Please help! Advice on friend who is doubting God

[Teki]

Hello everyone, I’m sure if there is a forum where I can get prayer requests so please tell me. I have a friend (she is Catholic) but she has come to the point where she just wants a sign God cares for her…or even exists. She hasn’t been to church for several Sundays and I saw her crying during mass. She says she doesn’t even care what happens to her anymore and she is never like this, I mean she was/is definitely more fundamental in her beliefs and now she is like…God?..what’s the point? So if you can give scripture, helpful prayers that would good. Here is the part that scares me the most though…and I hate to get all personal, but I don’t know any other way to explain the urgency…I was at an “agnostic” stage of faith since I’m a rather skeptical person and want to know why and not believe everything I’m told. Ummm …I tried to commit suicide in my depression and basically before I did ‘it’ I felt an overwhelming feeling of love and prescence that just made me cry. Obviously it was the one thing I couldn’t explain away and got rid of much doubt. I told my friend this and now I’m worried that she might try ‘something’ to get a sign of God. :crying: I really don’t know. Please just say a quick prayer and if this place isn’t appropriate then,…just tell me where.

 

[preyoflove]

Hello everyone, I’m sure if there is a forum where I can get prayer requests so please tell me. I have a friend (she is Catholic) but she has come to the point where she just wants a sign God cares for her…or even exists. She hasn’t been to church for several Sundays and I saw her crying during mass. She says she doesn’t even care what happens to her anymore and she is never like this, I mean she was/is definitely more fundamental in her beliefs and now she is like…God?..what’s the point? So if you can give scripture, helpful prayers that would good. Here is the part that scares me the most though…and I hate to get all personal, but I don’t know any other way to explain the urgency…I was at an “agnostic” stage of faith since I’m a rather skeptical person and want to know why and not believe everything I’m told. Ummm …I tried to commit suicide in my depression and basically before I did ‘it’ I felt an overwhelming feeling of love and prescence that just made me cry. Obviously it was the one thing I couldn’t explain away and got rid of much doubt. I told my friend this and now I’m worried that she might try ‘something’ to get a sign of God. :crying: I really don’t know. Please just say a quick prayer and if this place isn’t appropriate then,…just tell me where.

People like your friend are always in my prayers.

I think it was inappropriate to tell your friend about your suicide attempt, seeing as to how depressed she is in her current psychological-emotional state. I think this she is definitely under a kind of “Dark Night of the Soul”. Let her and you pray for the intercession of St. John of the Cross.

Peace, so be it.

 

[coralewisjr]

preyoflove:

People like your friend are always in my prayers.

I think it was inappropriate to tell your friend about your suicide attempt, seeing as to how depressed she is in her current psychological-emotional state. I think this she is definitely under a kind of “Dark Night of the Soul”. Let her and you pray for the intercession of St. John of the Cross.

Peace, so be it.

I agree. Pray rosaries for her, too! Keep an eye out for her, as depressed people are high-maintenance (I’m one of them sometimes), and even more so when they’re as low as your description of your friend.

 

[luvthelight]

hey i feel your pain - and rest assured ill be praying for you and her too. my best advice would be - since u already told her about what happened with your suicide attempt, to prevent her from tryin the same thing - talk to her about how much you regret the decision you almost made, tell her about how you know realize how much you would have hurt those who loved you on earth (friends family ect). i remember reading somewhere that nearly every person who survives a suicide attempt realizes that they are glad they did, b/c they did not really want to die. you guys sound like you must be close friends - encourage her to talk to you. there could be problems in her family/friends/relationships that you dont even know about b/c she might be ashamed to tell you, but that might be dredging up these horrible feelings. if she used to be a strong catholic, try and find a priest or youth minister to talk to her in confidence (but i would ask her permission first), since she would respect them in their religious roles and they can help with apologetics about her doubts. especially if these feelings are sudden, such strong emotion does not arise from no where. be there for her, she needs you, but avoid at all costs talk about your suicide attempts, unless to reinforce how happy you are that God prevented you, and that this was YOUR designated sign, but maybe God plans to show his love for her in another way, and she should keep her eyes open. again - i pray for you, and i am confident that all those on this board will pray for you too! keep me posted!