Scruples, Signs, and Superstition

[Flame4]

Hi All,

I have a problem. I suffer from scruples. Sometimes this induces me to look for “signs.” For example, I will think “if I shoot the next basketball in the net, I must have sinned/not sinned” or “if the weather forecast is sunny tomorrow it is a *sign from God *that I have sinned (or not sinned- it could go either way).” I start panicking if the “signs” show I did sin, thinking maybe God is communicating to me in this way (even though rationally I know this is nuts). This is despite the fact that my confessor has told me NOT to worry about the “sins” that I am bringing up- I probably didn’t consent.

Is this kind of thinking superstitious? Knowing that would really put me at ease, and I’d be forced to ignore it on pain of sin; I’m scared do certain things for fear of getting a bad sign. I KNOW it sounds crazy and ridiculous. Please don’t laugh at me (if you can manage it). I appreciate your help CAFers. Thanks

 

[Flame4]

Okay, I had a moment of mental clarity. God is not cruel and stupid to try and tell me something is a sin through signs. He would make it known to me clearly and/or at least have it confirmed by my confessor. Sigh Sorry for the ridiculous question.

 

[TriciaF]

Dear Flame, reassure yourself that if it’s going to be sunny, it will be sunny, it has nothing to do with whether you ‘sinned’. If you missed the basket with the basketball it’s probably that you were tense. God isn’t going to speak to you that way, but He will speak through your confessor.
I hope you can little by little wean yourself off from the merry-go-round of looking for signs everywhere.
May God help you to lessen and even overcome this self-destructive tendency dear friend. It keeps you, I think, at a high level of anxiety, I think, that blocks the God-given gift of clear thinking, and stops you from really trusting God who loves you and knows your good intentions .
With gentle love, Tricia.

 

[Memaw]

Hi All,

I have a problem. I suffer from scruples. Sometimes this induces me to look for “signs.” For example, I will think “if I shoot the next basketball in the net, I must have sinned/not sinned” or “if the weather forecast is sunny tomorrow it is a *sign from God *that I have sinned (or not sinned- it could go either way).” I start panicking if the “signs” show I did sin, thinking maybe God is communicating to me in this way (even though rationally I know this is nuts). This is despite the fact that my confessor has told me NOT to worry about the “sins” that I am bringing up- I probably didn’t consent.

Is this kind of thinking superstitious? Knowing that would really put me at ease, and I’d be forced to ignore it on pain of sin; I’m scared do certain things for fear of getting a bad sign. I KNOW it sounds crazy and ridiculous. Please don’t laugh at me (if you can manage it). I appreciate your help CAFers. Thanks

Imagine what life would be like if we all looked for those kinds of “signs” or lack of them. Maybe your “sign” wouldn’t agree with my “sign” etc. Oh my, how confusing. God doesn’t work that way. He gives us GRACE. His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. Talk to your Confessor and be at peace. Don’t look for “sin” everywhere. You have to be aware of sinning for it to even be a sin anyway. Don’t look for something you “might” have done. Thank God, Praise Him and TRUST Him. Let God know you LOVE Him. When I am troubled about something, I go to spend some time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is sooo peaceful and Grace filled. We’re not laughing, most of us have been thru something like that ourselves at one time or another. God Bless, Memaw