I'm sad...

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laircy

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Sorry, I don’t know what forum to put this in.

I just realized that all my good friends are atheists. It’s really depressing to me. We’re all only teenagers so I know they still have their lives ahead of them, but I’m afraid they don’t seem to be on a path that would let them find God—who am I to judge, though… And it would be weird to randomly start talking to them about this. I pray that God will let them come to the truth, but lately none of my prayers, even those that are not about this, seem to get answered (at least, with something other than a ‘no’). I’m just worried for them.
 
However, God has given you an answer in the wonderful grace of desiring others’ true good and in the desire to pray for them.
This is a wonderful gift God has given you,
part of His own spirit and love in concern for others’ souls.
God may not have given you what you asked for but He has given what He wanted to give you,
to love others as you love yourself in prayer and sensitivity.
 
Laircy, for some hardened atheist and for some for whom the idea of God is ludicrous, conversion will likely take a life-time. Don’t pray only for overnight miraculous conversions, but pray for God to soften and open their hearts to himself. In my life, I grew very angry, bitter, and far with/from God. I’m on the way back to God, still have a long way to go, and I pray this very often. that God makes me open to himself, that he puts me in a situation/circumstances where I will lower my guard (I’ve had a very tough life and I’ve had to harden my heart quite a bit, so that may not entirely apply to your friends). I wish you success in your endeavour. You could aslo pray for Catholic friends if you miss being able to relate on a deeper level with your friends (not saying atheists are superficial, but you know what I’m saying).
 
“Listen to me, devout children, and blossom
like the rose that grows on the bank of a watercourse.
Give off a sweet smell like incense,
flower like the lily; spread your fragrance abroad,
sing a song of praise
blessing the Lord for all His works.

Declare the greatness of His name,
proclaim His praise
with song and lyre,
and this is how you must sing God’s wonderful praises:
how wonderful they are, all the works of the Lord!
All that He orders is promptly carried out.

You must not say, “What is this? “Why is that?”
All will be studied in due time…
At His bidding, all His pleasure is accomplished,
no one can diminish His power to save.
The actions of every creature are before Him,
there is no hiding from His eyes;
His gaze stretches from eternity to eternity,
and nothing can astonish Him.

You must not say, ‘What is this? Why is that?’
All things have been created for their proper purpose.” [Ecclesiasticus 39:13-26]

**On others’ behalf **

Dear Jesus, remembering that You died and rose once for all souls, with You, I pray concurrently for each person You place in my life, for each member of my family—earthly and spiritual. I commit them totally to You so that Your love becomes the source of all their thoughts and actions.

For all who cannot at this time in their lives pray or believe, I ask You to accept my prayers, my sacramental participation, and my acts of kindness to be theirs also. In Your infinite love, draw them speedily to Yourself in joy and peace!
 
The prophets intercede with God for their people

Our God, I emulate Moses and Abraham in praying for my dear ones, for the Church, for priests, and for numerous others throughout the world, whether or not followers of Jesus or members of His Church.

This temporal world obscures the spiritual world, thus many good people sincerely do not believe in You. Life is complex and challenging, as the people of Abraham and Moses knew. They turned aside from a God who seemed unresponsive to some of their genuine needs for security and progress. A natural human response is to move away from pain of hope in God and religion. The Jews desired a manageable, tangible God, as even do some of Your modern followers.

When You sent Moses back to the people, determined to bring Your wrath against them for displacing their God and Rescuer with a statue, Moses argued with You to spare them. Moses, scripture tells us, was ‘the humblest man on earth’, yet he won in the argument for mercy, and Your wrath therefore did not come against his people. They remained the chosen people of God.

Like Moses and Abraham, I humbly bargain for the eternal happiness of my dear ones, and of all benevolent unbelievers. In their sincere choices to be considerate in the relationships and events of their lives, they effectively choose to stand with the sheep at the last judgement—that yardstick by which Jesus, Your beloved Son, measures charity. I plead the judgement story of Jesus for my dear ones and for all unbelievers who offer kindness to others.

Bless and flood them with Your love, goodness and truth. Bring them to love and worship You. Let them merit a final judgement with the ‘good sheep’. Transform them into the image of Christ, following His path. Restore anyone whom they have wounded or failed. Grant that they live the Gospel in love and forgiveness.

Thank You for the beauty and goodness in the lives of my dear ones and of all persons. Thank You for the love and service they give others and therefore Yourself, even where they are unconscious of this union in Your love. March 2005
 
laircy said:
Sorry, I don’t know what forum to put this in.

I just realized that all my good friends are atheists. It’s really depressing to me. We’re all only teenagers so I know they still have their lives ahead of them, but I’m afraid they don’t seem to be on a path that would let them find God—who am I to judge, though… And it would be weird to randomly start talking to them about this. I pray that God will let them come to the truth, but lately none of my prayers, even those that are not about this, seem to get answered (at least, with something other than a ‘no’). I’m just worried for them.
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I understand. I’m in the same situation. Lead by example and always be ready to give a reason for your faith. You never know when the time will arise to defend your beliefs. And even if you try to evangelize them and they don’t change, remain hopeful. Who knows, you may be the one God uses to put the seed in their soul that ultimately leads your friends to Him.

In my experience, atheist friends have helped me in the sense that they’ve forced me to investigate my faith instead of just floating along, and it has strengthened me.

Trust in God, and don’t give up on them! I’ll say a prayer for you and your friends.
 
God bless you, laircy, for praying for them. Be reassured that God is not answering these prayers with a “no.” God is showering them with grace, and softening their hearts bit by bit. He won’t take away their free will, but he is helping them. It just takes time.

I’ve been praying for some atheist friends since college. (I did not graduate from college in this century.) (Wow, now that I said that, I feel REALLY old.) Anyway, I have faith that my prayers will not be in vain and may make a difference, even if it is only on their death-beds.

Your prayers have value, even if you never see that value. They are the best thing you can do for your friends. The next best thing you can do is show them a good example of charity and joy in your daily life.

–Jen
 
Thank you for the replies. They really do help. I’m not gonna give up hope.
 
revert_jen said:
God bless you, laircy, for praying for them. Be reassured that God is not answering these prayers with a “no.” God is showering them with grace, and softening their hearts bit by bit. He won’t take away their free will, but he is helping them. It just takes time.

I’ve been praying for some atheist friends since college. (**I did not graduate from college in this century.) **(Wow, now that I said that, I feel REALLY old.) Anyway, I have faith that my prayers will not be in vain and may make a difference, even if it is only on their death-beds.

Your prayers have value, even if you never see that value. They are the best thing you can do for your friends. The next best thing you can do is show them a good example of charity and joy in your daily life.

–Jen
Click to expand...
Hi Jen, try “millenium” instead of “century”😛
 
laircy said:
I just realized that all my good friends are atheists. . . .] I’m just worried for them.
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If you believe in a god who is good and just in any conventional sense, I don’t think you would have much of a reason to be worried about them not believing he exists. Such a being wouldn’t torture any of your friends for simply not believing he exists.
 
Laircy, I think it’s great that a) you’re hanging in there, and b) it isn’t harming your faith.

I agree with the previous posters’ comments.

I heard a (non-Catholic) sermon once about people who want to change jobs because they are working with people who aren’t Christian. She said, “hello, maybe God put you there to be the only light in their worlds.” It is easy to keep the faith when around others that agree with us, but it is yet another thing to keep the faith around those who most need to see and converse with a Good Example of Christianity. Seems like Jesus spent a lot of time hanging around the latter.

I wish you the best, and will keep you in mind during prayer. 🙂

Alan
 
TruthSeeker60 said:
If you believe in a god who is good and just in any conventional sense, I don’t think you would have much of a reason to be worried about them not believing he exists. Such a being wouldn’t torture any of your friends for simply not believing he exists.
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Well, Christianity is not conventional and the way you understand good and evil perhaps has nothing to do with who God is and how he difines these things. Just a thought.

OP,
continue praying for your friends but also try and find people who share your faith. It makes a huge difference to spend time with people you can connect with at a deeper level. They will help you grow in faith, which is crucial. Having Catholic friends has made a huge difference in my life and it has made it easier for me to relate to atheists as well.
 
Laircy, I completely understand your situation. Some of my closest friends are atheists as well. Just keep praying for them; it truly is the best thing you can do. And while you’re at it, pray for some Catholic friends too!👍
 
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