|
What Do I Know of Holy
I'm Catholic, and I have always believed in God.
But people talk about having personal relationships and experiences with Him and how He has spoken to them and given them signs and answered their prayers. And... I just never feel like I ever get answers to my prayers, or that He ever speaks to me in any way no matter how hard I pray.
And I fear that my faith will fade. And I need it to be stenghtened instead. I hate that i'm starting to have doubts. What can I do to make my relationship better with God, and to hear His answers?
There's this song that goes:
"I made You promises a thousand times. I tried to hear from Heaven but I talked the whole time. I think I made You too small. I never feared You at all. If You touched my face would I know You? Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
What do I know of You who spoke me into motion? Where have I even stood but the shore along Your ocean? Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful? What do I know? What do I know of Holy?"
That's exactly how I feel, except that I don't know what to do about it.
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Spirituality?
Well first I think you have to accept Lord Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then confess your sins and ask Him to forgive you your sins. After that you can express your wish to draw closer to Him.(I don't know if you have ever actually professed with your own mouth that Christ is Lord, acknowledged that your a sinner and asked for forgiveness) because its very important. I understand that catholics recite prayers so that's why I ask. Just try praying from your own heart and mind with a clean heart. Also ask Lord Jesus to send you the Holy Spirit to be your counsellor and guide you. Ofcourse their is also reading the Bible, listening to His word and associating with other beliver Christians who can help you. Constant prayer is also good, not reciting prayers but ones from your own heart. I don't mean to condem anyone but I just don't belive that catholicism actually teaches people how to have a personal relationship with Christ. I hope I've helped atleast.
]
I'm of two minds on how to answer your question.
As a former Catholic, raised in the same dogma you have been, I remind you that faith is precisely that. It is belief in that which cannot and probably will not ever be proven to you.
Faith is heralded as a virtue, but at the same time as a former Catholic I feel the need to speak to you as someone who has not seen God or holiness in any religion in my life, ever.
When I was younger, I fought for faith. I covered myself in denial trying to believe. I ignored what questions arose in me and did my best to be the devout believer everyone told me I was supposed to be.
The truth was, it never fit. I have never heard the voice of God, never experienced what I would consider a divine moment. Never in my life would I consider my faith to have been "rewarded".
What I have seen and experienced is humanity. The bible tells us that man was made in God's image, but the truth that I feel, that I have experienced, is that God is made in man's image. For the vengeful and hate filled, so is God. For the loving, so is God. For the just, so is God. For the unjust, so is God.
Your questions will continue until you stop them yourself. They won't be answered, but you can choose to look away and have faith, or you can choose to look at where your questions lead you. I chose the second path, I could not help myself. Having seen so much hypocrisy in God's name I read the bible over and over, and scripture had no answers. I talked to priests, they had no answers.
Ultimately though, what shattered my belief is the phrase "God has a plan". That phrase was used to comfort me in times of stress and tragedy when I was a child, and I have seen it used to justify the arbitrary nature of the world time and again as an adult.
What I do want you to know, is that not hearing God responding is not a failure on your part. Others would probably say differently, I say simply that you are intelligent. You feel the contradictions in religion. You feel out of place, even when you can't explain why. You probably don't want to look at these things you feel, but even if there is a God he made you what you are and what you are questions the reality your religion has tried to present you with.
I stepped outside of Catholicism hoping that other Christian sects might hold more answers. None of them did, at least not for me.
The only truth I have ever found in this world is that life is what you make of it. Perhaps you will find faith where I did not, perhaps you will not.
If not, though, do not look at it as some failing of yours. You are only human. Faith is too much to ask of everyone, some of us were born to question, and there are questions you might have that religion will never be able to answer.
]
GOD is always there. Whether you know it or not. Of course you may have doubts because you can't see GOD you just have to have faith. When you have faith in GOD he can help you through any obsticle. In order to have a good relationship with GOD you need to read his word.Read the bible its actually really interesting. It has stories and tells us how to live our lives for the better. I recommend beginning at Matthew 5 and just continue to read. Reading GODS word strengthens your relationship with him. Never ever loose faith. I hope that i have helped you. Good luck on your walk with GOD
God bless :)
]
More Questions: |