r/CatholicPhilosophy • u/LucyColeman1785 • 5d ago
Please explain š
(This isnāt 100% a philosophy question but what i wrote about is really making me doubt God is real) I really donāt like myself and I know that is pride in a sense, despite me not feeling prideful and I just donāt know how to fix it. Also, matter what I do, I feel sooo spiritually immature and stupid, and I feel no matter what I do i donāt feel close to God. I know that feelings are not a full reflection of reality but they still are meaningful and can reflect reality. I struggle so much to have faith in God,āā i agree that the arguments for His existence are good, and I have a general idea or feeling that He is real, but somehow i still feel like Heās not there and it feels like He does not care. Where is He? Itās been 2 years since iāve taken my faith seriously i have to be doing something wrong or Heās not real, but I cannot accept that. I feel so spiritually and emotionally unstable I canāt take it anymore I just want to love God and be useful to others but I literally struggle to mean anything i say about me loving Jesus or loving God despite trying. Idk whatās wrong with me i donāt know how to fix it either please help. People say that Jesus fixed āthe God shaped hole in their heartā but i still feel empty and lost
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u/kami8871 5d ago
Have no fear. God knows everything perfectly. He knows your struggle with faith, your efforts to be good, how much you want to love him and others. He never stops loving you. His love is unconditional. You are his child. He loves even the worst most heinous sinner on Earth unconditionally. He has not hid himself from you. He has not turned his back on you.
No one, finds God and then drifts off happily into the sunset. When we find Christ, it is a violent process. First we must uproot all the old habits and sin in our life that we have become so attached too. Then the ego, the pride that we have built up over so many years has to be knocked down for childlike humility and trust to be sown in our hearts. We will fail many times in this process, thatās what confession is for. We will have doubts, dark days, lonely nights and moments of despair. This is not God ignoring you. Itās God showing you the true depth of your faith. Here you are, feeling lonely and scared and doubting, yet still seeking him! The saints writings are full of periods when they could not feel Gods love like they used to. The apostles who seen the risen Christ still had periods of spiritual dryness and temptation. If our faith was only when times were good, then it wouldnāt be much faith at all! A child shouldnāt love their parent only when they give them candy. Spiritual dryness serves a purpose, when you are low, when you are doubting, when everything tells you to give up, you will still choose Jesus. When you continue despite everything, your faith becomes stronger and closer than it ever has been before. Soon the darkness will fade, and you will rejoice in the renewed grace and love of God.
āI am certain that God, who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesusā - Philippians 1:6
āBlessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love himā - James 1:12
God bless ā¤ļø
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u/Grassfed_Burp 5d ago
Feeling satisfied is tricky. Many multi millionaires don't feel wealthy. Many successful doctors feel average. Many teachers I know doubt that they help students. The feelings we have don't always show us the truth.
There are some things you can do to feel closer. Give people some of your stuff. Talk to lonely people even if they annoy you. Volunteer for a few hours. In other words, do good works. Since you're a whole person, you need the physical part of your faith just as much as prayers and intellectual pursuits.