rainstorm). He can be found in music (I like the Christian rock song by the Casting Crowns “East to West.”). He can be found in other people. God is everywhere. To seek Him with all your heart is always the goal. It’s tough because of culture and the inclination to be focused on the worldly things of the day and age.

Keep praying my friend 🙂
 
Try praying these every day. Pray them as though you believe. Act as though you believe. And in time you will fully believe. That’s what God wants from us–to trust in Him and to be obedient in spite of our doubts.

ACT OF FAITH
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy catholic Church teaches, because in revealing them you can neither deceive nor be deceived.

ACT OF HOPE
O MY GOD, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I
hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and Life Everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

ACT OF CHARITY

O MY GOD, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
 
It’s okay to have douts about your faith , I’m 16 and I do have doubts but doubt is the path to greater understanding. Pray that god may strength your faith and pray the rosary to help you and tell this all to god , talk to your preist , receive commuion to help you strength your faith and be open minded about this . Read the bible is important ! Best to read the nt and even on this site there are lots of resources to help you or visit www.catholicscomehome.org might help also it may not be a leap it could be gradual process !
Hope I’ve helped your in my prayers , chuck
 
If you don’t question, you can never grow. Think about children and the eternal “why.” I had the same problems. I think the satan fights stonger for those who have the potential to really make a difference or be a really strong Christian. Ask God for that thirst and joy and for what you’re missing. It may take a while, but if you open your heart, God will give you what you’ve been missing. I am praying for you. Inbox me if you need a specific prayer request or anything else.
 
Matthew_Ruiz said:
Well I have battled with my faith for quite a while now. I remember the first time I started doubting what I had been taught was when I was only ten years old. I am 14 now and still battle with my doubts. I have looked at so many arguments and so many stories about miracles and things like that that it seems God and catholicism must be true. It seemsik the early gospel tradition couldn’t have changed so much in such a short period of Timor but still my doubts come to haunt me. I feel like enough evidence exists, but I just cant make the leap. I just cant FULLY believe. I can kinda believe, but thats not good enough. I want tge belief of so many great saints like Padre Pio but for some reason i just cant find it in me. I want it to be real so badly but am afraid it may not be Ive put to much effort and to much time to take no for an answer. But this is what kind of gets to me. That my desire for it to be true may over shadow reality but then i just grt stuck in an endless cycle of “well what about this particular miracle or this particular saint” I jusy want peace and the only way i believe i can acheive that is by believing in God. If youve managed to read through this rambling i thank you and please answer. I eed this.
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a few things.

When we say we have faith, we do not mean that we have faith in a creed. We mean that we have faith in a person. Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, God the Father.

This is not blind faith. This is like the faith a child has in his mother and father.

We can not make ourselves have faith. What faith we have we have by Grace.
 
Thank you for being honest and courageous in talking about your struggling with having faith. It is something that comes by grace and is easier for some than others. Did you know Mother Theresa herself struggled mightily with doubt?

If you never doubt, I don’t think you ever truly believe, so take these doubts as a gift to push you towards what you know to be true.

Second the Acts of Charity, Hope and Faith. You cannot err praying these daily or more often. If prayer is difficult for you, then start with conversation. When you read Scripture, talk to the Lord about it. Think about how He spoke with His disciples, and how they learned to approach Him.

And meditate upon Mark 9:24.
 
Doubt is a normal part of thought. Prayer is a wonderful way to open up your heart to the faith you desire. Keep at it and pray hard.
 
Your commitment is being tested. Keep the faith. When doubts assail you practice playing guitar, read a history book, go for a run, draw a picture, sing a song, do something. Do something to ignore those doubts. Most of all, Do not be afraid, the Lord is faithful and will not abandon you.
 
You have already received some excellent advice on this thread…some of it from very wise people your age.
The best course of action in these cases is usually the simplest. Apart from prayer, shut off your computor and go over to your nearest rectory. Ask to see a priest and tell them exactly what you have posted here. Take a print out if you need. He will be able to help you
Don’t be shy, embarrased, or afraid, priests handle this sort of thing every day.
 
Matthew_Ruiz said:
Well I have battled with my faith for quite a while now…
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Don’t worry. Doubt is one of the devils tactics. He never attacks someone who is not very dear to God. As you know, he might seem strong, but he is not dangerous. All power is in Gods hands if we only allow Him to help us. Tell God about your doubt and ask for His Grace to overcome the doubts. Attacks from the devil is not the same as being possessed, so don’t be frightened. **Remember that faith is not a feeling. It’s a decision!
**
So here is what I do when I sometimes start doubting: I pray, then I go to confession and confess that I’m doubting. That surely helps, because when one is going to confession one wants to be honest. With the confession comes forgiveness, Gods Grace and the advice of the priest.

Use holy water to bless yourself every day, and set apart some time to pray every day. If necessary, use timer to remind you. Holy water can be found available in many catholic churches. If you can’t find it in your church, it’s OK to buy a bottle of water and let the priest bless it.

A lot of people find that praying the Rosary helps (one decade or more).

Hope this was of some comfort!

Be well and God bless!
 
We are not instantly a saint or an atheist in one choice. Keep the little steps going toward what is good and right. Seek advise along the way as others have said. Pushing all doubt out of your mind in a short time isn’t likely.

Particularly when the teen age brain is in the midst of forming. Many Dr.'s are saying that the brain is still in flux up until as old as 21 and teens really don’t have the capacity for deciding things like marriage that require a lifelong commitment. If you put deciding your faith into this kind of decision it would be very reasonable to be feeling that you are “over your head”. Don’t make it that if you are not ready.
 
Here’s a good prayer:

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of Earth. Let us Pray. O God, who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

When I’m feeling doubtful, I ask for wisdom and strength.
 
I won’t say that I can fully empathize with what you are going through. All I can say is that I am praying for you and that you should pray as well, no prayer is ever wasted. I think that Saint Joseph is the patron saint of those who struggle with doubts. You might want to try praying for his intercession.
 
I think those were my exact words when talking with my spiritual director today…“I know it, but internally I don’t really believe it”
but I want to! I just can’t bring myself to a full giving to it…“what if it isn’t fully true?” “what if there’s that chance of being no heaven (or no God, or no true Church, etc) and what if it’s all for zilch?” I want to give myself to it so much but those questions haunt me and scare me from believing 100%. But I will share what my spiritual director said today (summarizing of course), See, you’re bumping up with the reality of that “what if I’ll be left empty or wandering” but that’s where love comes in, a total giving of self. There’s always that risk. (and this was at another time ->)Don’t see this as a bad thing, see it as a challenge from God that He wants to strengthen your faith to bring you closer to Him… just know that He will and that He always will do whatever is asked of him in “My Name” (that of Jesus).

Remember: Faith, hope, love, and all other virtues come by GRACE. It is only through God’s grace that you enter into that. Give Him permission to strengthen your faith, hope and love by praying for it.

OH, and a little quote to encourage you on the road of sanctity: “A saint? The thought struck me as a little weird. I said: ‘How do you expect me to become a saint?’ ‘By wanting to,’ said Lax, simply…'All that is necessary to be a saint is to want to be one. Don’t you believe God will make you what He created you to be, if you consent to let Him do it? All you have to do is desire it.” and a Saint quote (I can’t remember which Saint it is though…) “All one must do to become a saint is to will it”
that might be a couple different words but you get the point…👍 Be courageous!

EDIT: Oh and also, make acts of faith, hope, and love daily! An act of humility is always good too. Search for the answers, if there’s a particular thing bothering you about what is taught by the Catholic Church look it up! Ask a priest, study it! But studying without praying for Faith is fruitless, so make sure you do both 🙂
 
Matthew_Ruiz said:
Well I have battled with my faith for quite a while now. I remember the first time I started doubting what I had been taught was when I was only ten years old. I am 14 now and still battle with my doubts. I have looked at so many arguments and so many stories about miracles and things like that that it seems God and catholicism must be true. It seemsik the early gospel tradition couldn’t have changed so much in such a short period of Timor but still my doubts come to haunt me. I feel like enough evidence exists, but I just cant make the leap. I just cant FULLY believe. I can kinda believe, but thats not good enough. I want tge belief of so many great saints like Padre Pio but for some reason i just cant find it in me. I want it to be real so badly but am afraid it may not be Ive put to much effort and to much time to take no for an answer. But this is what kind of gets to me. That my desire for it to be true may over shadow reality but then i just grt stuck in an endless cycle of “well what about this particular miracle or this particular saint” I jusy want peace and the only way i believe i can acheive that is by believing in God. If youve managed to read through this rambling i thank you and please answer. I eed this.
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I’m not sure if this is what you wanted, but I’ll try to help 🙂 I’ve had this same feeling too, sometimes I feel so strong in faith and other times I feel like I’ve all too suddenly been disillusioned. But then I stop myself and tell myself these aren’t healthy thoughts to have. Say a little prayer asking for forgiveness and remember that you can’t know 100%, because if you did, we’d all be saved. It’s kind of like communism, nice in theory but it just doesn’t happen that way. I’ve included some evidence below if that’s what you wanted, but either way, I commend you for trying to find the faith at your age. I was doing horrible things when I was 14, so good on you for not making my mistakes

Some points:
  1. According to the BBT, the big bang happened when the mass of ‘nothing’ was compressed into its center point. This non-existence (exploded?) and everything was made. However, it has been proven that if an object (any object) were compressed into its center point, (I think it’s called a singularity?) It would create a black hole. Funny how black holes destroy and these people believe they create 👍
  2. (Original idea from a YouTube video, I am just changing the example a bit) If you put a penny on a lazy Susan, and spin the lazy Susan clockwise, the penny will ‘fly’ off and continue to spin clockwise. This must also be true of the BBT, however, two planets spin backwards.
  3. (This one is observable so scientists will like this) Things produce after their own kind. There may be variations, but not a new organism. A beagle and a highland terrier may have a new dog ‘hybrid’, but it will always be a dog.
  4. There is no explanation for the evolution of male and female. How did “goo” manage to self-replicate into a male and a female? How did “goo” split itself once into a male, and then again into a female?
    a) Even if “goo” copied itself once into a male, and again into a female, there would be nothing for the offspring to breed with. The offspring could not have bred with each other, look at white tigers.
    b) Even if the male goo and female goo did breed, there would be serious problems that would result in the weakening of the gene pool until (after any amount of time) the offspring would not be able to survive in a “survival of the fittest” world.
 
Matthew_Ruiz said:
Well I have battled with my faith for quite a while now. I remember the first time I started doubting what I had been taught was when I was only ten years old. I am 14 now and still battle with my doubts. I have looked at so many arguments and so many stories about miracles and things like that that it seems God and catholicism must be true. It seemsik the early gospel tradition couldn’t have changed so much in such a short period of Timor but still my doubts come to haunt me. I feel like enough evidence exists, but I just cant make the leap. I just cant FULLY believe. I can kinda believe, but thats not good enough. I want tge belief of so many great saints like Padre Pio but for some reason i just cant find it in me. I want it to be real so badly but am afraid it may not be Ive put to much effort and to much time to take no for an answer. But this is what kind of gets to me. That my desire for it to be true may over shadow reality but then i just grt stuck in an endless cycle of “well what about this particular miracle or this particular saint” I jusy want peace and the only way i believe i can acheive that is by believing in God. If youve managed to read through this rambling i thank you and please answer. I eed this.
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You’re a young guy and I’m impressed with your spirituality already. You’re in a battle and you have to just continue practicing your faith by receiving the sacraments and prayer. One thing I did when I doubted is to believe in what the church teaches through Obedience. Accept it do not let doubt take over and, in a few years, you will begin seeing the truth.
 
Matthew_Ruiz said:
Well I have battled with my faith for quite a while now. I remember the first time I started doubting what I had been taught was when I was only ten years old. I am 14 now and still battle with my doubts. I have looked at so many arguments and so many stories about miracles and things like that that it seems God and catholicism must be true. It seemsik the early gospel tradition couldn’t have changed so much in such a short period of Timor but still my doubts come to haunt me. I feel like enough evidence exists, but I just cant make the leap. I just cant FULLY believe. I can kinda believe, but thats not good enough. I want tge belief of so many great saints like Padre Pio but for some reason i just cant find it in me. I want it to be real so badly but am afraid it may not be Ive put to much effort and to much time to take no for an answer. But this is what kind of gets to me. That my desire for it to be true may over shadow reality but then i just grt stuck in an endless cycle of “well what about this particular miracle or this particular saint” I jusy want peace and the only way i believe i can acheive that is by believing in God. If youve managed to read through this rambling i thank you and please answer. I eed this.
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You mentioned tradition. Then about this miracle or that story of a saint.
I’m getting the impression that the problem is accepting stories and miracles in the lives of the saints. That you are in an endless spiral of questions about them. I believe I am correct in saying that you do not have to believe in any story or miracles with regard to modern saints. I do not believe that is absolutely required. What is required is that all the saints in heaven, and those holy people in purgatory, and the people in the church on earth, form on body in Christ. But the individual stories and miracles are of a different nature and do not require an absolute faith.
Except for those saints mentioned in the bible. For example St. Stephen who was martyred.

As far as St. Pio’s stories and miracles, I do not think this is required of us to believe absolutely every story and miracle. But it is required to believe that he is in heaven since the church has declared him to be a saint.

Narrow it down to a specific question if you can. Then look at each item you may be having trouble with. For example, confession, or mass, or something else.
Then explain how you are having trouble with it if you can.

Then we can help you understand it.

Hope to hear from you.
 
To the dude above me,
It’s not whether these stories are true. That certainly serves evidence for God though. My main problem is that I am a little unsure about the existence of God. I use the saints and miracles as proof. So I figure If I can prove these miracles to be true, that should serve as sufficient evidence for the existence of God.
 
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