Is failure in our secular life ever a symptom of failure in our spiritual life?

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goodcatholic

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I’m thinking when our life takes a turn for the worse. it might be a cancer scare, losing our job, bankruptcy, death of a loved one or just poor relations with other people, …to name a few. When is trouble and strife in our life, a sign that our relationship with God is below par or even non-existent?
I’ve quit a job in the past out of boredom and stress and had no job lined up to take its place. I was a year out of work and really struggled financially. I think if had I a stronger bond with Jesus Christ, I may not have made such a hasty decision.
I am of the opinion now, that if I have a quality and quantity prayer life, my secular issues will be less of a burden. In fact many will disappear. Am I deluded? Is this similar to a “prosperity gospel” mode of thinking?
 
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Great question…yes, could be.

A marriage may fail because one hasn’t done sufficient examination/resolution/work with God to root out some vice that may create terrible difficulties in a marriage.

But I don’t think it’s true that God punishes us with failures…he may allow a situation to develop as with the Prodigal Son so that eventually “come to our senses” and make amends/corrections/ask for forgiveness/grace.
 
Yes it is possible.

But you quit out of boredom AND stress? That’s gotta be a story
 
When i read the beatitudes i get the idea that Jesus has a very different idea of what ‘failure’ is than secular people do.
 
I’ve always believed that the more God asks you to suffer, the more He loves you 😇
Just my $.02
 
Psychae said:
the more God asks you to suffer, the more He loves you
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My wife got cancer a few years ago. (seems to have recovered now). She’s an agnostic but finds these kinds of comments trite and lacking in empathy.
I will tell you what I think when and if I get cancer.
 
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Le_Bonvivant said:
Jesus has a very different idea of what ‘failure’ is than secular people do.
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Yes I think he does. But for example, would he be happy if we interpreted “turn the other cheek” to mean we should act like doormats and let others walk over us?
 
I tend to agree with this. It might sound like the core of “prosperity gospel” but it seems to me, God blesses us with grace, if we stay loyal and true to Him.
My father lived a very humble spiritual life. Yet he was blessed with many children and a wonderful family life. He had challenges but God gave him the grace to face them.
 
goodcatholic said:
these kinds of comments trite and lacking in empathy.
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I’m terribly sorry if it came off that way. I have not been without suffering in my life, some of it quite severe, to the point that I have C-PTSD, debilitating anxiety and panic attacks, chronic physical health problems, and chronic pain. The knowledge that God loves me enough to ask me to suffer with Him is very comforting to me. I didn’t mean to be trite or lacking in empathy.
 
I’ve found it’s not that the problems go away, it’s that we either don’t see them as problems or we are better equipped to deal with them in a healthy and proactive manner. It’s a little like being in physical shape. We all may not have physically demanding jobs or past times that keep us in condition, but eventually we all need to move house, hang some pictures, try to help push someone out of a ditch or just play around with the kids or dog or whatever, and those activities wouldn’t be nearly as taxing if we’d taken some exercise.

Some problems, like those that grow from the roots of sin, should go away. But others might present themself because your interior life is progressing, like when you start to notice certain friends maybe aren’t the best influence on you. Or you might start to see a favorite show isn’t conducive to the godly life you’re trying to lead.
 
RKS89 said:
I’ve found it’s not that the problems go away, it’s that we either don’t see them as problems or we are better equipped to deal with them in a healthy and proactive manner.
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Outside the Christian paradigm, you could say it is just maturity. Growing up. It is something I find elusive. 🙂
 
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