Struggling with my spiritual life

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I love the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It’s just so much better for me.

You mentioned Mas time and I totally agree. We live rurally. It’s about a half hour to Mass each way. My husband and I both found Saturday night Mass much more spiritually beneficial. Mass, then family dinner and family activities. Sunday is all family and really oriented to God.
 
I’m so happy to hear that! 🌷

Simple changes and a good reflection on what is frustrating OP could perhaps work wonders. 🙂

I pinched the Jesus prayer from the Orthodox Church after reading/hearing about in “The Way of a Pilgrim”, and found it to be very centring in my everyday life.

We mustn’t forget that there are so many options available to us all!
 
That would include most Protestants. I dont think we want to go there.
 
That is a hard question. I too once struggled with my faith. Strangely I blame my mother for my past lack of faith, but I am also thankful for her introducing me to the faith. I blame her because her version of Christianity seemed to be “Go to church, fast, and suffer because God wants it that way.” Because of growing up in this mentality I left the church for a while. There was no faith, just duty. No hope, just do this or you will burn in hell forever because God said so. The God I learned about as a kid was a punisher and saw everything as a sin. When I rediscovered the faith, it actually showed me how God is merciful and forgiving. I saw how there is joy in God and that life is just not about suffering 24/7 like i was taught by my mother. Having fun and feeling joy isn’t evil like some people tend to think it is. When I rediscovered the faith I received a few prayer books called “Give us this Day.” It is a small monthly prayer publication. Using that sparked my faith.

I don’t know why or how, but people need not to listen to the “everything good in life is evil” theology. God wants us to be happy.

Also, attend bible study.
 
LittleFlower said:
I’m so happy to hear that! 🌷

Simple changes and a good reflection on what is frustrating OP could perhaps work wonders. 🙂

I pinched the Jesus prayer from the Orthodox Church after reading/hearing about in “The Way of a Pilgrim”, and found it to be very centring in my everyday life.

We mustn’t forget that there are so many options available to us all!
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God Calling is also excellent. It’s not Catholic per se but I actually know many nuns and priests who have or still use it…but none of my Protestant friends had ever heard of it. It’s good for early spiritual growth and then again for more advanced growth.
 
Don’t struggle.

Go with it.

If you were to struggle, struggle against committing sins.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice.
Well I’m going to start with the journal again and try and meet with a priest on Tuesday of this week and see what happens from there.
I’ll keep everyone updated as to how the week goes, please remember me in your prayers.
Btw I enjoyed going to mass I even attended weekly masses at least once per week, but then it started feeling more like an obligation not like something l enjoyed or an experience i was growing from.
I was in contact with a priest, and i told him i was having problems with my faith and trust but nothing was really done to address it. Anyway I’m gonna try again this week.
 
Hello- i just want to share that even saints struggled with their spiritual life. Possibly u can listen to relevant radio… or reflect on the bible . Youre in my prayers
 
Never in my life have I ever heard a Catholic say anything like “everything good in life is evil”, or anything even close to that. The fact remains that this life is referred to the “valley of tears” for a reason - because there is evil and suffering everywhere in it. In Scripture says we must suffer and that it is very beneficial for us to suffer for our salvation. That’s how we earn heaven. So it is good to know how to deal with suffering and use it to our benefit.

As the catechism says: Q. Why did God make you? A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
 
shondy said:
I’m struggling with my spiritual life and I need suggestions. I attend mass but not as regular as before, I just don’t feel connected when I attend. I am also struggling with trust and faith, well its always been difficult but now its really deteriorating. Praying as well is difficult I just can’t seem to focus and talk with God.
Any suggestion are welcomed. Thank you.
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First of all, it is not uncommon. Probably all of us struggled with our spiritual life at one time. Therefore, even though it happens, always persevere to keep on doing what you are doing. If it is going to mass, go on and do it; if it is praying, go on and do it anyway.

However, because doing them is difficult in a time of dryness, it helps if you are in a group of brothers and sisters in the church who walk together with you. Having support is truly great in this journey of faith.

So are you in a church group that you choose where you can find such support? If not, it is a good to to be in one, so that you are not all alone.

God bless.
 
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
 
shondy said:
I just don’t feel connected when I attend. I am also struggling with trust and faith, well its always been difficult but now its really deteriorating. Praying as well is difficult I just can’t seem to focus and talk with God.
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@Shondy,
Please remember that faith is not a feeling. It is often the case that it is in the darkest or driest times of our lives when God is working the most deeply within us.

When we feel disconnected from God we must persevere in prayer. Continue to pray as you have been praying. Don’t worry about adding a new devotion - continue as you have been doing if that’s all you can do. I believe that God loves most the prayer of struggle and perseverance during times just like the one you’ve described.

You’ve asked for suggestions. Mine is that if you cannot ‘talk’ to God, try writing to Him. Pick up a pen and scribe out your emptiness in a journal.

My prayer for you is to be at peace.
 
Well i recently moved to this province, I’m a student.
Its the closet church from where i live like 10mins max walking. I’ve attended the cathedral but somethings it difficult getting transportation.
Before i attended morning mass but then i found the evening masses were better for me.
Currently I’m not using any resources a few weeks o maybe months back i was reading from James, i was randomly reading scriptures which i felt i could relate to and before that i think i read from job o psalm.
What’s frustrating me, too many things for starters.
The two main things is my fear towards any and everything (literally) and my spiritual life.
 
This happened to me recently. My priest told me a little prayer that helps when you’re feeling this way:
Jesus I love you
Jesus come to me
Jesus stay with me
Jesus I need you

He told me to repeat this through out the day as well as read a little bit of the Bible, even just a little part if you can on your lunch break, or if you’re waiting at an appt (download the Bible app), and make a place in your home/room where you meet and talk to God everyday.

This helped me a lot… hope this helps!
 
You have to do - lol - a lot of ‘self’ ironing.

With God’s help, you got to first - iron out all the bumps…
Then smooth out all the wrinkles…
A lot of ironing -
With your ego on the ironing board 😇

It’s fun, because you get to see yourself…
And see your new potential emerge…
But at first, it may seem like your working in a sweat shop, in some foreign country, for peanuts.
 
Sounds like you’re on the right track! Keep up the good work!

Just some food for thought - going to Mass each week IS an obligation under the Third commandment. Your feelings about the Mass, such as whether you enjoy it or feel growth from it etc, are irrelevant and should not get in the way of the obligation.
 
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