Got Questions?
We're all ears.
Each night below we will meet from 7-8 p.m. to hear a short talk, then have a discussion based on the talk and some relevant passages from the Bible. Please come and encourage anyone you know who is asking questions to join you.
November 14
Why does God allow suffering?
November 21
Is there a conflict
between Science and Christianity?
November 28
What about other religions?
Can they be true too?
December 5
What does Christianity say about sexuality?
December 12
Does life have meaning? Why am I here?
December 19
What happens after we die, really?
January 2
How can I read and understand the Bible?
Can I believe it?
There is a PDF of the Questioning Your Faith flyer if you want to share this with someone. The first session is tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.
posted by King of Peace @ Tuesday, November 13, 2007
10 Comments:
At 11/13/2007 10:00 AM,
Anonymous said…
Will the sessions help me keep the faith I have? I fear it is fading.
At 11/13/2007 10:47 AM,
Anonymous said…
Anonymous,
Could you be mistaking losing faith with feeling disconnected from God? I've been there so very many times. I came to realize that during those times if I were losing faith I wouldn't feel so isolated, lonely, dark and angry. If there were truly a loss of faith, I wouldn't have these feelings because I wouldn't care.
The fact that you fear losing what you do have exhibits tremendous faith. The fact that you are looking for a way back to Him shows that you know He is there. We all have these doubts and fears at times, but that is God drawing us closer to Him.
I don't believe that faith can be lost. Maybe misplaced, or set on the back burner, but never really lost. Does that make sense?
These sessions may have been presented to you as a way of easing your fears and doubts so you might feel connected to Him again.
Many prayers and Blessings!!!
At 11/13/2007 12:09 PM,
Anonymous said…
I don’t have tremendous faith, all I have it the hope that I can keep what I do have.
Then again Hope is the denial of reality I have been told.
I am so disconnected with God now that I am finding it hard to pray each day and I feel lost. I don’t know who I am anymore.
At 11/13/2007 1:07 PM,
Anonymous said…
Anonymous,
Know that I am praying for you and know that I have been right where you are, maybe for different reasons, but in the same place.
Hopefully, what I'm about to tell you may give you a place to start. About 3 years ago I was at my wits end with God. I couldn't feel Him, I couldn't pray; I was consumed with depression and anger. Nothing I did seemed to get His attention and I felt abandoned.
One day, I walked into my church and decided to lay it all on the line with God. I sat in that church and wrote God an eight page letter leaving no stone unturned with how I felt. I folded the letter and left it unsigned on the altar. I walked out of the church with the attitude, "Ha! I guess I told Him!" Well, everyday I felt the need to say more and more to God, so I wrote more letters leaving them on the altar.
This went on for a few months. Then one day, my pastor at the time finally confronted me. He said that he knew I had been the author of the letters and that he was praying over them and leaving them with the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. He told me as long as I wrote he would help me get my letters to God.
After about a year, I finally had no more words to write. My priest said, "Now that you've had your say, are you ready to listen?"
It took a year of purging for me to realize that part of prayer is listening to Him. Once I got out all of my anger and resentfulness I was able to finally understand that I wasn't making room or time for His response to my prayers. I was consumed with so much that I couldn't see Him. I thought that I was abandoned, when in fact He was there through the whole ordeal allowing me the time to learn for myself and focus on Him once again. When that happened, so did our connection.
Don't give up praying. When you say you don't know how to pray anymore, maybe its time to listen. Start by sitting quietly just ten minutes everyday and focus on blessings. Know that you have me and others that will pray with you and for you.
Don't ever give up! God loves to hear from you, no matter what it is you have to say. Try to stay focused and continue to worship in church and attend the studies and sessions that are offered. We are there for you.
Again, I am praying for you!!!!
At 11/13/2007 1:20 PM,
Anonymous said…
I have decided the best thing for me to do for a while is leave the church. I, well I just don’t even know what I need or want for that matter.
I read a book recently that was helpful and I will find more and keep going. This will I hope open me up again to the thought that the Lord will find me again. Or I should say I will find the Lord again.
I hate this feeling of being lost that I have, I can’t describe how my heart hurts.
At 11/13/2007 4:15 PM,
Anonymous said…
Anonymous,
I hate it that you are feeling lost too! I know how it hurts and it is indescribable. I am especially sorry that you feel the need to leave your church. Do you have a support system of family and friends that will pray with you and listen to you? Is there anything that I can do?
At 11/13/2007 8:03 PM,
Anonymous said…
I have been talking to my priest and he has helped. But I feel like I am just taking space. Talking and not making sense.Taking his time. He has done what he can and I can't ask for any more. I don't have family support but I know that friends from the church would listen but I feel like I have brought sadness and concern because of my situation and I hate that feeling. Not that they make me feel bad, I feel better there than anywhere. I love Church! I love the people in it.
I just don't know what to do.
You have helped me, you listened
At 11/13/2007 8:42 PM,
Anonymous said…
Anonymous,
I can tell you this one thing for sure. You are not just taking up space; you are a child of God! I am willing to bet that more times than not you have been a support system for your friends, listening to them and helping them through tough times. You were doing God's work. Now you need them. It is their opportunity to do God's work, not because they have to, but because they care! That's concern and it's alright for people to feel that.
It is alright that you need your friends, your priest and your church. Personally, I feel honored when somebody in need reaches out to me, and I know your friends feel honored that you have chosen them to help you!
Please don't leave your church. It's a place where you feel love. Not only do you feel love from others you also feel the love you have to offer. Love is always a two way street. Don't take concern as pity or sadness. Staying connected to God's children and their love is, in fact, staying connected to Him.
At 11/13/2007 9:07 PM,
King of Peace said…
I don't know who your priest is, but I know priests, and the clergy I know like to be needed probably more than the next person (to a fault generally). And any person struggling with their faith and the tough questions of life is a large part of what one is ordained to help someone through.
And the church as a whole is a hospital for sinners, not the refuge of the perfect. Removing yourself from church in a time of need is something like removing yourself from food and water when you are hungry and thirsty, with similar effect.
To another anonymous writer, I loved the story of writing letters to God. Writing yourself to the point of being able to listen. Powerful stuff.
As to the original question about this study and fading faith...the study is not designed for that exactly, as it is designed to help people think through with others some common big questions of life. But the discussion time should be lively and helpful in this circumstance.
peace,
Frank+
At 11/14/2007 12:19 AM,
Anonymous said…
Thank you Father Frank and Anonymous.
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