How to live if no faith...
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How to live if no faith...
| Fri, 07-28-2006 - 7:33am |
I have been a firm Catholic ever since little. That was my own choice, somehow I found a way to it since no one in my family went to church. It was nice in one way, so fulfilling being a part of that society and believing God loves me endlessly, he's always there to help and so on.
The other side of story was so much illogical belief like going to hell for one mortal sin and so on and so on...
Little by little, exploring and questioning, I came to a point where I stopped believing. Not just in Catholic church but in God himself. Better to say, seeing all the stuff in the world and problems that we all face, how there so much pain and hurt and no religion gave me answer why it all happens, I stopped believing God as in something magnificent, big, and endlessly loving.
Now I live empty, faithlessly, like a shell without nothing in it. This life ain't so pretty any more. Sure, everything goes well for me, but I feel deep inside that nothing fulfills me.
People, what experiences do you have?
How to regain my faith?
I miss believing that this whole life really has a purpose. I miss someone to have to follow. And above all I miss God.
The other side of story was so much illogical belief like going to hell for one mortal sin and so on and so on...
Little by little, exploring and questioning, I came to a point where I stopped believing. Not just in Catholic church but in God himself. Better to say, seeing all the stuff in the world and problems that we all face, how there so much pain and hurt and no religion gave me answer why it all happens, I stopped believing God as in something magnificent, big, and endlessly loving.
Now I live empty, faithlessly, like a shell without nothing in it. This life ain't so pretty any more. Sure, everything goes well for me, but I feel deep inside that nothing fulfills me.
People, what experiences do you have?
How to regain my faith?
I miss believing that this whole life really has a purpose. I miss someone to have to follow. And above all I miss God.

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LOL, if you knew this girl before she became
faithfilled, she was so mischievous and nasty, but
in a fun way and always made us laugh so hard.
So when she prayed that prayer while standing
in Altar Call, in a way we weren't surprised that
she would ask in that fashion lol.
Since then, she is still a fun person to be around
but toned down, lol.
~*~ there's nothing that a nap can't cure (wink!).... ~*~
~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~
Hello!
I'm new here and wanted to say hi to all of those that are here. :)
Cindy your posting is a breath of fresh air. I am excited to see someone else's loving attempt to encourage another and that is very rare these days. Normally we are quick to point the finger or pass subtle judgments especially when it comes to our beliefs but I just wanted to extend a hug to you for the Christ like compassion you show to others that may come upon this posting.
You are so right when you say God is there and He knew us before we were born. That is so comforting if you really think about it. I have been blessed with so many blessings, day after day. I love each and every one of them and again, we do struggle just like any other human but with God we won't ever lose any battle because He is much bigger than the battle! :) I like to think of it as looking at a mountain (problem/obstacle) and then God and I used to pray and ask God to help me with this/that and now I just ask Him to move the mountain and each and every time He moves that mountain. Sometimes I find He uses me (wisdom/faith) to climb that mountain but only to build up my strength. That is grace!
I hope those that need it are encouraged and anyone else, just blessed altogether!
Bless God!
Miyelo
Hey there!
I read your post and wanted to send encouragement that God does hear us, but when we talk with Him or To Him and don't get an answer right away or see some change right away that is because His wisdom is infinite and He will answer in His time, not ours. His time is not ours. I used to feel the same way you mentioned, that I'd be in prayer or meditating and silence, nothing but pure and awkward silence. Well I had to learn to open my heart not just my ears to what He had for me. The thing about God is His wisdom, His word is so clear and definitive, we have to train ourselves to be completely submissive to Him to hear and understand what He wants us to hear/understand. God is not the author of confusion therefore if/when we pray openly and with complete submission to Him, we will receive clarity from Him, not confusion. He is never changing, never wavering and therefore His words, love, compassion for us is steadfast. I totally understand where you are coming from.
I hope this is encouraging. :)
Miyelo
And thank you, Miyelo, as your post has ministered to me.
I did not mention this yet, but on August 6 while we were
in the middle of a praise song in service, Sunny's name
came to my mind and my heart began to cry for her.
Although it was not sadness.
~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~
Hi,
I wanted to share my experience with getting answers from God. I have asked many of the same questions you are asking and I am far from having answers to all of my questions. I still question my faith and I don't think God will ever mind my questioning because it's human nature to question that which we don't understand.
Most of my questions for God were why she would allow me to marry someone I don't love and have children with that person. I felt trapped and saw no way out. I've had so many people tell me that we always have choices, but I saw only two choices. Either stay and be unhappy, or leave him and have to share custody with him. I couldn't stand the idea of not being with my children every day - that would be even more torturous than staying. So I was angry and continuously asked God why she would allow me to to get into such an unhappy situation. No answers came, for years. I lost faith. Life became almost unbearably miserable. And then God hit me over the head with a serious problem. I thought my husband was having an affair. Again, I asked God, "Why would you put me in this situation?" No answer came, but I decided not to give up. I held tight to my faith and continued to ask. I continued to pray. Then I got an email from a friend I hadn't talked to in years that said, "God had to hit you over the head to get your attention, now shut up and listen to the message."
That night as I was putting my daughter to bed I was laying there with her, wishing she would hurry up and fall asleep like I always do. This night, however, I got a message. This message came as a voice from deep within. It said to me, "Instead of rushing your daughter to sleep, why don't you take advantage of this quiet time?" So I layed there quietly and asked God, "Why would you put me in a situation where I feel so trapped and unhappy?" I layed there quietly for half an hour, and then my answer came. "You ALWAYS have choices. YOU can choose how you REACT to 'problems' in your life. You are never trapped. You always have choices." And my life changed that night. I literally stopped seeing 'problems' as problems and started seeing opportunities. Many opportunities for growth. I have learned so many lessons from being with my husband. I've learned many, many things about myself. Things that have helped me grow as a person, as a sister, as a mother, as a friend and even as a wife. And honestly, I don't think I was 'ready' for the answer I got until I got it. I wasn't at a point in my life where my 'answer' would have been as meaningful or as helpful as it was when it came that night, at that time in my life. But before that night I didn't *know* that I wasn't ready - I ALWAYS thought I was ready!
I may be in my marriage for the rest of my life. I may find happiness elsewhere with someone else. But it's not so much an issue anymore. I truly feel I can leave it to God and it will be worked out in my favor when the time is right. In the meantime, my marriage offers me many opportunities to be a better person. My husband is not the 'enemy' I thought he was - I was just unable to look at my own issues (of which I had/have many). Simply being in a happy relationship wouldn't have awarded me with such self examination and such personal growth.
The thing is, faith means continuing to believe even if you don't get the answers you want when you want them. If it were that easy, why would we need faith? But when the time is right for you, she WILL answer. You just have to be ready, and you have to be listening. I believe it's good for you to ask all the questions you're asking now because they're a part of your journey. Maybe if you keep asking you'll come across the person, or the experience that will answer your questions. You should always do what feels right to you. I believe if you keep asking God questions, if you keep examining your own life and growing, and you open yourself up to the possibility that the answers can come, they will. But you have to believe.
One of my biggest personal issues was/is "control"! I had to control everything in my life, including how and when God would exist in my life. I had to let go of that need to control and allow her in my life on her terms, and when I did, she came.
For the longest time I never got answers. Now I have to keep a journal because they come so easily.
As another poster said, "Be still". That doesn't mean to sit quietly and ask, "Okay God, here I am, and this is my question." That means to be still in life. Meditate. Focus on beauty. Pay attention to that beautiful rose that's growing outside your window. Notice all the beauty around you instead of all the pain and suffering in the world. Watch what you focus on, because what you focus on is what you bring into your life. Be still in life. Be patient. Be trusting. Be OPEN. And watch for the signs. Listen for the messages. They will come.
Edited 8/16/2006 12:50 am ET by solanasmama
I understand what you're all saying. I should be patient and wait for him/her to come into my life alone.
Well, guys, I've been waiting since I was like 10 years old. Most of you who feel now that you finally figured God out, I was like that all the way until few years ago. I had that faith which was presented to me by Catholic priests, I was just "waiting" and "letting" him to do the work. I was patient and opened up my heart to him. I didn't need the signs, I didn't need his actual touch. It was just enough to believe he's there.
Over the years as the problems grew bigger my faith started to fade.
I am so grateful to you all who just give me good pointers and try to help me.
But since I was once like you, had faith and didn't need the signs, and now feel diferent, I doubt I'll be able to find the answers just by "changing the tune to faith".
Sunny, you just said "you doubt you'll be able to
find the answers....." in the post before this.
Doubt keeps faith from working.
Something else came to my mind. I remember when
friends/relatives would go through "rough patches", they would
begin to help others out more, be involved in church
ministry....and amazingly God healed them/solved their
then problems faster than if they just did nothing.
Which brings to mind the scripture that reads: "I will
prosper you even as your soul prospers." It does not
always mean financially, but it always means that God
will see to it that your "needs" are taken care of,
whether it be mentally, emotionally or physically.
Sort of on that note, I seem to get more answers
from God for my own personal situations, when I pray
for other people.
Of course I pray only because others need prayers,
and God loves to see our faith in action.
Anyway, Sunny, we will continue to hold you in our
thoughts.
Hugs,
~*~ there's nothing that a nap can't cure (wink!).... ~*~
~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~
Solanasmama, how true....he will not reveal
answers to us until he knows we are good and ready
to receive them.
God's wisdom....so amazing compared to our limited
human knowledge.
Hugs,
~*~ there's nothing that a nap can't cure (wink!).... ~*~
~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~
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