True Faith

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I wasn’t really sure where to post this question but I am going through a very rough time and I really feel my faith is being tested. The question I pose is faith something that is given as a grace from God or is it something that must be earned through trials? Or for that matter maybe a little of both?

I have always thought that I was a person that had “faith” but I am finding that the faith that I have is one of faith that things will turn out ok but I still felt like I had have some control (or some semblance of control) of the situation. The current situation that I am in is one where I have very little/no control and I am having a tremendously hard time dealing with this. My personality is one that I have to try to fix things and I can’t do that here.

I believe that what I need is true faith, that faith to let go and let God take the wheel. The problem is I am very stubborn so I am having a hard time letting go and essentially I am causing my self to suffer because of this. Like I mentioned at the beginning how does some one like me gain this “true faith” is it through the grace of God or is it going to come down to me finally accepting and letting go?
 
Roux said:
I wasn’t really sure where to post this question but I am going through a very rough time and I really feel my faith is being tested. The question I pose is faith something that is given as a grace from God or is it something that must be earned through trials? Or for that matter maybe a little of both?
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Peace Roux,
You ask a very common question and one that most everyone comes to in their journey.
Is Faith something that God Gives?? Yes and No…God gives the Grace to have faith. It all starts with God just as our very existence starts with God.
Having received the gift of grace and of faith, we must respond to that faith. It is a gift that is living and must be nurtured so that it grows strong. So - it is indeed “Both”

Faith is indeed tested in trials. Through trials God gives us the gift of perseverance.

[quoteI have always thought that I was a person that had “faith” but I am finding that the faith that I have is one of faith that things will turn out ok but I still felt like I had have some control (or some semblance of control) of the situation. The current situation that I am in is one where I have very little/no control and I am having a tremendously hard time dealing with this. My personality is one that I have to try to fix things and I can’t do that here.

I believe that what I need is true faith, that faith to let go and let God take the wheel. The problem is I am very stubborn so I am having a hard time letting go and essentially I am causing my self to suffer because of this. Like I mentioned at the beginning how does some one like me gain this “true faith” is it through the grace of God or is it going to come down to me finally accepting and letting go?
[/QUOTE]

Trials are how God teaches us to mature in our faith, in our trust and in our reliance on Him. We are but small children and most of us are, like you, stubborn. We push the envelope, we “test the boundaries” and we, like any 2 year old will say - “NO - I want to do it!!!” Then, also like the 2 year old, we get quickly frustrated when we find we cannot do it…🙂
These things are normal and natural.
I too am a person who likes to “fix things” and more and more I recognize that I can’t. the most I can do is to offer advice, offer prayers etc. Then I have to realize that it is in God’s hands and pray that God brings good out of it. He always does, but in HIS time, not mine…
The following prayer is famous precisely because this problem is so prevalent among us rowdy children of God.
“Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

So - you are indeed being tested, but you will survive the test. you just need to learn some more…Like we all do… and grow closer to Him

I hope some of this helps.

Peace
James
 
Thanks James,

That was the response that I was actually dreading. I think I knew the answer I guess I was hoping for something different. It’s so funny I find myself saying the serenity prayer at nauseum almost the point where it just frustrates me now, I know that sounds horrible or counter-intuitive. I just dont find myself having any more peace or serenity about things. I know that sounds like a 2 year old having a tantrum but it is the truth currently.
 
Roux said:
Thanks James,

That was the response that I was actually dreading. I think I knew the answer I guess I was hoping for something different. It’s so funny I find myself saying the serenity prayer at nauseum almost the point where it just frustrates me now, I know that sounds horrible or counter-intuitive. I just dont find myself having any more peace or serenity about things. I know that sounds like a 2 year old having a tantrum but it is the truth currently.
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Roux,
Don’t feel bad that you are frustrated. Try to think about these things like this…
Everything we learn, from walking and talking to dealing with other people, from learning to drive to learning an instrument, from learning math to playing a sport - - - They ALL involve a lot of frustration - just like you are feeling now. We want to get things right and it frustrates us when we can’t seem to master it.

The spiritual journey is the same. Learning to “let go” is an acquired skill for most of us. Learning to be patient, to listen for God, to simply pray because there is nothing else to do…These are ALL tough things.
Jesus gave us some of the most simple goals and guidelines, but they are the hardest to really put into action - and worse, we need to “internalize” them so that they are part of who we are.

The good thing is that, far from being a negative thing, these sorts of trials are actually God’s opportunities to us. I know it’s tough but it’s also a Gift that we should try very hard to take advantage of.

Peace
James
 
Well we do know that Jesus won’t give you more than you can handle.
You can bet on that one because that is in the Bible.
I can tell you what I do. If there is something that is bothering me,
I tell Mary, “please give me one of your GREAT graces now.”
Now I trust her absolutely because I have the Miraculous Medal on
at all times.

Here is some important info about the Miraculous Medal, one of Mother Theresa’s
favorites.

“Have a medal struck… All who wear it will receive GREAT graces; they should wear it
around the neck. GRACES will ABOUND for persons who wear it with CONFIDENCE.”
From the mother of Jesus spoken to sister Catherine Laboure 1830.

“Great graces are often attached to what seems trifling.” St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

“The devotions we practice in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary, however trifling they be,
are very pleasing to her divine Son, …” St. Teresa of Jesus

During this apparition, Mary’s hands had 3 rings on each finger. Each ring gave off
rays of colored light. A few rings did not. Mary said that the lights radiating from
the rings are graces that people ASK for. The rings that didn’t radiate she said
were graces not given because they were NOT asked for.

Have it blessed. The devil hates blessed objects. Keep it on all all times.
Wear her medal in her honor because the devil can’t stand her either.

Then say, “Mary I am asking now for great graces which
you promised to those who ask and believe in what you said.”
Trust her, it works. She is the mother of God. Would she lie?
Your mother wants to help you. It is her gift to you. She promised and she will diliver.
“Great graces are often attached to what seems trifling.” St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Code: 
 legionofmary.org/miracmedal.html
=============================================
“Yes, blessed is she who BELIEVED that the PROMISE made her by the Lord would be FULFILLED.” (Lk. 1;45) St. Elizabeth
 
***The Prayer Of Mary ***

***My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.

(Lk 1:46-55)
 
I believe Faith is both from you and God. However, I think you have a misunderstanding of Faith. Faith is not strictly a mental belief. Faith is an action.

The best way for you to embrace letting God take control is by elevating your prayer life. God is a God that makes moves in your life. Increase your prayer life. As God makes more of an impact in your life, you will understand why sitting back and letting God do what he will do is really the amazing.
 
This might be the stupid impatient human answer but I have been increasing my prayer life. To the points that I have never been before. We have an adoration chapel at my church and I go there every morning for at least 30 mins to pray and I find myself praying through out the day. Yet it seems I am met with more and more struggles and challenges. I really feel like I am loosing hope and faith that things will ever turn around. I just have this constant doubt and worry (mainly I think because of the anxiety and depression that I struggle with daily). I am fairly sure He is listening but sometimes I’m just scared that He isn’t there. I feel very lonely and hopeless these days.
 
Roux said:
This might be the stupid impatient human answer but I have been increasing my prayer life. To the points that I have never been before. We have an adoration chapel at my church and I go there every morning for at least 30 mins to pray and I find myself praying through out the day. Yet it seems I am met with more and more struggles and challenges. I really feel like I am loosing hope and faith that things will ever turn around. I just have this constant doubt and worry (mainly I think because of the anxiety and depression that I struggle with daily). I am fairly sure He is listening but sometimes I’m just scared that He isn’t there. I feel very lonely and hopeless these days.
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I can only reiterate that this sort of thing is not at all uncommon. The more we seek to conform ourselves to Christ, the more clear our own failings become. This can be very depressing and cause much doubt unless we get a good strong handle on WHY these things stand out so starkly.

As we move more and more toward God, He shows to us our problems and areas of weakness so that we may cooperate with His grace to rectify these problems. First by despising these weaknesses as He does and then by gradually working to overcome them.

It’s like going on a diet…The first thing is that we recognize how “out of shape” we are and we come to despise our poor condition. Then we seek and select certain disciplines, certain regimens designed to change our poor condition into a good condition. We lose weight, grow stronger, have better wind, more stamina etc…
Of course this does not happen over night. It takes time and commitment and discipline and while we are working to change we still have to look at our “out of shape” bodies. Plus we have to deal with the chocolate cake temptations and the occasional failure and need to restart and recommit…🤷

The Spiritual journey is just the same. We see our weaknesses and we grow to despise them. We seek disciplines and regimens to overcome these. Such as spending time before the blessed sacrament and praying more often during the day. Different people will select different devotions and such but they will all have much in common.
We still have to deal with temptation and the occasion of failure. We still have to look at our “out of shape” spiritual condition, but we have the promise that if we persevere we will grow in Holiness. Our spiritual condition will improve and our strength and stamina will increase while the temptations to the old sins will decrease…

Ole Satan won’t give up though…He’ll keep on trying to pick away at us, but the closer we grow to God, the more clearly the devil’s tricks will stand out and be easily avoided.

From one srruggler to another…I hope this is an encouragement to you.

Peace
James
 
Roux said:
This might be the stupid impatient human answer but I have been increasing my prayer life. To the points that I have never been before. We have an adoration chapel at my church and I go there every morning for at least 30 mins to pray and I find myself praying through out the day. Yet it seems I am met with more and more struggles and challenges. I really feel like I am loosing hope and faith that things will ever turn around. I just have this constant doubt and worry (mainly I think because of the anxiety and depression that I struggle with daily). I am fairly sure He is listening but sometimes I’m just scared that He isn’t there. I feel very lonely and hopeless these days.
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Sometimes you have to roll with the punches. God is there, but He doesn’t always step in like a Deux Ex Machina, to use a Bonhoeffer quote. There are times when I don’t like Him much.

Yet the only way I know about to deepen your faith is to go through trials. It’s as simple as that. God, as Father, might be happy with our first faltering steps in faith when we’re new Christians, just like an father might be with his young infant son. But no earthly father would want a son who’d grown up to be a young man, and who was still in the infant stage.

Same thing with God.
Mathew 13: “18 Therefore, hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful, 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.””
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Before God hands over the ability to be fruitful, He lets the disciple go through “tribulation or persecution” and to be tempted by “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches”.

And it can be pretty tough.
 
Roux said:
This might be the stupid impatient human answer but I have been increasing my prayer life. To the points that I have never been before. We have an adoration chapel at my church and I go there every morning for at least 30 mins to pray and I find myself praying through out the day. Yet it seems I am met with more and more struggles and challenges. I really feel like I am loosing hope and faith that things will ever turn around. I just have this constant doubt and worry (mainly I think because of the anxiety and depression that I struggle with daily). I am fairly sure He is listening but sometimes I’m just scared that He isn’t there. I feel very lonely and hopeless these days.
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I know, the same thing happened to me. In fact I am currently going through such a stage right now. It’s called spiritual desolation. I feel far from God, and lonely, but at the same time I would be lying if I said I have never gotten an answer to all my prayers since my conversion.

So knowing that God answers, I keep faith, and I keep praying because I know that he will answer, because I’ve seen it happen over and over again, each time more amazing then the last.

By increasing your prayer life, I don’t mean the quantity of it, but the quality of it. Right now you should be praying for one thing at a time. Try praying only at 3 specific times a day, but make them the most sincere prayers. Ask God for what you need, after all he said “Ask, and you shall recieve”.

My advise to you is to do this. Water your faith of seed, and make sure it is on good soil.
Do this by;
1.Praying everyday for God to be a reality in your life in a way that you can understand until he answers (and he will if your heart is sincere).
2. Read 1 chapter of any Gospel you like, 1 Psalm, and 1 Proverb (or more).
3. Give thanks to God for hearing your prayer, and remember that in all things his will be done.

In the NT we are told that if we know that God knows what we need before we ask him, then all we have to do is give thanks as if we have already recieved, because God has already willed us to recieve. All we have to do is accept it.

Keep a prayer journal complete with the date and time, and what you prayed for. This will help you later when you write your answer down, so that you read it when you are in doubt.

Please keep in touch, my email is Jcnava15 [at] gmail [dot] com
 
I truly am trying all that I can think of to continue to grow closer to God. In fact this is the second day in a row that I have gone to daily mass (never have done that before). I also spoke with one of my preists yesterday and he was telling me that he feels that God has a plan here. I said “those people that are keeping you from going back to work think they are in control, they really aren’t is God working through them to keep you out because He is working with you now. He is either trying to help you grow in faith or give you much needed recovery time from the stress you have encountered in your life.” I have to say I really agree with him. The frustration I have however is the fear that I have. Which I know is my own doing, but the fear of the unknown, the fear of not being able to provide, the fear of frankly going back and having to face these people and what they think of me. I know non of that should matter and I should place my faith in God that he will provide, keep myself and my family safe, and I shouldn’t care what all of these people think at work. But I do I can’t help it I struggle with anxiety and depression daily so this is just an added challenge for me. I feel frustrated that God will not take that fear away from me, that he wont give me courage to face my fears, that I am constantly faced with this all consuming anxiety. I mean is it wrong of me to think that this is something God can or should help me with? Or is this something that I have to deal with by letting go and letting Him have control? I am so so tired of waking up each morning scared of what is to come, how will I act when I am able to go back to work, will I make the same mistakes as before and be back at square one, and what about my confidence? This whole situation has shaken my confidence in myself to the core. How much must God break you down before building you back up the way he wants you? Or am I thinking about this wrong? I just want my life back and to be happy again and not scared all the time. It isn’t fair for me it isn’t fair for my wife and it isn’t fair for my unborn son. They need me and I am not able to be there for them, it is embarrassing for me. God I pray that things change soon for the better because like I said I feel myself loosing hope. Like I said maybe I am off track here I just dont know. Thanks for all the help everyone.
 
Dear One…

Peace be with you…

It is obvious that you are struggling with many issues and I hope that you are getting good medical help/counseling etc.

You must be patient with yourself and with those around you. Know that your wife loves you. Know that God Loves you. Know that we ALL Love you.

We cannot know all of the intricacies of your troubles. Nor can we know how long you will have to persevere in your current trial(s) - only God knows that. But He is there and watching. He has not abandoned you.
Continue to seek the council of your pastor if possible. Have him pray with you and hear your confession regularly.
We will pray for you too…

Peace
James
 
You should not feel guilty for believing what you honestly believe, but at the same time you do have the strength to bare it. You also can’t neglect you’re ability to seek guidance from God.

If you are experiencing anxiety, and depression, than treat that first. When I was younger, 5 years ago, I suffered from extreme anxiety. But even though each day was the hardest day of my life, I kept faith that one day I would not deal with it anymore. Even though all the doctors and psychiatrists said “It’s a chemical imbalance, you will have to treat this carefully for the rest of your life.”

I said screw that, and then I found something called the Linden Method. This changed my life. I never deal with anxiety anymore. Give it a try, I wish I still had my copy, or I’d send it to you, but I lost it since I never needed it again. Now I don’t use any medication or anything and am more stable than ‘normal’ people…you know what I mean.
 
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