Struggles with faith

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PelagiathePenit

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I have difficulty accepting Catholic doctrine or Jesus teaching. It can feel overwhelming. I feel inadequate when I see where I am spiritually versus where I am supposed to be. Especially do not understand why certain things bother me so much or why I care so much about passing trivial things. Life is short why bother myself with petty annoyances that will never change. I
 
PelagiathePenit said:
I have difficulty accepting Catholic doctrine or Jesus teaching. It can feel overwhelming. I feel inadequate when I see where I am spiritually versus where I am supposed to be. Especially do not understand why certain things bother me so much or why I care so much about passing trivial things. Life is short why bother myself with petty annoyances that will never change. I
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I may not be completely understanding you but I’ll try to offer some thoughts.

When you have difficulty accepting Catholic doctrine or Jesus’ teachings- I ask, are you praying about it?

James ch. 1 says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.
But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.”

Jesus himself said (Matthew 7:7-8) ““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

As far as concerning yourself about trivial things- if you mean to say that the teachings of the Church and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ are trivial, I go back to asking you to pray about that because that’s not true. If you mean to say that you truly are overly concerned about trivial things, there is a prayer I use as my signature line that you might try reciting.

God bless you.
 
Where “ARE” you supposed to be? The greatest saints had equal if not more pressing thoughts or self examinations of the soul. It is one thing to dwell on such doubts or questions, but entirely different factor in taking the “leap of faith” and accepting what we just don’t want to accept of dogma, spirituality or faith. I once had a former superior who told me that I tried to “intellectualize” everything. This is true of so many on this forum. Because we are frail humans with limited understanding we need to acknowledge that THE SUPERNATURAL aspect of faith can never be fully understood, but only accepted through faith.

In any and all doubt go to the NT and read the teachings of Christ and let it flow into your interior soul, heart and mind. Peace.
 
I know what you mean, will pray for you, please keep me in your prayers as well
 
pianistclare said:
Abandon self.
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Agree- although learning to do that is hard for many and can take time but absolutely true to the core😊 Also- the next step is always trusting in and living in His Will not our own. ( this also a process. The bottom line is persistence . We fail, we learn, we pray , we get up again and slowly( some quicker than others) we catch on. Our loving Lord knows how fast we can learn but oh yes, the sooner we realize it isn’t about us but Him and His Divine Will the sooner we are in a better place of peace with our Lord. NEVER give up---- the consequences are ETERNAL!
My love in Him and prayers for you,
Mary
 
A lot of us go through periods of having doubts or struggling with faith.

Have you read any of Mother Angelica’s books? Answers, Not Promises would be a good place to start. There’s such humanity and spirituality in her writings. They are very relatable to our own lives.
 
I often feel this way too. I don’t see logically how I am going to get to where I need to be so all I can do is pray and trust that God will help me.
 
PelagiathePenit said:
I have difficulty accepting Catholic doctrine or Jesus teaching. It can feel overwhelming. I feel inadequate when I see where I am spiritually versus where I am supposed to be. Especially do not understand why certain things bother me so much or why I care so much about passing trivial things. Life is short why bother myself with petty annoyances that will never change. I
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You need to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, your friend and someone who gave his life for. You need a closeness and warmth. Doctrine doesn’t always do this.

“From far away you know my thoughts: you know every step I take, when I walk, when I lie down: you have seen all that I do.” Psalm 138

Think of him as being in you and with you in every step of your life because he loves being with you.

“God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Try to think of him more during your day, and remember his very Body and Blood he left with you for your nourishment and help. Switch from thinking to loving. Just be in a state of love for him. He will fill you up.
 
OP; let time pass and stop dwelling on it. The more you scratch; the worse the damage. Do something for others and live faith that way. Just live and help. And stop expecting to live on a mountain top all the time.
 
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