Not intelligent enough for God?

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Amac1

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I do not feel intelligent enough for God, and for the faith. I in no way expect to be a great theologian or apologist… I want to have a basic understanding of the faith and live it well. But I struggle! I read posts on here or in various other places and people are so wise, and have a multitude of references and quotes to hand. Their knowledge is amazing. I listen to people talking and preaching of the faith, and I am in awe. I feel a million miles away from any of that and at times I don’t know if I have it in me to be a true Christian.

I read of saints who were “simple souls” or maybe portrayed as not that clever… then I read the wise words they came out with and think “wow, that sounds pretty clever to me!”

I have such a poor memory it’s laughable. I try to read the Bible but nothing stays with me. I read commentaries etc and have to read them a million times over before I grasp anything. I listen to podcasts and YouTube videos etc, and I understand them at the time, but nothing stays with me. I can never quote anything, I will never be able to justify my faith if challenged. I’m not a great talker… I am not articulate in the slightest, in any topic, not just with my faith. I am shy and reserved and just can’t hold a great conversation. I also have issues with listening… I try so hard, but nothing goes in! This doesn’t help when I try to listen to readings and the Gospel at mass… I try so hard to listen to the words but things just pass me by!!

I know I love God, I know I want to live well to please him, I know deep down I am faithful, but I just can’t get anywhere near the level I need or want to be! When I try to pray I just don’t know the words. I don’t feel intelligent enough to say the things I need to say. I ask for forgiveness, I thank my blessings, I ask for petitions, I tell Jesus I love him about a million times, and other than that I don’t know what to say!

I have tried to read many things but it’s overwhelming and I don’t know what’s going to work for me to get to a higher level of knowledge and faith.

Has anyone any advice?

Thank you.
 
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Ps. I’ve just read my topic title again and I know it reads wrong. I know God loves us no matter what level of intelligence we’re at. I’m not wanting reassured about that… I just need advice on how to learn and practice more when my dim brain won’t let me. Thanks.
 
I think you should keep right on doing what you’re doing, because you’re probably holier than a lot of people, me included, who are quoting references and such all over the place.

If I manage to post useful info on here, it’s only because God happened to use me as his instrument to convey some thought. Lots of the stuff i post falls flat or isn’t that useful. And there were plenty of saints who in their simple devotion accomplished wondrous things that lofty theologians didn’t, or couldn’t.
 
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Not everyone is called to have to have degrees in philosophy, theology and various areas of expertise. All that is not a requirement to be a practicing Catholic.

The most important thing is to love the Lord with our whole being, and our neighbor as our self.

There is so much I do not understand when I read over the (name removed by moderator)ut of intellectual discussions. I am convinced I should not do so as it is a waste of time for me. Much prayer and the sacraments are what we all need.
 
Sometimes I feel that exact same way. I’ll never be half as wise as guys like C.S. Lewis or Charles Spurgeon. You may not consider yourself wise, but God does. See Psalm 111:10, which says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

A person doesn’t even begin to be wise until they submit themselves to the Holiness of God. Not only does God declare you to be wise [in the quote above], but He also calls you blessed. The Lord said, in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied”

It doesn’t matter what the world considers you. God says that you are wise and blessed. God’s opinion means more than our opinions.
 
Don’t worry. Never be discouraged, but let us all persevere. We are called to run the race set before us until the end. But, we don’t need a degree in theology or to be a priest to love God and neighbour. If we come honestly to Christ and pray for His mercy and help, He will help us.

What matters is love. What matters is how true our love for God and our neighbour is. And, if we truly love our Holy God and our neighbour, we are Christ’s truly, for Christ is love, and His command for us is to love.

Believe and trust in God always. Surrender all to the Sacred Heart of our Lord and let your life be focused on His Heart, on the burning furnace of charity. If we are in Christ, and He is in us, what are we to be afraid of, and what else do we need?

Let us strive, with honesty, faith and simplicity, to love God and neighbour, and let us run this race set before us till the end. Let us keep our Faith fully till the end.

Peace!
 
Neither of these men were Catholic, though.
[/quote]

I know. One was an Anglican and the other a Calvinist. I don’t follow either path, but I still respect their works.
 
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Matthew 11: 25-26

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthian 13; 1-2
 
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God made you, therefore you have everything you need for your job in life! And there are many types of intelligence. Your made just right!

Also, considering much of the grammatical skills and argumentation styles on the internet, you seem pretty articulate to me.
 
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Just pray for guidance. Not everyone is called to be an apologist, much less a theologian! God will give you what you need for your mission in life.
 
Amac1 said:
I tell Jesus I love him about a million times
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That’s all that matters, to be honest. The highest level of your knowledge of the faith will be determined by God and God alone. I certainly recommend asking him for more information and knowledge on the faith and how you can best serve Him.

All of us will be granted different levels of knowledge. Some greater, some lesser. I think a good spiritual director to work out what God is granting you is the best thing. No matter how much or little He will grant any of us, the important thing is to be obedient to His will.
 
For someone who “isn’t intelligent enough”, you wrote clearly and with understanding.

Maybe you learn in a different way. Do you remember things you hear better than thing you read? Or maybe you have a mind that needs to learn by doing.
 
I dont know if it helps or not, but just something to consider is that even (and especially) with the very most admired and sought after theologians and speakers, that it is something that comes from reading and learning from the the best of the best. Even many of the cherished sayings or lectures from these people are adaptions of previous things that they have read or heard. Standing on the shoulders of giants in order to see further. They all build on one another.
 
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I agree that Catholicism can seem to be a very intellectual faith but I think that a simple believer living their faith in simplicity can be a far larger and better witness as an apologetic example than a bunch of learned ones. I’ve always been more impressed with someone just living their faith than those who can quote the tribunals and Aquinas!
 
Amac1 said:
I do not feel intelligent enough for God, and for the faith. I in no way expect to be a great theologian or apologist… I want to have a basic understanding of the faith and live it well. But I struggle! I read posts on here or in various other places and people are so wise, and have a multitude of references and quotes to hand. Their knowledge is amazing. I listen to people talking and preaching of the faith, and I am in awe. I feel a million miles away from any of that and at times I don’t know if I have it in me to be a true Christian.
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1 Corinthians: 12

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

COMMENT: Christians differ from each other, but they are equally valuable to God. The foot is equal to the head, as Paul analogizes. If you love Jesus / God / Holy Spirit, you are fine. Your love of God is your ticket to heaven.
 
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Thanks for your reply @Catherinabird . I think I write better than I talk. I think I read better than I listen. I pick things up better when reading than when listening, because I have time to think and reflect instead of being put on the spot. But even at that, I’m not a good reader. I’m so slow and need to look up the meaning of every word we get frustrated. When I finally understand something it stays with me for a while then my memory lets me down. It’s like I only have a certain amount of space in my brain for information, and it’s constantly pushing things out.
I have been thinking loads about my learning style but nothing seems to be working. Learning by doing is a very interesting suggestion though… thank you.

Thank for all for your thoughts and wisdom. I do understand that living for God doesn’t have to be about being well read or educated. I do understand that he knows my heart etc. But I can’t past the fact that I’m rubbish at reading scriptures, the catechism, anything really. Surely they’re the basics. I have no one guiding or teaching me. I listen to mass and nothing sticks. How am I supposed to learn about and know my faith if I have no means of information. It’s so frustrating.
I know if I love God and love my neighbour in theory it’s enough. But I want to know more… I want to share the faith and be able to defend it if needs be. I have no words. The words aren’t there. I know in my heart what I feel but if someone asked me “why are you a catholic?” my answer would be “just because”. Or “what’s your favourite thing about the catholic faith?” I would answer “err… no idea”. Surely I need to be better than that!
 
Thank you @drac16 , I know you’re right. It’s hard to settle with limited knowledge though, I thirst for so much more but it just doesn’t happen for me. But I thank you for those quotes, they’ve helped.
 
Let your light shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

By this will all men know you are my disciples that you have love.

Those scriptures remind us that our first prime instructions are to love people. Our marching orders are the Beatitudes and not clever responses or deep treasties.

Love people. Be joy and light
 
“Amac1 said:
… I want to have a basic understanding of the faith and live it well. But I struggle! I read posts

Fr.solanus had a similar issue. He was not allowed to say mass because the bishop didn’t believe he could do it correctly. So he just prayed for people.

GET TO KNOW BL. SOLANUS​

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)Blessed Solanus Casey spoke in a soft and quiet voice to all who came to him for help. And he prayed. Some say his prayers cured illness. All say his serenity and counsel gave them peace.

He was born into a family with simple faith. He maintained that simple faith all his years. In everything, Bl. Solanus took God’s word to heart. He believed every prayer is answered in God’s own way.

In 1958, the Capuchin Minister General called Bl. Solanus “an extraordinary example of a true Capuchin and a replica of St. Francis.”

This tribute confirmed the many reports that began to come in from people everywhere about the outstanding virtues of Bl. Solanus.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

He had faithfully served the people of Detroit, MI, Huntington, IN, New York City and Yonkers, NY by providing soup for the hungry, kind words for the troubled, and a healing touch for the ill.
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