Why does Christ want us to "believe" rather than to "know"? I feel like a bumbling fool

[IwishIknew]

I am not a visionary nor a locutionist both of whom I would consider “knowers” while I fall more into the norm of “believer”. I believe in the witnesses and miracles of the saints, of Fatima, etc. I believe Scripture foretells of Jesus throughout all of History. And I believe in the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

And so I strive to spend my days devoted to good deeds and seeking to love God more through prayers being mindful of His Law as taught by our Church.

But sometimes I get so frustrated because I feel so blind. All good deeds and how I do them are just guesses. Picking which prayer I say and how I say it are also guesses. When someone asks me for spiritual advice, my answers are just guesses. I feel like a bumbling fool. I don’t know what people really need, I don’t really know what action and how it is performed pleases God because God doesn’t speak to me.

For example, if I asked my earthly father for help on a project in the garage, he would come down with me and give me moment by moment feedback to help me get it right without letting me bumble excessively. And if he did let me bumble, he would only do so after giving me the exact steps to carry out the task.

It sure would be nice if God were to be that way with me when I need help with a quick simple decision and to know from his feedback immediately what I was doing right or wrong.

So why does God emphasize believing as so fundamental to Christian Discipleship? What is its value if as disciples we end up being good-hearted, bumbling half-wits not really knowing what we are doing and how we are doing?

Jesus said to him(Thomas), “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” - John 20:29

 

[Windmill]

I feel like that sometimes, too. Oftentimes, we approach our faith with a sentimentality and shallowness that is actually not helpful. You sound like you’ve taken your faith to the next level “devotionally”, but you may need to take it to the next level theologically.

Learning about our Faith helps your spiritual life in so many ways. A lot of times when I need an answer, God simply recalls to my mind a passage of Scripture or a quote from a talk I listened to. It’s not a voice from Heaven, but it’s a gentle nudge using things I already know.

Another avenue of spiritual direction from God is learning philosophical reasons for our beliefs. I’d highly recommend Dr. Taylor Marshall’s podcast for that. He is a Thomistic scholar who starts with the very basics and helps you grow in virtue and right thinking.

As far as picking prayers, I’d pick a devotion and try to stick with it. Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, and In Conversation With God are all prayer books/devotions that are systematic. While it’s good to have spontaneous prayer throughout the day, it’s even more important to have the habit of prayer. This develops so many more virtues because it gets you used to talking with God daily.

God asks us to step out in faith because it requires a different kind of love that mere obedience. If God appeared to you and gave you guidance, your response would be more forced and less voluntary. The stakes would also be much higher because there is no excuse for turning away from God after he’s fully revealed himself to you. His “hiddenness” is a mercy to us. It allows us time to grow in our walk with God and discover his will for us.

Trust that God will give you the peace you desire. It will just take time.

 

[Glomung]

So why does God emphasize believing as so fundamental to Christian Discipleship? What is its value if as disciples we end up being good-hearted, bumbling half-wits not really knowing what we are doing and how we are doing?

Part of the process of growing in faith is getting to know Christ on a more personal level. There have been many of the saints who spoke face-to-face with the Lord on a regular basis. The most Christ-like YOU become, the more you will understand His ways and how to apply them. As St. Mary has said repeatedly, “pray, fast, and contemplate Jesus’ words”. I have found the Rosary to be a great help. Have a set of daily prayers, ask for wisdom, and don’t forget the folks in Purgatory, they need the help. The more you do for Christ’s people, the more He will do for you.

Read the lives of the Saints and you will see that there have been many who REALLY DID KNOW what they were doing (mainly because they did exactly as Christ told them).
Also be patient, all this takes some time.

 

[Sarcelle]

I am not a visionary nor a locutionist both of whom I would consider “knowers” while I fall more into the norm of “believer”. I believe in the witnesses and miracles of the saints, of Fatima, etc. I believe Scripture foretells of Jesus throughout all of History. And I believe in the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

And so I strive to spend my days devoted to good deeds and seeking to love God more through prayers being mindful of His Law as taught by our Church.

But sometimes I get so frustrated because I feel so blind. All good deeds and how I do them are just guesses. Picking which prayer I say and how I say it are also guesses. When someone asks me for spiritual advice, my answers are just guesses. I feel like a bumbling fool. I don’t know what people really need, I don’t really know what action and how it is performed pleases God because God doesn’t speak to me.

For example, if I asked my earthly father for help on a project in the garage, he would come down with me and give me moment by moment feedback to help me get it right without letting me bumble excessively. And if he did let me bumble, he would only do so after giving me the exact steps to carry out the task.

It sure would be nice if God were to be that way with me when I need help with a quick simple decision and to know from his feedback immediately what I was doing right or wrong.

So why does God emphasize believing as so fundamental to Christian Discipleship? What is its value if as disciples we end up being good-hearted, bumbling half-wits not really knowing what we are doing and how we are doing?

Because people know very little. Even when I was an atheist, I knew that I knew very little. I still know very little but the life of faith is a journey. I learned working as an engineer that it is the type of questions you ask that matter most instead of the answers you already have. This takes humility. One does not have all the answers at once.

 

[Aloysium]

. . . But sometimes I get so frustrated because I feel so blind. All good deeds and how I do them are just guesses. Picking which prayer I say and how I say it are also guesses. When someone asks me for spiritual advice, my answers are just guesses. I feel like a bumbling fool. I don’t know what people really need, I don’t really know what action and how it is performed pleases God because God doesn’t speak to me.

For example, if I asked my earthly father for help on a project in the garage, he would come down with me and give me moment by moment feedback to help me get it right without letting me bumble excessively. And if he did let me bumble, he would only do so after giving me the exact steps to carry out the task.

It sure would be nice if God were to be that way with me when I need help with a quick simple decision and to know from his feedback immediately what I was doing right or wrong.

So why does God emphasize believing as so fundamental to Christian Discipleship? What is its value if as disciples we end up being good-hearted, bumbling half-wits not really knowing what we are doing and how we are doing?

There is nothing wrong with not knowing.
It is a good thing in fact because one will turn to God for the Truth rather than one’s own limited capacities.
The wanting to know more stems from the ongoing desire for truth.
However, it also arises from spiritual pride, wanting to be good or smart.
When it comes to advice, tell people what comes to mind as God may be guiding you in spite of how you feel. It is important to be honest, if you don’t know, you don’t know.
You are getting feed back and it may be that silence and humility are required. It is important to realize our need for God, and the restlessness may reflect the building of desire for Him.

Believing is important because it gets one through difficult times and the good times, when we usually forget, with our appetites sated.
I am going to assert that all value ultimately lies in loving. All humanity is a bumbling half-wit, not appreciating the consequences of the courses of action we are taking; and, generally we are not doing very well.

I was thinking that you require some sort of recognition for your faith.

Matthew 25:23 "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

 

[AKDee]

Hasn’t the Lord given us the important stuff? We have the Sacraments, we have the Word, we have the Commandments and our Lord’s teachings.

What if the rest of it is left more or less up to us? What if it doesn’t matter if you put the battery in or bolt on the alternator first, to follow your garage project analogy? Perhaps God wants you to select your own prayers and devotions. Perhaps, like any good father, he wants to give you room to think things through yourself and some freedom to follow your own path, knowing that in the end you will learn more that way. If you look at the lives of the saints, they often had radically different paths, but the basis was the same- a belief and a desire to serve God.

 

[ynotzap]

As I understand it: Several thoughts come to mind. Theologically, pride was the downfall of Angels and mankind, Satan and Adam and Eve. The desire to be like God, and the refusal to obey with thankfulness on their part for the gifts God bestowed upon them. And to acknowledge the truth, their complete being was endowed by God, their Creator.

Humility of mind is necessary to be endowed by Christ with the Holy Spirit. What does this humility require, to admit we are sinners, disobedient to God’s will, that we are totally dependent on Him for everything, even our own existence. When we do this we are disposed to receive the grace of salvation. the grace of salvation can only be given by God, not through any human endeavor, it is freely given. And only through Jesus Christ is is given because He merited it for us. No one could do it, or will take the credit for it, by the Father’s will. It is right and just. Human nature has to be humbled, we are a proud people that have to be purged of our pride and imagined self-dependence. Do we humble ourselves by believing in Him, by taking His words as the truth, and not seeing Him, but loving Him who we do not see. The answer is yes, emphatically. The triumph of Amazing Grace lost by Adam, and restored by Christ. To believe is to know supernaturally.

 

[tonyrey]

Hasn’t the Lord given us the important stuff? We have the Sacraments, we have the Word, we have the Commandments and our Lord’s teachings.

What if the rest of it is left more or less up to us? What if it doesn’t matter if you put the battery in or bolt on the alternator first, to follow your garage project analogy? Perhaps God wants you to select your own prayers and devotions. Perhaps, like any good father, he wants to give you room to think things through yourself and some freedom to follow your own path, knowing that in the end you will learn more that way. If you look at the lives of the saints, they often had radically different paths, but the basis was the same- a belief and a desire to serve God.

We’re not expected to be infallible. In fact we’re more likely to make more mistakes when we’re trying to help people than when we do nothing - as I’ve discovered to my cost! But that doesn’t mean we should never take any risks or be afraid of looking foolish. If we try to do what is right to the best of our ability we can never go wrong even if we are wrong! On the other hand we should be careful and ask for advice: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

 

[Charlemagne_III]

1 Corinthians 3:18
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise