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Struggling with my Faith

JTFC

Member
When I was a child I was able to believe in God with all of my heart, but now that I'm in my late teens I been questioning my faith. I've been practicing things that are against the Catholic church, which is my faith, such as Witchcraft and Psychics. I'm really confused and don't know where to turn. My mind tells me that both my faith and the New Age practices have truth to them, but when I go to one, I immediately think of the other and I can't decide what to choose. I guess what I'm trying to say is, How can remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and be connected with him always? I thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this.

God bless you,
JTFC
 

Jordan St. Francis

Well-Known Member
In the first place, while witchcraft and psychic practices are against what we believe in the Catholic religion, there is generally truth in all religions and spiritual traditions. Truth is everywhere, not just in the Catholic religion, so the human being is drawn to truth where ever it is found.

This desire for God, for his love, mystery and truth, sometimes leads a person to error, because he searches for the right thing in the wrong place.

I used to practice a religion that was not Catholic or arguably Christian, and had occultic elements, but in the end I found it was actually able to prepare my heart for a fuller acceptance of Christ as He is understood in the Catholic faith.

So, don't lose heart in that regard.

How can you be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and remain with him always?

In the first place, the Lord gives Himself to us the sacred mysteries of the Church. Do you go to Mass? Do you ever visit a church to pray before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament?

This could be a good start, though the Lord does not just remain with us simply on account of piety. One has to begin to nurture an authentic life of prayer----a life of real honesty with God. Don't be afraid to tell Him everything, even all of your doubts and confusions. God always understands and he is always listening to you. The ultimate response to God is to listen to Him in return, to make a space inside yourself where His voice can be heard and where He can be received as a gift.

If you struggle with praying authentically, take heart in the words of St. Paul:

We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit intercedes with us with sighs too deep for words.

If words fail you, just sit in silence, maybe with a candle, and say "Lord, you know my heart. Let the Spirit say everything that I can not".

And let yourself fall asleep at night remembering the Blessed Trinity, the God who is Love Himself, whose love is the cradle of life and the gift available to you whenever you would seek it.

God bless, I will pray for you.
 
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JTFC

Member
Thank you very much, for responding. I feel better now and more reassured that God is with me every step of the way. I would like to think of you as God's messenger to help me in my time of need.

Just like Matthew 25:40
"And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
Thank you forever and always.

JTFC
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
When I was a child I was able to believe in God with all of my heart, but now that I'm in my late teens I been questioning my faith. I've been practicing things that are against the Catholic church, which is my faith, such as Witchcraft and Psychics. I'm really confused and don't know where to turn. My mind tells me that both my faith and the New Age practices have truth to them, but when I go to one, I immediately think of the other and I can't decide what to choose. I guess what I'm trying to say is, How can remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and be connected with him always? I thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this.
God bless you,
JTFC

First of all, Jesus believed that the Bible is religious truth- John 17:17-
that would set us free from what is false.

John 17:3 mentions getting to know God and Jesus or getting accurate knowledge of them. According to Acts 17:11 the noble-minded people searched or researched Scriptures each day to see if what they were learning was really so in Scripture.

The world values a well-rounded secular education. By age 12 Jesus had a well-rounded Scriptural education to the point that he could use that religious knowledge from Scripture to reason with his elders.

So wouldn't it seem logical the way Jesus stayed connected to his Father was through prayer and Scripture, and we can follow Jesus as model or example to follow. - 1st Peter 1:21; Luke 11:13 B.
 

Brother Bob

New Member
I would just like to say, you are connected to Jesus Christ and very much so, or you wouldn't have been led to ask these questions. I assume, that you have been baptised, received the sacrement of eucharist, and confirmed? If that is correct, you have completed the sacrements of Christian initiation and your soul is marked with the character of Christ. Jesus will never leave you, you will have to be the one to leave him. Barring that, no matter how many times you stumble and fall, he will be there to pick you up, if you but lift your hand, summoning his help. Think very seriously of making a good confession and receiving the Eucharist. Your absolution will fill you with a joy that you remenber from childhood. You will be in my prayers JTFC.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Just like Matthew 25:40
"And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
JTFC

Who are the sheep and goats of Matthew 25v32 and who are Jesus 'brothers' of verse 40?
 

PVE1

Member
When I was a child I was able to believe in God with all of my heart, but now that I'm in my late teens I been questioning my faith. I've been practicing things that are against the Catholic church, which is my faith, such as Witchcraft and Psychics. I'm really confused and don't know where to turn. My mind tells me that both my faith and the New Age practices have truth to them, but when I go to one, I immediately think of the other and I can't decide what to choose. I guess what I'm trying to say is, How can remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and be connected with him always? I thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this.

God bless you,
JTFC

It's easy to be disheartened with God in this day and age - especially with the behavior of the Catholic Church. It is important to realize that Jesus never stated that Christianity was the only way to Heaven. He did state that belief in him and his laws were - but his laws are universal. They apply to every religion. And believe it or not, it is possible to still believe in the Word of Jesus and have a different faith. For example, I am a Christian but I adhere to Buddhism enough that I feel like I share the religions.

I was brought up a Catholic and I know what Catholic guilt can feel like. I struggle with it quite a bit in my life. The fear they put in you from a young age though does not represent the Compassionate Merciful God though. Do not fear God, worship Him and follow the commandments of Christ the best you can.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
It's easy to be disheartened with God in this day and age -Do not fear God, worship Him and follow the commandments of Christ the best you can.

If one follows the commandments of Christ the best one can {Matt 10v28,31]
then how could one not fear God as Jesus taught in verse 28?

If you mean do not 'fear' in the sense of do not be 'frightened' then that is right. Rather, we are to have a 'reverential fear' of displeasing God.

Verse 31 says 'fear not' or in other words do 'not be afraid' of what is happening, but we should fear displeasing God in the same way that we would not want to displease a loving father.

This 'day and age' is the age or time frame described as the last days of badness on earth before there is divine intervention into mankind's affairs.
[2nd Tim 3vs1-5,13]. Revelation [11v18b] promises that God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth. This can be not only literal ruin but also in a moral way. Jesus forewarned us [Matt chapter 24; Luke21] so that we are forearmed in knowing that once the gospel [good news] [Matt 24v14] is proclaimed world wide during this age or end times of badness on earth, then Jesus will act [Isaiah 11v4;2v4; Rev 19vs11,14,15] and Jesus will usher in Peace on Earth toward men of goodwill.
 

javajo

Well-Known Member
While I am more of what I guess you would call a protestant christian, I went through the same thing when I was young. It is a great journey. Learn and study all you can about all you can. Especially study the Bible and the history, archeology, prophecy fulfilled in real history, etc. It is all about Jesus, really. He loved us and died for us and gives us salvation freely and forever. He loves us and keeps us all the time, no matter what. The Holy Spirit and experience will guide you. It does not take long to learn when we dabble in things that are dangerous for us. You'll see.
 

opuntia

Religion is Law
Truth is in all things, from the very smallest crumb of earth to the greatest of the planets and stars above. So truth is likely to be reflected not just in the Catholic Church but in other forms of religions. The trick is learning to recognize truth that is uniform with the views of God. Certainly not an easy task but one that is doable. "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." (Proverbs 25:2). What did Jesus say? "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7; KJV). Truth will out eventually if you will not quit, after you have been tested to see if your desires are that great.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent completely equipped for every good work- 2 Tim 3vs16,17

Since the Bible is not written ABC as a dictionary, then the Scriptures need to be studied or researched [Acts 17v11] by subject or topic arrangement. That shows the internal harmony between its writers. A comprehensive concordance puts the Bible's words in alphabetical order and easy to locate.
Along with that, as the Ethiopian Official of Acts chapter eight said, how could he know unless someone guided him.

Jesus often referred or quoted Scripture as the basis for his beliefs.
Jesus used logic and reasoning on Scripture to teach.
Jesus did not teach Scripture is dangerous for us.
Jesus called Scripture truth or fact. [John 17v17] -religious truth.
Religious truth sets us free. Free from what is religiously false.
 
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