I am catholic and have always believed in God. I attended church once a week till I was out of High School. I don't go to church every sunday now but I felt as long as I believe it would be ok to miss mass. But recently I'm starting to question my faith. It seems like no matter how much I pray to God to make me a stronger person or to help me in my time of need, He takes more away from me. Its like He ignores me. I try to keep my head up and think that He has a plan, but I'm starting to have my doubts. Is his plan to make me depressed? I don't want to lose my faith, but I feel I am. I need advice. Please.
2006-12-04 02:41:06 · 26 answers · asked by ? 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sometimes God answers you but it isn't what you want to hear so you think this way.
God is trying to tell you something.
Search your heart.
Be still and listen.
Keep your faith in HIM, He loves you.
Peace.
2006-12-04 02:49:22 · answer #1 · answered by elibw 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God is always there with you; therefore, if you go through times (as we all do) where you cannot feel his presence as strongly, it is probably due to situations that are going on in your life that are subconciously forcing you to put up barriers.
Not to mention, even some of the greatest saints experienced spiritual darkness at times.
I would recommend going to Mass because it brings you closer to God. You are able to partake in the Holy Communion and receive the body and blood of Christ. This was the greatest gift Jesus left us. You are not required to go, but it IS a gift.
Also, if you are depressed and having a bad time right now, you may want to talk to a priest. I don't know if you have a parish priest that you are comfortable with, but sometimes getting some guidance really helps.
If you don't want to lose your religion, then you need to be careful where you seek your answers. Posting a question such as this one on a secular website leaves you open to many people telling you to just leave your faith behind. I can speak from experience: life without your faith is miserable.
You will be in my prayers. :)
2006-12-04 10:54:20 · answer #2 · answered by dino00digger 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like it or not, you don't choose what you believe and have faith in. You can put yourself into situations that support a belief and a faith, but if your experiences and your knowledge are contrary to that belief and faith, not all the trying in the world will change what it is that you believe. Belief is the sum total of our experiences.
There is one test to see if you're going to be able to remain faithful or if you're going to become agnostic or atheist:
Read the Bible.
Don't wimp out, don't chicken out, read it. From Genesis 1:1 all the way to the end, in a version that has all 73 books (avoid any that have the 7 Martin Luther removed missing).
When you're done... you'll know. And either you'll be so filled with love for God that you'll never miss Mass again... or you'll never walk into a church willingly again.
I'm an atheist by the way, and started off devout Catholic. I hope you find your truth, regardless of which path you follow.
2006-12-04 10:47:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Faith is like a muscle, you must excercise it for it to get stronger. Faith without works is dead. This means that you have to do something with it.Go out and help feed some people at a shelter. Become a willing vessel for God to use. Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit so God can send the comforter to you. The Comforter and the Teacher are the same aspect of the Godhead. It ain't about how many times you go to church. You are the Church. So, in reality you are always in Church. The body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. So keep your body like you would keep your house if Jesus was coming for dinner. If you have sin, start to thank God for forgiving you through the death and resurection of Jesus. This you can do on your own in the privacy of your home or anyplace you are at. You do not have to wait for confession on Satuarday night. If you want to confess to another Brother/sister in Christ that is good too. "Confess your faults one to another." It will keep you in a state of preparedness so the Spirit of God can use you to minister to others. Then go out and LOVE people. Not physically please, but with the LOVE of God.
Rev.M
2006-12-04 10:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by happylife22842 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Very good point on why attending mass Every week is important.
By reading your question, I think you already suspect as much.
If you quit visiting a friend, do you start to question your friendship?
That is what is going on with you right now, you are at a questioning age, and surrounded by temptations, it is so much easier at times to just follow the crowd, odd that these people call Christians Sheep!
The pulls of our society are mostly to separate us from God. Look at TV, Sex, Violence, Greed, Drugs. Look at our "Heroes" Sports figures and even Politicians.
The new lack of personal morality is killing our faith and society, want proof? Look at the divorce rate, abortion rate, STD's, suicide rate, Crime rate, number of un-wed mothers, School Shootings.
Did you know that couples living together before marriage increase their chances of a later Divorce by 50%?
Just spend 10% as much time with God as you do around the pulls of our society and you will be fine, and keep the faith! You most likely will need it!
2006-12-04 10:54:40 · answer #5 · answered by C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ok..Babydoll, do you actually read your own Bible? If you are depending on the priest's interpretation, then perhaps you are missing what God is wanting you to know. God usually takes away things so that you will grow. When we start to potty train a baby, we help them learn that a comfortable diaper isn't for "big girls". So don't panic, read your Bible for yourself...and pray to understand it.
Try reading Daniel, sweetie. Those guys had EVERYTHING taken away from them! But they still believed and did what they knew God wanted them to do. And they became mighty councilors and Godly men. Still got tested a lot!(check out what they said about being thrown into the furnace) but their faith saw them thru. So read! You'll find the answers when you need them...right in that Bible you have.
Being by yourself isn't a problem...see what Daniel did. But if you try to make it without your Bible, you don't have God's words to rely on. Paul said,"..by the renewing of your mind"...studying the Bible and praying, just like Daniel did. The two go hand in hand.
2006-12-04 10:53:39 · answer #6 · answered by Dodi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is entirely natural to go through phases of question and searching. Church is a place to go to commune with people who are of the same beliefs as you and to give you a chance to recharge your spiritual battery. Perhaps you should start attending church again and surrounding yourself with people who can help you maintain your faith and set you back on track. I am not catholic, nor do I attend any church as a general rule. However, I know some people need the exra boost like minded people can give them. There is nothing wrong with that as we are social creatures by habit. I simply do not believe I should have to believe what any man tells me when I have the capability of reading and comprehending on my own. Jesus said to pray in solitude and in private. He also taught that you should not call anyone father except that which is in Heaven. And He said you should take your prayers to God through him alone as no one comes to God but through the son. I hope this helps. Good luck and do not lose your faith....
If you lose everything and have kept your faith then you have lost nothing. If you lose your faith you have lost everything.
2006-12-04 10:49:01 · answer #7 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Girl, I say go to a pentacostal church on a sunday night. You will find and feel God. There you can ask him to help you. The worship and atmosphere are soaked with God. What have you got to lose at this point?
2006-12-04 13:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by Sueby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe rather than lose your faith, you might reconsider your perception of God.
God doesn't make you strong; he gave you the ability to make yourself strong. God doesn't help you in your time of need; he gives you the ability to help yourself.
God is not a superhero who swoops in to save you. God is not playing chess with your life. God is not sitting up in the clouds. God is within. It is the fire in your blood that you can summon; it is the moment when you realize there is no problem you can't solve, however tough it may be; God is the love that cheers you on when you conquer your obstacles on your own.
God is Love. It is not loving to do things for you. It is loving to let you learn to do for yourself.
When you think that God makes you depressed or God does or doesn't do this or that for you, what you are doing is placing the power over your life outside of yourself. This takes away your ability to do anything about it.
So seek God not in the ether 'somewhere out there' but in your own soul, your own blood, your own heart.
2006-12-04 10:58:37 · answer #9 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe God is answering your prayer and trying to send you a message. While attending church is not a issue of salvation (as salvation is ONLY given as a GIFT (you can not earn) from Jesus at the cross to those that repent and ask Jesus to lead their life) God gives us our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for fellowship. Fellowship is important in that you have someone who can talk to you, spiritually. Someone you can be close to and trust who can assist you in your spiritual learning. We are all given gifts and talents from God so that we can help one another as well as those who do not believe. If you are not happy going to masses, try a non-denominational church that teaches Bible based truth. I am a Christian who attended a Catholic Church (yes, Catholics are Christians, Catholic is only a denomination, just as there are Baptists, etc., they are all Christian though), and I attend a non-denominational church. It is more upbeat and casual, but it is strictly the teaches of Bible Truth, no add ins, no taken away from the Bible teaching. Just straight from the Bible teaching. I love it!
God doesn't want you depressed, he just might be trying to show you a path you are hesitant to follow. Follow God's will, he will not lead you wrong and will increase your strength as you show him you trust him.
2006-12-04 10:59:03 · answer #10 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Find some serious Christian friends near your age (not necessarily Catholic). Have Bible studies and prayer meetings. Put your focus on Jesus Christ, not your denomination or church. Most conservative Christian scholars call the Catholic church a cult for a reason. It is not because they (Christians) are bigots and hate Catholics. There are real serious theological problems with the Catholic church. God may be calling you out of it. Again, put your faith in Jesus-stay focused on Him and not some doctrinal teachings of any church.
If you do decide to visit other churches-always check them out through Apologetics Index, or Watchman Fellowship first-you don't want to leave one cult and go right to another one.
2006-12-04 10:53:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋