Why do I live in despair? and negativity?

[pwlj_christ87]

well I am a catholic and yes there are times when i have been shown beautiful moments glory to god etc. however it seems like right now my attitude is so negative and questioning… i want to live like you all do with hope and assurance why cant i feel this way? i always feel in despair like im not good enough for god and question my salvation, i go to confession but i just want to be stronger is all… how can i do this?

 

[jsaldar]

My friend, you are not alone. Trust in your salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins. If you go to confession and repent of your sins you are forgiven by the blood of Our Lord. Never doubt your salvation any other thought comes from the devil himself. Christ’s death was not in vain. None of us are good enough for God, this is why Christ died for us, to make us worthy of Our Lord. Never lose faith:thumbsup:

God Bless you and may Our Lord grant you his peace.

 

[pwlj_christ87]

it is just that catholicism sometimes scares me, i know i have been washed clean etc but the fact that if i die in mortal sin i will go to hell scares me, even though i am always going to go to confession at every stage in my life… wlel now that ithink of it catholicism is beautiful i just need stronger faith and friends

 

[IronMIke]

I would suggest any book by Joyce Meyers “Enjoying Everyday Life”.

 

[LatinoSON]

it is just that catholicism sometimes scares me, i know i have been washed clean etc but the fact that if i die in mortal sin i will go to hell scares me, even though i am always going to go to confession at every stage in my life… wlel now that ithink of it catholicism is beautiful i just need stronger faith and friends

there is alot of friends you can make, it doesnt matter if there cool or not, what matter is if they will make you the person you were meant to be. i can say i am your friend but you need to ask God to place you Godly friends(age doesnt matter). you can also confess your sins to your brother just like paul confessed that he was the greatest sinner, You need a relationship with christ, some of us lack this, but work on getting closer to God. i am also trying

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I would suggest any book by Joyce Meyers “Enjoying Everyday Life”.

Joyce Meyer may not be Catholic, but she’s a wonderful and IMO inspired lecturer about things just like this. How your attitude and outlook affects your experience, and how we can “get over ourselves” and “climb the mountain” rather than “circle around it.” (mountain is imagery Joyce uses from time to time)

She also has a TV show by the same name, and you can watch her here: joycemeyer.org/

Also, have you ever engaged in any type of practice of contemplative prayer? If you haven’t you’re in for a treat because this kind of prayer brings us to union the Jesus in ways other prayer expressions do not.

For more information on the expressions of prayer, including contemplative prayer, please see CCC 2700-2724.

See if this excerpt sounds inviting to you:

CCC 2709
What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: “Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” Contemplative prayer seeks him “whom my soul loves.” It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.

Alan

 

[ob_audire]

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” When you can’t manage that, think of all the good and beautiful things He has done. There’s always the Ressurection. But if even that fails, offer your sufferings to God, and if it continues for a long time, ask for help from a good preist or spiritual director.

 

[FaithInTheSon]

Joyce Meyer may not be Catholic, but she’s a wonderful and IMO inspired lecturer about things just like this. How your attitude and outlook affects your experience, and how we can “get over ourselves” and “climb the mountain” rather than “circle around it.” (mountain is imagery Joyce uses from time to time)

She also has a TV show by the same name, and you can watch her here: joycemeyer.org/

Also, have you ever engaged in any type of practice of contemplative prayer? If you haven’t you’re in for a treat because this kind of prayer brings us to union the Jesus in ways other prayer expressions do not.

For more information on the expressions of prayer, including contemplative prayer, please see CCC 2700-2724.

See if this excerpt sounds inviting to you:

CCC 2709
What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: “Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” Contemplative prayer seeks him “whom my soul loves.” It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.

Alan

OTOH with the scripture we can learn to move the mountain out of our way!

I vote you read more scripture.

It is like food for your spirit. Communion and confession are , in truth, less important than reading scripture. I don’t care what anyone says this is a painfully obvious truth.

edit: I have to assume everyone contemplatively prays. If not they should definitely start they have a lot to catch up on.

Without the Word, you are completely lost. No amount of sacraments can change that. Too bad no one says that.

No one at my Church has ever stressed the importance of going into a room where you are alone and studying the Word BY YOUR SELF.

They must always maintain vigilant “interpretation control” even if the Church has said a passage can be taken more than one way.

 

[maxdouglas402]

well I am a catholic and yes there are times when i have been shown beautiful moments glory to god etc. however it seems like right now my attitude is so negative and questioning… i want to live like you all do with hope and assurance why cant i feel this way? i always feel in despair like im not good enough for god and question my salvation, i go to confession but i just want to be stronger is all… how can i do this?

I just got out of feeling like this. Of course the enemy is working on you. Are there things that your obsessed about outside of the Church? Any worries or fears that could possibly be holding you back from experiencing God deeper?

 

[pwlj_christ87]

I just got out of feeling like this. Of course the enemy is working on you. Are there things that your obsessed about outside of the Church? Any worries or fears that could possibly be holding you back from experiencing God deeper?

well i do go to the gym alot and i always want to look good, maybe for the wrong reasons… im also down alot becuase my dad is an alcoholic and when he comes home drunk it bothers me every day… sometime my mind is clouded… but i think i just need to spend more time reading scripture and the catechism…

last night at church i walked home and prayed as i was walkign for god to remove everything from me that is unnecessary and an obstacle to him and to litteraly break me down and build me up the way he wants.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

last night at church i walked home and prayed as i was walkign for god to remove everything from me that is unnecessary and an obstacle to him and to litteraly break me down and build me up the way he wants.

I think that is a very advanced way to pray. You are surrendering yourself to the Lord, and respecting His will, all at the same time. Did you find any particular emotion going along with that? Like did you have a sense of freedom? Or maybe fear?

Alan

 

[maxdouglas402]

well i do go to the gym alot and i always want to look good, maybe for the wrong reasons… im also down alot becuase my dad is an alcoholic and when he comes home drunk it bothers me every day… sometime my mind is clouded… but i think i just need to spend more time reading scripture and the catechism…

last night at church i walked home and prayed as i was walkign for god to remove everything from me that is unnecessary and an obstacle to him and to litteraly break me down and build me up the way he wants.

I used to workout a lot as well. I used to really enjoy taking the caffeine shakes, and then pumping some iron while looking in the mirror (hoping there were some girls at the gym watching lol ).

I can relate with a lot of what you’re saying. I’m still in my teens and I haven’t always had a good male role model. Often times I attribute my hard times and sufferings to not having a good role model to guide me.

It’s really difficult at times, and I don’t think I notice God calling me because I’ve never had anyone show me how to do it (other than at Catholic grade school). Im suffering and wanting to change just like you are, and there’s probably a lot more of us wanting to do the same. People who want to suffer and bear the image of Christ always