im losing my faith in God.help me.:(?

Question

im losing my faith. i go to a catholic school,and im an eigth grader. my grandmother is highly spirutal, but what my religion teacher is telling my class seems like no sence at all! im not saying that i don't believe in God but, i have prayed for something for three years, and it hasen't happened, i feel as if he is letting go, this doesn't make sence. im going to be confirmed, but my faith isn't as strong as it used to be.
all my family are spirtual, but all the teachers are confusing me.

here is the real question, how can i make m faith strong in God, i am going through a hard time in life.

Answer 1

You are starting to realize what more and more people are realizing every day... that God is not real.

That's OK, it just means you are becoming an adult.

Answer 2

You asked a REALLY great question! God gives everyone a certain amount of faith to start with. (Romans 12:3) You can ask for more faith by prayer. When you see something that you KNOW God did....then write it down, or somehow remember that....so that you can look back when you don't "feel" like you have enough faith....and KNOW that God has been there...it is called remembering the way the Lord has led you in the past. Another way is to CHOOSE to believe what God says...that is choosing to have faith. You don't have to "feel" like you have it...you just CHOOSE it because you believe in God. God always answers prayers...either yes, no, or wait awhile.....just like parents do with their children. There is a good reason you do not have what you asked for.
I'm sorry you are going through a hard time....but you can let God use that to help you grow if you will. It will help you to understand other people better later. I will pray for you to find happiness where you are, and for God's protection for you. Take care.


† On-call Prayer Warrior †

Answer 3

Congratulations! It's a shame that you see this as a bad thing, but I can imagine going through a rough spot in your life makes it even harder to deal with. I don't have any faith in any god, and I used to be catholic. I went through something similar, and instead of praying harder and no longer thinking or asking questions.....well, I kept thinking and asking questions.

You know what the nice thing about being an atheist is? I've found the strength within myself to deal with my all-too-finite life's problems and troubles. I don't need to call out for help to some being that may or may not exist, because I know that I'm able to handle my problems on a human level (that is, by myself or with the help of friends/family). It's tough to lose one's faith, and to realize that you've been trying for years to have a one-sided relationship with a being that for all intents and purposes simply isn't there, but you can do it!

Please don't ever let any hard times in your life stop you from asking questions and thinking, and believing in yourself.....because THAT is what gets you through the harsh realities of life on this planet. Read any religious textbook you like, think a lot, and meditate often....you don't have to believe in any god to be a spiritual person, and I promise you that at least this atheist is not miserable or has an empty life without a deity in it. My life is what I make of it, and I create my own happiness for myself and everybody else I can. If I wrong somebody, I seek forgiveness from THEM - you'd be really surprised how much better you feel when you're not constantly worried that you're sinning against some invisible supernatural being. The amount of guilt I felt over my 'sins' that didn't hurt anybody disappeared completely once I stopped worrying about it.

And just for fun - even if I *was* wrong about not believing, I'm still doing my absolute best to be a good human being and to live a good life - that's the best I can do. If I die, and find myself in front of Ol' Jehovah, I'll apologize for not believing - how could I deny its existence at that point? Furthermore, if a supposedly loving, forgiving god will not forgive me for using the powers of logic and reason that it supposedly created me with, and will not accept a sincere "oh boy, was *I* wrong! sorry that I doubted" from me after my death, then that god is a tyrant and I would rather not spend eternity with it. Regardless, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Life is too short to worry about it.

Good luck!

Answer 4

It is easy to get confused when you are hearing conflicting messages. You say your family is very spiritual. Go to them for guidance. And read .... I have read "Guideposts" since I was your age. More information can be found at http://www.dailyguideposts.com/...also your local Christian bookstore is a wonderful resource, the staff there can help you find books that will help. God doesn't always answer prayer the way WE think he should. Sometimes, his answer is "yes", sometimes "no" and sometimes "wait" and not getting the answer that makes sense to you may be confusing, but remember God sees the full picture, we only see a part of it. He has your best interests at heart. I've heard people say, if you feel farther away from God, it is NOT because HE has moved, it's because WE have moved. Honestly seek him and listen to his spirit, get a bible that is easy to understand (there are a lot of good ones out there with extra notes and devotions, some aimed to teens) I like the Message which reads like a story, also the New Living Translation reads well. If you want, you can always email me if you need to "talk". I've worked with young people for many years. I'd be happy to listen.
Take care, Sue

Answer 5

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, 'Things aren't always what they seem.' The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. 'Things aren't always what they seem,' the older angel replied. 'When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.' 'Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem.' Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later..

Answer 6

No Matter What Enviroment You Are In, Reading Your Bible Continually Should Ward Off Influences. God Placed Great Men & Woman Of God In The Most Wicked Of Places. Take For Instance, Lot (Sodom & Gommorah), Job (UZ), Noah (People Were Wicked), Jonah (God Found Him Out To Preach To The Wicked City Of Ninevah, Daniel (He Found Himself In A Kings Stead, Around Alot Of Temptations, Moses (Egypt), Etc. If The Class Setting Is Tough, Tell Your Belief Once and Only Once, Then Shut Up. The Bible Says To Warn The Wicked, If You Tell Them Once They Won't Forget It. Use Scripture In All Biblical Arguements. Powerful Is The Word Of God, A Two Edged Sword, Piercing The Hearts Of Men. Take Care!

Answer 7

My faith in God has grown strongest when I'm going through difficult times. My advice to you is to get your faith from the Bible and the words of God rather than your teachers. One of the things I like to do when I'm struggling with something is I like to pray, tell God what is on my mind and what I'm struggling with, ask him for direction and help. Then, I take my Bible and close my eyes and I just thumb through my Bible until instinct tells me to stop. Then, I open my eyes and I read the first thing I see and it's almost always exactly what I need to hear from God. Sometimes I don't get it at first, so I start reading at the beginning of the chapter to put it in context, sometimes that helps and sometimes it doesn't. Maybe try that? I see it as a way of talking with God, I talk to him through prayer, he talks to me through passages.

Answer 8

The question is whether you -believe- something because it seems reasonable to you and you really think it is true, or whether you -believe- by a deliberate act of will, you just say 'This is what I believe'.

I think many many Christians are in the second category. They are told what they are supposed to believe so they 'believe' it. Too often I hear 'I can't explain it. I don't understand it. But I -believe- it'.

Being a Roman Catholic is a cultural thing as much as a system of beliefs. You learn about the history of your faith, read what great thinkers thought, like Augustin and Thomas Aquinas, about the lives of saints, etc. Most Catholics I know are trained in this stuff, and know what the accepted beliefs are, but if they are honest they'll tell you they don't believe them 100%, they go along with them. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

As for praying for things and not getting them. People in the Jewish/Christian/Muslim faiths believe that God has a plan for the universe, and that this plan is moving right along whether or not it is clear to us, whether or not we can understand it. I mean if something bad happens that we don't understand, we often say 'Well, it was God's will. It was part of God's plan.'

If you pray for something to happen that would not normally happen by itself, you are asking God to deviate from his plan! You are asking God to give up something -he- wants for something -you- want! This is something I never understood. (I was raised Jewish and we never asked God for stuff!)

Answer 9

Just ignore the teachers then. Or ask your family how to deal with them, I'm sure they have an opinion on this as well. Many people endure priests they can't stand for decades on end, out of politeness and the connection they have with the other people in the congregation. Then again, if you feel that you cannot be silent while somebody says something you don't agree with, perhaps the catholic church is not for you.

Answer 10

Ok darling,

I went through almost the exact same thing last year and i'm also in 8th grade. Don't let you teachers confuse you. Talk to some like a close friend or a family member about your concerns. They might be able to find the solution to your problems. Also, have faith in yourself, too. Not having faith in yourself will now get you anywhere because you might just give up. Remember that God is always there for you, no matter how hard things are in life, he will always love you. You just have to remember that some prayers take time to get to God so you still have to hold on to your faith and never give up. It might be hard but you have to remember to always keep your faith and hope for God close heart.

Hope you rediscover God's love.
God bless you,

Kristen K.


p.s.~ if you need anymore advise just go to my profile and email me.

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Answer 11

We do not always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Allow me to share with you The tale of Three Trees:

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

The second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

The third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to

my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.

When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.

One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenter's, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.

The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped.

At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.

When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things do not seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, but not in the way they had imagined.

Hope this has been helpful.
May God bless you, this day... and every day...