To many blessings

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Redbaron998

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If its alright with yall I’d like to vent a bit to ya and get your feedback.

I have been really blessed beyond compare it seems. I grew up in a loving and stable home with great parents, have had the chance to go to great schools and am about to graduate college. Have a wonderful Fiance that I love very much. I have great friends and so many material blessings.

The problem is that I dont deserve a single one of these. I see so many people suffering in the world that dont have all the things I have that are much more holy than me. I am a great sinner and although ive overcome some sins I still struggle with many. I am constantly looking around me and seeing how poor, sick, and hurt others are and see my life and I frankly dont understand why God would give such things to me and not to others who are clearly so much more deserving.

I try to be thankful and take nothing for granted and utilize my blessings to further the kingdom of God, but I’ve found myself praying for Christ to send me crosses so that I may suffer for him instead of being so unbelievably blessed by him despire my greatly sinful self. Is this wrong?

Advice? Comments?
 
Aaargh.

I spent a great deal of time writing a response to you, and the computer demons ate it when I tried to post.

Maybe it means I should lose it and try a whole different approach.

In summary, I believe you are wise to consider “too many blessings” as a problem. It is not so much that you are given too much, IMO, as it is you are not being prepared to deal with disappointments and conflicts when they inevitably arise.

In my case, I had a great life like you, until I got involved in several “good causes.” Good Causes is where you can find the most difficult people. They kicked my tail, and I ended up psychotic over all of it. And you know why? Because I dared to care about Things Being Right. Then my life, by many measures, was no longer easy.

Anyway, instead of praying for a cross, ask for a pure heart. That’s a sure fire way to become “tested” and “purified.”

Also learn about contemplative prayer, as the CCC says prayer should go beyond verbal and into that which draws us into true union with Christ. Once you experience contemplation, things will become in proper perspective. Lectio Divina is one prayer form that includes a contemplative component.

Good luck to you, and I hope things go well for you.

Oh, and also consider spending a lot of time just reading (not “studying” or “cross-referencing” but just reading) the gospels and the epistles. You’ll find why Jesus was so confusing to others. He knew non-dualistic thinking. In other words, we didn’t need a scapegoat to be good, or a loser to have a winner. In His mind, all can win and all are just as much winners – whether we are sinners or not – and were redeemed by his own troubles.

Alan
 
Redbaron998 said:
If its alright with yall I’d like to vent a bit to ya and get your feedback.

I have been really blessed beyond compare it seems. I grew up in a loving and stable home with great parents, have had the chance to go to great schools and am about to graduate college. Have a wonderful Fiance that I love very much. I have great friends and so many material blessings.

The problem is that I dont deserve a single one of these. I see so many people suffering in the world that dont have all the things I have that are much more holy than me. I am a great sinner and although ive overcome some sins I still struggle with many. I am constantly looking around me and seeing how poor, sick, and hurt others are and see my life and I frankly dont understand why God would give such things to me and not to others who are clearly so much more deserving.
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Material blessings and loving relationships sometimes aren’t the kind of blessing that is best for people’s spiritual growth. Jesus said, “blessed are the poor,” and “blessed are the persecuted,” etc. He doesn’t usually give financial perks to particularly holy souls. Rather, He gives them more crosses, for through these, they can gain greater union with Himself and greater glory in Heaven.

Suffering is a gift God uses to purify or redeem. This could be why you’ve noticed that people who are more deserving often are suffering more. They grow closer to God through suffering, and God gives them the suffering to cause this to happen. In fact, not many of the saints at all were wealthy. Most of them were poor, and those that weren’t poor gave up what they owned readily to those around them anyway. Enduring crosses can bring people great purification, though, and draw them closer to God.

God does give people material blessings as gifts, at times, but these are an inferior gift to crosses, because crosses are swift and sure ways toward Heaven.
Redbaron998 said:
I try to be thankful and take nothing for granted and utilize my blessings to further the kingdom of God, but I’ve found myself praying for Christ to send me crosses so that I may suffer for him instead of being so unbelievably blessed by him despire my greatly sinful self. Is this wrong?
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Praying for crosses is a good thing, for through the cross, we come into union with Christ Crucified, and this is the journey to Heaven. St. Rose of Lima said, “Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.” The Cross is our way to Heaven. Your prayer for sufferings is a prayer for deeper union with Jesus. You can offer up any sufferings He sends you as penances, as prayers for purification or the redemption of sinners, or for other intentions.

At the same time, God seems to have humbled you to some extent already through showering you with great gifts in the world. He has used this to show you His love in one way; now He seems to be leading you toward a deeper and more intimate union with His Love, for that is what is found in the Cross. Only Christ can have drawn you to pray as you’re praying now, for in our flesh, we take what we have for granted and despise suffering. You are doing neither. God truly appears to me to be speaking to your heart.

Keep thanking Him for the great blessings He has given you, and pray for the grace to receive what crosses God chooses to send you with thankfulness as well, and to bear them for Him worthily.
 
Redbaron,

I am over twice as old as you, but this post could have been written by me when I was your age.

Here is my advice:
  1. Everyday, give thanks to God for blessing you with a loving and stable family and a good education. This is a blessing on two levels: it’s not only a joy that you are experiencing now in a personal way, growing up in a wonderful family and getting a higher education. This is also blessing in that the benefits you receive from having grown up in such a family and received such an education become a part of who you are. You now must live your life in such a way that God’s blessing to you is passed on to others. Remember Luke 12:48,
    “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
  2. Don’t bother praying for crosses, as you are still young and the crosses will come. Life gives them to you of its own accord, as we live in a fallen world and as a part of that, the sin of the world can’t help but cross paths with us eventually through no fault of our own. When the crosses of life do come, turn to God and not away from God (as so many people tend to do). A wise priest gave me this advice: Stay close to the sacraments. We receive grace in every sacrament, we have the gifts of the Holy Spirit outpoured to us – use them!
  3. Please realize that everyone has blessings from God although in differing ways, and everyone has trials although of differing kinds. Also, things change! Sometimes the blessings are more apparent in people’s lives and other times the trials are more apparent. Someday you will have your trials, and someone else’s blessings will help you through it.
Remember that blessings are a gift from God and to feel guilty about them is to doubt God’s plan for you. Like the parable of the talents, use your blessings and return them with increase to the Lord.
 
jpjd said:
Redbaron,

I am over twice as old as you, but this post could have been written by me when I was your age.

Here is my advice:
  1. Everyday, give thanks to God for blessing you with a loving and stable family and a good education. This is a blessing on two levels: it’s not only a joy that you are experiencing now in a personal way, growing up in a wonderful family and getting a higher education. This is also blessing in that the benefits you receive from having grown up in such a family and received such an education become a part of who you are. You now must live your life in such a way that God’s blessing to you is passed on to others. Remember Luke 12:48,
    “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
  2. Don’t bother praying for crosses, as you are still young and the crosses will come. Life gives them to you of its own accord, as we live in a fallen world and as a part of that, the sin of the world can’t help but cross paths with us eventually through no fault of our own. When the crosses of life do come, turn to God and not away from God (as so many people tend to do). A wise priest gave me this advice: Stay close to the sacraments. We receive grace in every sacrament, we have the gifts of the Holy Spirit outpoured to us – use them!
  3. Please realize that everyone has blessings from God although in differing ways, and everyone has trials although of differing kinds. Also, things change! Sometimes the blessings are more apparent in people’s lives and other times the trials are more apparent. Someday you will have your trials, and someone else’s blessings will help you through it.
Remember that blessings are a gift from God and to feel guilty about them is to doubt God’s plan for you. Like the parable of the talents, use your blessings and return them with increase to the Lord.
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I feel the same way Redbaron, your crosses will eventually come to you. It is in offering these crosses up to God in the best way possible, you will receive graces in the life you live from God.
God Bless,
Magdelaine1173​

Lord make me an instrument of Your Peace
😊
 
Don’t look a gift-horse in the mouth!

That said, despite the fact that I don’t have a job, have barely a few spare pennies to rub together, have to rely on the generosity of my family to keep my house, etc, I still consider myself blessed. I’ve had a good career in years gone by, I have a generous father (and a generous Father in Heaven too). I have good friends. I could so easily sink into self-pity but I’m not going to.

It seems to me that you’re looking for a cause for despair. Such a thing would be sinful, it seems to me.

Suppose you’re using all these wonderful blessings for the benefit of others, gaining joy in the giving? Would you still feel guilty about being joyful? I suspect you might.

You really need to let go of this false guilt. God gives us these things for a reason: so that we can see where they come from. If we reject the gifts we’re given, we reject God.

Enjoy the life you have. Help others. Love your family and friends. Love God for your good fortune. Be at peace in His light - He wants nothing else.
 
DexUK said:
It seems to me that you’re looking for a cause for despair. Such a thing would be sinful, it seems to me.
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DexUK, I agree with this assessment.

Others: I agree that the crosses will come, and there are no reasons to seek them.

OP: Maybe one thing you could do is put some of your blessings to work. That is, use your Good Health and your Not Financially Broke status in doing some volunteer work at a place that fascinates you. Maybe by helping people who are “less fortunate” you can learn something about what your idea of “suffering” would be like. Could we we all benefit from each person’s cross well-carried?

Alan
 
Redbaron998 said:
If its alright with yall I’d like to vent a bit to ya and get your feedback.

I have been really blessed beyond compare it seems. I grew up in a loving and stable home with great parents, have had the chance to go to great schools and am about to graduate college. Have a wonderful Fiance that I love very much. I have great friends and so many material blessings.

The problem is that I dont deserve a single one of these. I see so many people suffering in the world that dont have all the things I have that are much more holy than me. I am a great sinner and although ive overcome some sins I still struggle with many. I am constantly looking around me and seeing how poor, sick, and hurt others are and see my life and I frankly dont understand why God would give such things to me and not to others who are clearly so much more deserving.

I try to be thankful and take nothing for granted and utilize my blessings to further the kingdom of God, but I’ve found myself praying for Christ to send me crosses so that I may suffer for him instead of being so unbelievably blessed by him despire my greatly sinful self. Is this wrong?

Advice? Comments?
Click to expand...
I am so glad you posted this!🙂 I just started a similair thread yesterday and reading all of these replies have been so helpful.
 
Dear RedBaron998,
The very fact that you feel this way makes me happy. Gee I am glad you are blessed. And you seem to be humble which is really great.
 
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