I need help believing in Christ

[guanophore]

I’ve already made a thread about it, but I can’t seem to find it, but I’m having trouble again.

First I want to commend you for coming back, and continuing to struggle with your faith walk. This type of persistence reflects a deep desire to be closer to God.

Second, I think your first thread might be here:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=679743

You can click on your name, then the “find all posts by” link to bring up any posts you have made. You can also use the “profile” link at the top of the forum. One of the options there is “view subscribed threads”. Any thread you start, or post in, will automatically be added so it is an easy way to find your stuff.

There is some good advice on that thread, so it might be a good time to read it again.

I don’t know why but I pray every night. It seems like it gets harder and harder to pray because the though constantly comes back into my mind.
“Is he real?”

This is a natural outgrowth of our efforts to know and serve the Lord more fully. Whenever we grow closer to Him, the enemy attacks even more vigorously. A passionate disciple is a threat to the devil. One who is doubtful and disempowered is not much use to God.

I recommend the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. they will help you understand the favorite spiritual attacks of the devil.

I want to get these out of my head, and I’ve been fighting and fighting and I just need your prayers to help me.

It is much easier to replace thoughts, than to push thoughts out, as they seem to wash right back into the vacuum. Fill your mind with the Scriptures, and you will find that you don’t have to worry about getting them out. Get the New Testament on mp3 and just plug yourself in!

Also, how do you guys believe in Jesus so confidently? Have you ever gotten these thoughts like me?

This has been addressed. Suffice to say that learning to see Jesus in the poor and suffering can be very helpful. He says we will encounter Him in the least of his brethren, so I recommend community service, volunteer work and missions to put you in a position where you can meet Him in those who are in need. This also gets your mind off your own struggles and shortcomings.

 

[xSteven]

First I want to commend you for coming back, and continuing to struggle with your faith walk. This type of persistence reflects a deep desire to be closer to God.

Second, I think your first thread might be here:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=679743

You can click on your name, then the “find all posts by” link to bring up any posts you have made. You can also use the “profile” link at the top of the forum. One of the options there is “view subscribed threads”. Any thread you start, or post in, will automatically be added so it is an easy way to find your stuff.

There is some good advice on that thread, so it might be a good time to read it again.

This is a natural outgrowth of our efforts to know and serve the Lord more fully. Whenever we grow closer to Him, the enemy attacks even more vigorously. A passionate disciple is a threat to the devil. One who is doubtful and disempowered is not much use to God.

I recommend the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. they will help you understand the favorite spiritual attacks of the devil.

It is much easier to replace thoughts, than to push thoughts out, as they seem to wash right back into the vacuum. Fill your mind with the Scriptures, and you will find that you don’t have to worry about getting them out. Get the New Testament on mp3 and just plug yourself in!

This has been addressed. Suffice to say that learning to see Jesus in the poor and suffering can be very helpful. He says we will encounter Him in the least of his brethren, so I recommend community service, volunteer work and missions to put you in a position where you can meet Him in those who are in need. This also gets your mind off your own struggles and shortcomings.

Thank you and I do service. I go to my community church camps (Camp Wow) and I also go on mission trips every year and I love them. I find it that I’m in the best relationship with God on those mission trips and camps. I’m going to keep trying guys, you’ve helped a lot tho. Goodnight.
~Steven

 

[Aloysium]

i would say you have a deep faith because you keep on trying is spite of these doubts,
which may be there to bring into an ever deeper relationship with God, beyond just feelings

on the other hand, your asking here suggests that you may have some way to go;
we’re the middlemen . . . why not ask the Source?

 

[guanophore]

Thank you and I do service. I go to my community church camps (Camp Wow) and I also go on mission trips every year and I love them. I find it that I’m in the best relationship with God on those mission trips and camps. I’m going to keep trying guys, you’ve helped a lot tho. Goodnight.
~Steven

This is great Steven! You also speak of a good principle to follow in the Spiritual life. Notice those activities that nurture your relationship with God, and those that do otherwise. Discipline yourself to build those activities into your life that improve your relationship with God, and avoid those that do not.

Sometimes people underestimate the damaging effects of technology (video games and social media), music, and peers who are not interested in a life with God.

 

[xSteven]

This is great Steven! You also speak of a good principle to follow in the Spiritual life. Notice those activities that nurture your relationship with God, and those that do otherwise. Discipline yourself to build those activities into your life that improve your relationship with God, and avoid those that do not.

Sometimes people underestimate the damaging effects of technology (video games and social media), music, and peers who are not interested in a life with God.

Thank you. Does anyone have videos of like miracles or something that helps show proof that Jesus existed?

 

[CalCatholic]

Thank you. Does anyone have videos of like miracles or something that helps show proof that Jesus existed?

‘The Case for Christ’ by Lee Strobel is a book that helped me a lot to understand the truth of Jesus’ existence and his divinity (when I was exploring Christianity). It is also available in video (and on Netflix). The book is much more detailed than the video!

 

[fred_conty]

Hi Steven,
I don’t wear a green scapular, but rather put it in my wallet. It is small and have had one in my wallet for as long as I can remember. I say the prayer lots, because I know that others carry the scapular and don’t pray the pray, so I say the prayer for them and offer that to Mary in their stead. Now that I am an old man, it means even more to me since a happy death is getting nearer and is very meaningful to me at this point in my life. I trust Mary on this 100% tho I know I have to do my part as well.

I also wear the miraculous medal because it dosen’t wear out or need washing, and I can wear it in any activity without a problem. And I have found that great graces do abound when I pray to her and trust her words to me. I’ve worn one since gradeschool and have never had problems with matters of belief ever. She lives up to her word and take her words to live up to. We are indeed so fortunate to have someone in heaven like Mary to pledge us her special attention.

Wish you the best on those 3 pointers.

 

[guanophore]

Thank you. Does anyone have videos of like miracles or something that helps show proof that Jesus existed?

Why would you believe a video more than what is written in the New Testament?

Yes, there are many validated miracles, but a good skeptic could find reasons to invalidate all of them.

Do you think the millions of people on earth, and throughout the last 2000 years are all just participating in some sort of mass self delusion?

 

[xSteven]

Why would you believe a video more than what is written in the New Testament?

Yes, there are many validated miracles, but a good skeptic could find reasons to invalidate all of them.

Do you think the millions of people on earth, and throughout the last 2000 years are all just participating in some sort of mass self delusion?

I’m going to be 100% honest. My mind doesn’t want to believe it, but my mind asks all these questions.
“What if it was all made up?” “What if it’s fake, and wasting my time” It makes me think that because their are so many religions, but ONE has to be real. How do I know it’s Christianity? How do I know the Bible isn’t just a story?
This is the toughest part for me. When I see proof, it makes me realize it is all real. I don’t know if it’s just me who gets these thoughts but it really stinks, and I’m trying my best to fight through them.
Bless you~

 

[DexUK]

We know the Bible isn’t a fictional story because we have historical documents dating back 2000 years making reference to the Bible and the people within it.

We have what are believed to be the bones of Saint Peter that archaeologists have discovered underneath St Peter’s itself, which show signs of ‘wear’ consistent with the accounts in the Bible.

We have the accounts, not just biblical, of the thousands of martyrs in Rome who died for their religion and those people would have met others who had first hand knowledge of Jesus.

Those who had first hand knowledge sacrificed themselves for their faith. They would not have done so on the basis of a lie or a made-up story.

We have historical records written by people who were not sympathetic to Christianity, making reference to Christ himself at the times when Christ was walking this earth.

We have a continuous line in the Church that stretches back to Christ. A line that is personal - where the papacy is handed on from one person to the next, and these people are all contemporaries of each other. There are no degrees of separation between these people as one takes over the reigns of the church.

The Church is a continuous living tapestry. The first threads were sewn by Christ and thereafter his followers kept on sewing. That tapestry has never stopped being added to.

While I can understand any person will think “what if it’s all nonsense?” (indeed, I doubt there are many of us who haven’t worried about that) if you stop to think about it rationally and logically, you’ll see that there’s nothing to worry about at all.

Remember, at the time of Jesus’s death and resurrection, there weren’t just the 12 Apostles. There were countless Disciples as well. It was, if you like, an ‘inner and outer circle’ and all of these people had first hand knowledge of Jesus. There were simply too many of these real living and breathing people for the story to have been made up. No one person could suddenly generate hundreds of followers of a man who hadn’t actually existed. The man Himself did it, by virtue of his teachings and the miracles he carried out.

We live in a time where we are constantly told to question things and where we are assailed by those who angrily tell us we believe in ‘imaginary friends’ and ‘flying spaghetti monsters’. They are the ones trying to separate you from reality. They are trying to plant doubt in your mind. They are trying to steal from you that which is wholesome, loving and good and then they want to discard it. Don’t let them succeed. We have the knowledge that it was all real. Jesus existed. He lived, breathed, died and came back to life three days later. He did this as a sacrificial offering, once and for all, for the sins of humanity. He preached love, he healed the sick, he comforted the broken hearted. He placed ‘Doubting’ Thomas’s hand inside the wounds he was dealt on the cross.

He ascended into Heaven, and is, as we hear at mass, seated at the right hand of his Father. He WILL come again in glory and majesty and wonder and awe and amazement and love and His kingdom, the one which you belong to, will have no end. It is an unbroken kingdom, 2000+ years old, assailed by evil and those who would destroy it for their own jealous ends, but it lives and breathes now as it did then, and it will continue.

There need be no doubt in your mind.

Jesus Christ IS real.

 

[Holly3278]

I’m going to be 100% honest. My mind doesn’t want to believe it, but my mind asks all these questions.
“What if it was all made up?” “What if it’s fake, and wasting my time” It makes me think that because their are so many religions, but ONE has to be real. How do I know it’s Christianity? How do I know the Bible isn’t just a story?
This is the toughest part for me. When I see proof, it makes me realize it is all real. I don’t know if it’s just me who gets these thoughts but it really stinks, and I’m trying my best to fight through them.
Bless you~

Hello Steven. I don’t mean any offense by this at all but do you suffer from any mental illness such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? I suffer from that and I find that the more I focus on negative thoughts such as doubts, the more persistent they are. You might try distracting yourself when those thoughts come into your mind. Also, you might consider therapy or other mental health help if you do have mental illness or suspect that you might. Again, I mean no offense at all by this. If you do have mental illness, don’t be ashamed because it isn’t something that you asked for and it does happen to millions of people. I have Major Depressive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Also, I would strongly recommend praying the Most Holy Rosary every single day. I would also recommend praying prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel when you experience doubts. I would also get a blessed and properly exorcized Saint Benedict Medal. You can find the proper blessing by Googling “official Saint Benedict Medal blessing”. You might also try a Scapular Medal if your cloth Scapulars keep breaking. The medals tend to be more durable. I would also recommend keeping a supply of Holy Water on hand and bless yourself and your living space frequently with it.

I hope all of this helps.

 

[guanophore]

 I'm going to be 100% honest.  My mind doesn't want to believe it, but my mind asks all these questions.

“What if it was all made up?” “What if it’s fake, and wasting my time” It makes me think that because their are so many religions, but ONE has to be real. How do I know it’s Christianity? How do I know the Bible isn’t just a story?

I appreciate your honesty, xSteven and you have been this way in all your posts/threads.
In your case, I think these doubts are arising from a spiritual attack that has gained a foothold through mortal sin. Certain actions in our lives can open a crack in the mind or heart and make us susceptible to the ravages of the evil one. St. James explains it it this way:

When one has been lured and enticed by desires of the flesh, and succumbs to them, the turning of the heart and mind against God becomes entrenched and has an opportunity to take root.

James 1:13-16
13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved.
xSteven;10239583:

 This is the toughest part for me.  When I see proof, it makes me realize it is all real.  I don't know if it's just me who gets these thoughts but it really stinks, and I'm trying my best to fight through them.

Bless you~

No, it is not just you. The reason the Apostles are so adamant about the disciplines and obedience of the faith is that we require the development of virtures within to combat these types of doubts. If you read Romans 7 you can see that there is a constant battle going on inside of us, the good that God calls forth in us, and the evil desires of the flesh that draw us away from God. We are constantly in a state of battle.

 

[By_His_Mercy]

I’ve already made a thread about it, but I can’t seem to find it, but I’m having trouble again.
I don’t know why but I pray every night. It seems like it gets harder and harder to pray because the though constantly comes back into my mind.
“Is he real?”
“Why and how is he real?”
“Are you just wasting your time?”
I want to get these out of my head, and I’ve been fighting and fighting and I just need your prayers to help me.

Also, how do you guys believe in Jesus so confidently? Have you ever gotten these thoughts like me?

Thank you so much, bless you. Happy Thanksgiving by the way

Hello Steven,

Jesus answered that Himself:

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

It will happen!

God bless you,
BHM

 

[xSteven]

I appreciate your honesty, xSteven and you have been this way in all your posts/threads.
In your case, I think these doubts are arising from a spiritual attack that has gained a foothold through mortal sin. Certain actions in our lives can open a crack in the mind or heart and make us susceptible to the ravages of the evil one. St. James explains it it this way:
xSteven;10239583:

When one has been lured and enticed by desires of the flesh, and succumbs to them, the turning of the heart and mind against God becomes entrenched and has an opportunity to take root.

James 1:13-16
13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved.

No, it is not just you. The reason the Apostles are so adamant about the disciplines and obedience of the faith is that we require the development of virtues within to combat these types of doubts. If you read Romans 7 you can see that there is a constant battle going on inside of us, the good that God calls forth in us, and the evil desires of the flesh that draw us away from God. We are constantly in a state of battle.

Thank you for this, and yes I have committed a mortal sin and that’s when everything went down hill. I really need to get to confession.

 

[guanophore]

Thank you for this, and yes I have committed a mortal sin and that's when everything went down hill.  I really need to get to confession.

It may be that you are one of those rare individuals with an extremely sensitive conscience, and when something like this happens, you will strongly feel it interfering in your relationship with God. Unfortuately, most American Catholics have had their consciences seared, as with a hot iron, and they can no longer feel the distance created between their souls and the Lord when they fall into sin. Give thanks to HIm for the grace to acknowledge this, and that you can sense His presence is far from you and then do as you say RUN to confession.



Confession is a sacrament of healing, and in it you will obtain graces to help you win that ongoing battle every day. Frequent communion is also a source of this spiritual strength.

 

[brb3]

I’m going to be 100% honest. My mind doesn’t want to believe it, but my mind asks all these questions.
“What if it was all made up?” “What if it’s fake, and wasting my time” It makes me think that because their are so many religions, but ONE has to be real. How do I know it’s Christianity? How do I know the Bible isn’t just a story?..
This is the toughest part for me. When I see proof, it makes me realize it is all real. I don’t know if it’s just me who gets these thoughts but it really stinks, and I’m trying my best to fight through them.
Bless you~

Steven…

What are your favorite scripture passages ? Who are your favorite Bible saints, and why do you admire them ?

What proof have u seen so far that is convincing? What more do you need, or wish God to provide ?

 

[xSteven]

Steven…

What are your favorite scripture passages ? Who are your favorite Bible saints, and why do you admire them ?

What proof have u seen so far that is convincing? What more do you need, or wish God to provide ?

My favorite scripture is probably John 3:16 because I’ve heard it my whole life, and really means a lot in just 1 sentence. My favorite Saint’s are Padre Pio and John. This also went back to as a child. I had a religion ed class and my teacher said we are going to find out our Angels name. I was really excited so we said the prayer and she said the first name that pop’s up in your head is his name. I chose him for my confirmation name, because i’ve always prayed to him and he makes me feel comfortable and he makes me feel my messages are getting to Jesus and God, and he was also so close to Jesus just like I am and I will never give up. Padre Pio has been talked about my RE teacher all the time, so he’s always been in my heart and I’ve always prayed to him. He’s given me confidence in Jesus and God when I was having doubts from all of the miracles he had on him like stigmata.

The proof I have seen in my town is again my RE teacher (I’ve known her my whole life so she just not an RE teacher either) but she bought a life size baby Jesus, and she got it blessed and the next day she found a tear in baby Jesus’s left eye, and it just rolled down. It was honestly amazing.

I feel like Jesus doesn’t need to owe me anything. He’s given me life, and the opportunity of Heaven. It’s me that’s the problem.

 

[Miriam1947]

guanophore;10240634:

I appreciate your honesty, xSteven and you have been this way in all your posts/threads.
In your case, I think these doubts are arising from a spiritual attack that has gained a foothold through mortal sin. Certain actions in our lives can open a crack in the mind or heart and make us susceptible to the ravages of the evil one. St. James explains it it this way:

Thank you for this, and yes I have committed a mortal sin and that’s when everything went down hill. I really need to get to confession.

As a scrupulous sinner, confession can be difficult for me.

Nevertheless I went to confession this past Saturday. Yikes! I waited 45 minutes and had all of my sins (of which there are many) all lined out and ready to go.

So what did I do? I just cried. I barely got anything out of my mouth. The priest said I am going to absolve you now. Obviously there was more to it than just that. But somehow, even though I had everything planned out that I was going to say, it didn’t happen that way.

Who knows why? But after confession I felt so forgiven.

 

[brb3]

My favorite scripture is probably John 3:16 because I’ve heard it my whole life, and really means a lot in just 1 sentence. My favorite Saint’s are Padre Pio and John. This also went back to as a child. I had a religion ed class and my teacher said we are going to find out our Angels name. I was really excited so we said the prayer and she said the first name that pop’s up in your head is his name. I chose him for my confirmation name, because i’ve always prayed to him and he makes me feel comfortable and he makes me feel my messages are getting to Jesus and God, and he was also so close to Jesus just like I am and I will never give up. Padre Pio has been talked about my RE teacher all the time, so he’s always been in my heart and I’ve always prayed to him. He’s given me confidence in Jesus and God when I was having doubts from all of the miracles he had on him like stigmata.

The proof I have seen in my town is again my RE teacher (I’ve known her my whole life so she just not an RE teacher either) but she bought a life size baby Jesus, and she got it blessed and the next day she found a tear in baby Jesus’s left eye, and it just rolled down. It was honestly amazing.

I feel like Jesus doesn’t need to owe me anything. He’s given me life, and the opportunity of Heaven. It’s me that’s the problem.

A wonderful testimony ! I really like your kinship to Apostle John. Of all the scriptures, John’s testimony is the most heart-felt and revealing to us, about the nature of Christ. And, we know he always wanted to be close & faithful to Christ, he being one of the top 3 Apostles, Christ’s inner circle, so to speak. And, Jesus chose him to care for Mary, and the earliest Church Fathers testified to the zeal John had for the Church.
And, he lived the longest, and got the high honor of receiving / writing the great Revelation of Christ …to the Churches. Is it any wonder he would be first saint to come to mind ! You made best choice … same as I did, AND ALSO A LOT OF OUR POPES !!!

Now, this is what I’ve done, that was very helpful. Pray to John, to aid you, via grace from Christ, to grow stronger in your faith, more certain of Christ’s sure love for you, just as he GAVE to John. Also, and most especially, pray to Christ, to give you the strength and certitude about the faith that John had. Do this for several months, then send me a PM, and let me know if Christ has not answered those prayers ! Also, read John’s scripture every day during these several months, let his testimony to Christ become internalized within …and soon, the grace to be certain about Christ will be given you.

 

[aidanbradypop]

I will admit that I have had doubted before about if God of the NT is the same as God of the OT. He seems so much different in the two parts. I can say honestly that I have never doubted Jesus Christ. Personally, he has done so much in my life that if I were to doubt him then I would be lying to myself. I have seen his Grace and Mercy overflowing in my life even when I felt that I did not really deserve it. That’s what makes Him SO AMAZING!

Please pray and pray and pray again. I suggest you go to Adoration and sit with our Lord for an hour and really seek him. Those who seek shall find and those who find will bask in his glory!