Losing Faith

[Bookcat]

“In the vision of the Book of Revelation this prayer of petition is portrayed by an important detail: “the 24 elders” and “the four living beings” hold in their hands, together with the harp that accompanies their singing, “golden bowls full of incense” (5:8a) which, as is explained “are the prayers of the saints” (5:8b), namely, of those who have already reached God but also of all of us who are journeying on. And we see that in front of God’s throne an angel is holding a golden censer in his hand into which he continues to put grains of incense, that is our prayer, whose sweet fragrance is offered together with the prayers that rise to God (cf. Rev 8:1-4). It is a symbolism that tells us how all our prayers — with every possible limitation, effort, poverty, dryness and imperfection they may have — are so to speak purified and reach God’s heart. In other words we can be sure that there is no such thing as superfluous or useless prayers; no prayer is wasted. And prayers are answered, even if the answer is sometimes mysterious…”

~ Pope Benedict XVI Audience 2012

 

[lelhajj]

There is too much evil in this world. That is true. But we must continue praying and as one member said: we can also make lots of good actions through the day. We do what is within our reach and what is not within our reach, we pray for them.
It is like the evil trying to discourage us from praying, from believing. Let’s not get discouraged. When you are in pain, in trouble, it is like testing our faith. The more problems we face, the more we hold into our prayers, the more we believe and trust in The Lord.
I have reflected on the same subject, but I let my discourage aside and I pray more strongly.without God, without faith, without good actions, there is nothing in this world that can help us throughout the day, specially through the bad days.

 

[ClearWater]

As tough as life is with faith and hope, can you just imagine how hard it’d be without God?

“What we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things.”
Mother Teresa quotes

In your small corner of the world, you be that Good Samaritan and make a difference.

God is able to make good come out of even the worst evil, believe it or not. Look at he was able to do with Christ’s crucifixion. He turned even death into life! He turned it into a moment of his greatest glory!

And, as to prayer, it is VERY powerful. It can release souls from purgatory, convert sinners, do so much more, but it’s only as good as the belief that accompanies it. God says that nothing is impossible for him.

When it doesn’t happen, it’s not that he couldn’t, but there are other reasons.

If you need to take a break from watching the news with all its negativity and such videos for a time till your faith feels strong enough that you could withstand all this, you could try that.

Maybe also not watch videos right now that are “downers”. Watch inspirational, motivational movies that will help you work your way out of these feelings, lift you up. Even watch ones based on true stories so that you will see that it’s actually not true about there being no good left in the world. It just doesn’t always make the headlines.

Also, offer up all of your sufferings up to God. Suffering is also something that’s extraordinarily powerful. Did you realize that saints prayed for it? St. Faustina said that if angels were capable of envy, they’d envy too things, the Eucharist and suffering!

The saints have come across things as bad as what you witnessed. Watch “Rita of Cascia” and others. She was only able to make a difference, because, despite all of that, she kept hope and faith.

Never give up! NEVER! Always hope.

I’m listening to my advice to you, realizing I needed to hear it…for myself, since I’ve despaired, too!

 

[Polycarp1]

Well the thing about Faith is that we often base it on feelings or emotions when we shouldn’t. Faith is acting on what we know, not what we feel. Faith is like muscle, it won’t grow unless we exercise it. When we pray for an increase in Faith the Lord leads us into “the desert”. He doesn’t leave us, in fact it is during these times when He is actually closest to us, but he allows us to flail around without the comfort of emotional, warm and fuzzy feelings we enjoy when we are feeling all holy. The bible is full of stories of “faith crisis’s” and people calling out to God from the depths of their deserts. So be assured that even though you feel alone the Holy Spirit is with you and working in you. The Lord will bring you out when He wants and you will be spiritually stronger. You have prayed for a deepening of Faith and the desert is an answer to your prayer, so don’t despair and keep praising God even if your prayers feel empty. They’re not!

We don’t always realise the effect of our prayers here on earth. We don’t know what a situation would have been like without our prayers. We know by faith that God hears us and that all things work for good for those who love the Lord.

 

[Beryllos]

But wouldn’t I be sticking my head in the sand. I don’t see suffering and therefore it does not exist. I did not PURPOSEFULLY go out to see this kind of video but a friend posted it and there it is. The news is also all around me. I could choose not to watch the news but then I am being sort of Pollyanna-ish…

Sure, you can keep up with the news, but I recommend that you avoid TV news, which is too sensational, selective, and distorted… and gripping for many viewers. They put the bombing, the school shooting, the high-speed police chase, the sex scandal, the political posturing, etc., right up front, perhaps leading you to believe that the world is totally rotten.

Choose your news sources to get the information you need (or feel you need) without the emphasis on death and corruption. For a more balanced perspective, I read the news online at BBC News. No matter if you live in the US (not sure where you live), they cover US news very well. BBC covers the bad news too, but they tend to avoid sensationalism.

I also suggest you limit your news-watching hours. Do not watch first thing in the morning, which is an important time for quiet prayer, reflection, and planning. Do not watch just before bedtime; I used to do that and it caused me some anxiety and insomnia.

I pray that the Holy Spirit may strengthen your faith in God, restore your faith in the goodness of all creation, including humanity, and bring you peace.

 

[tawny]

I have been struggling the past few weeks with my faith. My belief in the power of prayer is gone. My prayers feel empty and useless as I have seen no change. I remember seeing how long many of the Patriarchs waited until their prayers were answered. I try and remember St. Monica and how she persevered in prayer. Many of personal petitions have not been answered but what REALLY is bugging me are the petitions that I have made for other people or different parts of the world even (Syria and Egypt). If multiple people are praying for those countries shouldn’t a change have occurred already in those peoples lives? I am starting to call bollocks on the good that prayer does. To cement this belief I just watched a video that was so awful about why humans are lost and in it they showed a 2 year old baby girl get run over several times with people just walking right by seeing but doing nothing. One person picks the girl up eventually and pulls her to the side of the road but does nothing after. The 2 year old eventually died. I think of my own child and my heart breaks in TWO. Now first of all, it is sad that no one helped the child. There was no good Samaritan there. But, the next issue just shows that there is SOOOOOOOO much evil in the world and god seems absent. I want to help and I try and pray for help but none comes. I have prayed for many years for many different issues and people and nothing ever changes and in some cases things have gotten worse. I am despairing and that is a sin. How can I keep the faith? I feel so sick after seeing that video and at the same time powerless…worse things are happening every day and nothing ever changes. :crying:

Praying for you.

 

[HumblePilgrim]

Sure, you can keep up with the news, but I recommend that you avoid TV news, which is too sensational, selective, and distorted… and gripping for many viewers. They put the bombing, the school shooting, the high-speed police chase, the sex scandal, the political posturing, etc., right up front, perhaps leading you to believe that the world is totally rotten.

Choose your news sources to get the information you need (or feel you need) without the emphasis on death and corruption. For a more balanced perspective, I read the news online at BBC News. No matter if you live in the US (not sure where you live), they cover US news very well. BBC covers the bad news too, but they tend to avoid sensationalism.

I also suggest you limit your news-watching hours. Do not watch first thing in the morning, which is an important time for quiet prayer, reflection, and planning. Do not watch just before bedtime; I used to do that and it caused me some anxiety and insomnia.

I pray that the Holy Spirit may strengthen your faith in God, restore your faith in the goodness of all creation, including humanity, and bring you peace.

I think you are right. My heart just can’t take it anymore. I am very attuned to people’s suffering. I FEEL it too deeply. My husband says I am too sensitive. But, yes, I think part of the reason is that there has been so much violence in the news of late and I just cannot understand humans. I feel like I am descending into Gnostic heresy believing that most humans are evil. I just cannot understand the CRUELTY that people inflict on one another.

A sabbatical from news probably is best even though it will be hard for me. And I will keep on praying I guess although I am still not convinced unfortunately because I am just not seeing any results.

Thank you for sending me those links on prayer. I will keep persevering. Maybe this is a Dark Night of the Soul.

 

[Bookcat]

A sabbatical from news probably is best even though it will be hard for me. And I will keep on praying I guess although I am still not convinced unfortunately because I am just not seeing any results.
l.

Interestingly for you – the Carthusians (Into Great Silence)-who live a totally contemplative life --and intercede for the world as part of their life – are very strict as to what each Monk will allow into his mind…they do not use of course the internet or have tv …but even beyond that they discipline themselves regarding other news etc. The Prior of course will let them know various things that are going on --and they have a broad where prayer requests etc are posted -but they are still strict …and turn instead towards the Lord.

as their Statutes note:

“We should not allow our minds to wander through the world in search of news and gossip; on the contrary, our part is to remain hidden in the shelter of the Lord’s presence.”

“The heart, however, is not narrowed but enlarged by intimacy with God, so that it is able to embrace in him the hopes and difficulties of the world, and the great causes of the Church, of which it is fitting that monks should have some knowledge. Nevertheless our concern for the welfare of men, if it is true, should express itself, not by the satisfying of our curiosity, but by our remaining closely united to Christ. Let each one, therefore, listen to the Spirit within him, and determine what he can admit into his mind without harm to interior converse with God.”

chartreux.org/en/index.php

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi janes,

I understand what you are trying to say. You seem like a very sensitive soul. I am like that too, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I feel very saddened by what I see happening in this world, too.

Sometimes I just stop listening to the news. I literally have to turn it off. I can’t handle listening to all of the violence, the fighting, etc. I don’t want to hear about it anymore. I don’t want to listen to my local news, either. Same thing–someone was murdered, etc.

It is all heart-breaking. It doesn’t mean that I don’t care, because I DO. I pray for everyone like you do. But sometimes we need a break from listening to the news or looking at it, because it overwhelms us. Sometimes I just start to cry over these news stories, because of the evil that overcomes people to commit all of this violence.

Do your personal prayers make a difference? I believe that they do. I believe that everyone’s prayers make a difference, but in ways that we may just not be able to see. So, don’t give up on your prayers. Don’t stop praying.

Hang on to your faith. If you feel that your faith is starting to slip and you feel discouraged, ask Our Lord and His Mother to help you. You can pray a simple prayer like, “Lord, help me, I feel discouraged with my faith today.”

God bless you, dear one. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Bookcat]

“…we can be sure that there is no such thing as superfluous or useless prayers; no prayer is wasted”

~ Pope Benedict XVI Audience 2012

 

[ynotzap]

This man’s inhumanity to man is common in every generation. Humanity is cursed because of Adams fall. We lost the Spirit of love, and holiness. Humanity is handicapped. Jesus was sent to us to free us from the works of Satan, he is a murderer and a liar. He has control of those that do not turn to the Savior for a new life in grace. We are in bondage to the evils of the world, and to our own sin and weakness. What you observe is this bondage. Our Faith in Jesus is the salvation of the world. It is He who defeated Satan, and sets us free from this bondage. Prayer is always heard but not necessarily by us, faith is tested. We are reminded by the Word of God to pray always. The world needs Jesus. Thats why evangelization is so needed “The Good News that is Jesus Christ” who came to set us free from evil. There is no other Savior. In Jesus we have Hope, and with Hope we can have peace and even joy. I know how hard it is to understand this but "God wouldn’t allow these things to happen if He could not draw good from them, after all who has known the mind of the Lord. Suffering is so hard to understand, and so distasteful unless the Holy Spirit enlightens us. He does this by understanding Christ’s own sufferings, and the sufferings of the Saints. Some of them couldn’t suffer enough for Him, a mystery of love. So be strong of heart, ask Jesus for the strength, and praise Him inspite of what you witness, believe it or not, He is in full control.