What if you want to believe but find it so hard to do so?

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bclustr9

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What does it mean when you try so hard to have faith but just keep encountering doubt after doubt after doubt? I have looked into my doubts. I have digested the apologetics to them, one by one and still, find it so very hard to believe. What do I do? I keep feeling mysteriously drawn to the Catholic church but I just don’t know how to get over my doubts.
 
Can you say what it is that draws you? What is attractive, or that makes most sense to you? What is at least, the one thing that you believe?
 
A few suggestions:
  1. say this prayer: “Lord, I believe in you. Help me believe.”
  2. Do not dwell on your doubts. Recognize they exist and gently guide your thoughts to a other place.
  3. Belief is an intellectual choice, not a feeling. Some people do not get the “feeling” of belief. Act as though you believe. Live according to the commandments, pray every day, tell the Lord you love Him and tey to do his will.
 
Go to Mass, read the Bible (NABRE) and pray the Rosary. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
 
I believe that He existed and was crucified. I believe when I was saying the prayer to be saved when I was about 12 yrs old in the backseat of my mom’s car, that something truly spiritual came over me. On numerous occasions throughout my life, I have prayed for a sign to know that Christ is real and that Christianity is the way; there have been so many signs. I wish I had absolute, hardcore evidence of the many teachings of Christianity. Maybe then it would be easier for me to completely believe in it. I also sometimes wonder if I really care to believe or not because living for myself is easier and feels better then living a life of faith. I don’t know; if you can parse any of that and offer some feedback, I’m all ears.
 
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Like the father of the epileptic say to the Lord: "Help my unbelief!’. Faith is a gift so pray for it.
 
MarlboroMan said:
Belief is an intellectual choice, not a feeling.
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I disagree with that. You beliefs are not subject to your will. If they were you could will yourself to believe Mohammed was a prophet from God or that you find an attractive person ugly.
 
You are talking about the emotional and sensational feeling associated with belief not belief itself.

Belief is an intellectual choice.
 
bclustr9 said:
I believe when I was saying the prayer to be saved when I was about 12 yrs old in the backseat of my mom’s car, that something truly spiritual came over me.
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What you received here is a true gift from God. Not everyone receives something like it. When you have doubts, remember this experience. For the future, no longer ask for signs, rather give thanks and praise if/when you receive them.

Know that God loves you, knows you better than you know yourself, and is so pleased at any effort you make to know Him better and to be closer to Him. God hears your prayers.
Psalm 116:2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
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Luckily you don’t need to believe in God to have God in your life, He is in your life. God knows you by name, even the hairs on your head are counted, He is within you in the form of the Holy Spirit. God knows your heart, your desires, your strengths and weaknesses, He knows everything about you and loves you like the child of His that you are.

Sometimes we don’t ‘feel’ God with us, most often I don’t feel my heart beat either but it does. God is a natural part of you, so natural you may not feel Him, but He’s there. Ask and it shall be given, I asked for faith and God in His mercy gave it to me, it took a while but the process was beautiful.
Ask…
 
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