Praying to God/ experiencing doubts

[Bdonoho]

There are times when I, with as much sincerity as I can, try to reach out to God the Father in prayer. During these times, I start to doubt whether Jesus is God. I think what’s really happening is that it is revealed that my faith in Jesus at that time is largely emotional and therefore illusory. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with this happening to them and what it means? I was told by a catechist that prayer is in response to grace in the heart, and the reason this happened was I was trying to reach God by myself. I’m kind of confused right now and I just wanted to reach out for someone who might recognize this situation.

 

[rock022]

That means you are human. If you are a believer there will be times you will doubt there is a God. If you are Atheist there will be times when you will believe that God does exist. Any side you are on will have doubts.

Times like this are great because it is trough them that we grow. I recommend talking with a priest about this and meditating on the Beatitudes.

 

[Nelka]

Jesus is God.

Satan is putting doubts in your mind.

Keep praying.

 

[4love2God]

Bdonoho said** : “There are times when I, with as much sincerity as I can, try to reach out to God the Father in prayer. During these times, I start to doubt whether Jesus is God.”**

I don’t know ONE person in the World who has NO Doubts about Jesus.
Some people feel confused when an AWFUL event occurs : Death, Disease, War, Abortion.
How can Jesus allow this to happen?
Yeah, there’s always a soft spot in a person’s Soul.

Beyond that, you have NOT had a personal sit-Down with Jesus, so you don’t have your 5 senses convinced that He is real.
Every religion has a Higher Power. And, in those religions, the adherents do NOT get to see Him.
In a way, Jesus is an imaginary friend.
You can’t see Jesus, but you can talk to Him.
And, you can feel deep in your Soul that Jesus likes you, and wants the best for you.

So, this un-seen God cannot be as real to you as, say, the IRS (which you may not have seen, but certainly believe in).
That’s the Kick. There is this Heaven (somewhere), and Purgatory, and Hell, and Angels, and demons, and maybe other Universes.
I can see NONE of them … and I probably will NEVER see them in this Lifetime.

 

[4love2God]

Bdonoho also said** : “I was told by a catechist, that
[1] prayer is in response to grace in the heart, and
[2] the reason this happened was [was caused by the Fact that] I was trying to reach God by myself.”**

I disagree with your catechist acquaintance.
[1] Prayer is in response to you wanting to Pray.
A person could be responding to a friend being injured … or, facing an operation … or even, has just died.
These are cases where it is easier to handle the situation, if you share it with God (and ask Him for help and guidance).
Another reason to Pray, is because others tell you it is something you NEED to do.
Here, the impetus is either Peer Pressure … or Guilt.
I could go on-and-on with other scenarios (ask if you would like a List).

[2] This comment sounds like a slap-in-the-Face.
Each of us is REQUIRED to** “reach God by” **ourselves.
I mean, you may go to Church, and participate in a Mass, but that does NOT give you Faith (or anything else for that matter).
It is you, alone, who has the Power to change yourself inside (with the possible help of Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit).

Really, there is NO “secret handshake” that makes things occur.
All of Life is within you (and your Mind, and your Heart, and your Soul).
The rest of the World is there to confuse you (drown you with possible Options), or to be afraid of (if that’s your thing).

 

[fred_conty]

There are times when I, with as much sincerity as I can, try to reach out to God the Father in prayer. During these times, I start to doubt whether Jesus is God. I think what’s really happening is that it is revealed that my faith in Jesus at that time is largely emotional and therefore illusory. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with this happening to them and what it means? I was told by a catechist that prayer is in response to grace in the heart, and the reason this happened was I was trying to reach God by myself. I’m kind of confused right now and I just wanted to reach out for someone who might recognize this situation.

Do you doubt that he really existed in history and was born of Mary?
Do you doubt that he raised himself up from the dead on Easter as he prophesied that he would?
Do you doubt that he ascended into heaven?
…that he is in the Eucharist?
…that he lives in us by sanctifying grace?

What precisely is it that you are having problems with?

Nail that down and we can help you.

May God our Father give you grace and peace.

 

[Bdonoho]

Do you doubt that he really existed in history and was born of Mary?
Do you doubt that he raised himself up from the dead on Easter as he prophesied that he would?
Do you doubt that he ascended into heaven?
…that he is in the Eucharist?
…that he lives in us by sanctifying grace?

What precisely is it that you are having problems with?

Nail that down and we can help you.

May God our Father give you grace and peace.

The problem is a lot of my reasoning on this is so subjective and emotional. I went through a period of mental instability (I went off my medication) where no matter how much I read apologetics, I wasn’t able to arrive at faith. I came to the conclusion that intellectual proofs were not enough to arrive at certainty so I started to pray and rely heavily on more mystical or emotional certainty. That led me to Catholicism. It always feels like Im going wrong by trying to prove the reality of these things , often I just rely on praying the rosary and devotion. However, I’m convicted that I’m placing too much trust in my intuition and what I think is the Holy Spirit, when really it’s just feelings (and the heart is deceitful and desperately evil, so this is folly). During times like this, I start to think of becoming Jewish, and I start to wonder how I sinned to become so lost. I realize that I’m not operating according to reason, and I’m not sure how to get back on solid ground again. The problem is more with me than with any lack of evidence or anything like that.

 

[Brigid34]

The problem is a lot of my reasoning on this is so subjective and emotional. I went through a period of mental instability (I went off my medication) where no matter how much I read apologetics, I wasn’t able to arrive at faith. I came to the conclusion that intellectual proofs were not enough to arrive at certainty so I started to pray and rely heavily on more mystical or emotional certainty. That led me to Catholicism. It always feels like Im going wrong by trying to prove the reality of these things , often I just rely on praying the rosary and devotion. However, I’m convicted that I’m placing too much trust in my intuition and what I think is the Holy Spirit, when really it’s just feelings (and the heart is deceitful and desperately evil, so this is folly). During times like this, I start to think of becoming Jewish, and I start to wonder how I sinned to become so lost. I realize that I’m not operating according to reason, and I’m not sure how to get back on solid ground again. The problem is more with me than with any lack of evidence or anything like that.

Your post could have been mine.

 

[ynotzap]

God chooses you, you don’t choose God. The Father acts on you to approach ,His Son. All the intellectual effort can only lead you to the door of Faith, it is the grace of God through Jesus that gives you that gift.that carries you over the threshold. Jesus, is the Way, the Truth and the Light, the Gate. Coming to Him with a humble, and repentant heart open to His love for you. is the disposition you must have. When you do this in humble sincerity and accept Him for who He is, Lord and Saviour, your redeemer then He will bestow His Spirit upon you, the Spirit of Amazing Grace, the Spirit of Conversion. Any intellectual study should be disposing you for this event. If it isn’t then you are wasting your time on mental gymnastics. There should be a peace of mind, meditating on the truths that lead you to knowledge about Christ, not disturbance of feelings or mind. Praying that you receive this peace. As one poster mentioned it could very well be the devil, a true reality. It is he who Jesus came to redeem you from, and bring you into His Kingdom.