no faith

[Sonfest Rocker]

i have hardly any faith im strugaling.....
i guess its not really important tho......

[TomUK]

I love the word you use there, Haylea,

struggling

A struggling faith is a marvellous thing. Too many people have a faith they don't struggle with, a faith that's static, artificial, like a bunch of plastic flowers you got on the cheap down at the local stupermarket. Faith shouldn't be like that. We are here to be in a living, dynamic relationship with God. I love my parents completely but my relationship with them has had its up and downs. During those times when i've struggled with them it was definitely a challenge to build the relationship up once again. But I had to do it because they're my parents - i had to work at things.

Our faith, our relationship with God works on exactly the principles. The relationship isn't always perfect. Sometimes we feel separated, distant from him. I'd love to be able to tell you a something to do to make it all perfect, a book to read, a prayer to say, maybe a spiritual exercise to try out and after you'd done those things it would all be alright again. Maybe God have created the world to work that way, but then we'd miss out on the absolute joy of being in a relationship with him.

The fact that you see your faith at the moment as a struggling one at the moment is a good sign. Go to God in prayer and ask him to strengthen your faith. Then tomorrow do the same. Bring everything to him, your hopes, your fears, your struggles and offer them all up to him. As Paul says, it is when we are weak that we are strong.

[karen freeinchristman]

i have hardly any faith im strugaling.....
i guess its not really important tho......
Haylea, it is important - You might not feel important, but you are. You're important to God and you're important to many of us here at CF, though we live 1000's of miles away. Getting to know you has been a blessing for me.

Tom is right about the struggling, though it doesn't feel like a positive or good thing at the time when we're struggling. Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God. Keep on searching and seeking. Refuse to abandon your faith, little as it may be!

To be honest, I think you could do with a complete change of scenery - save up some money, then get a job somewhere else. Get involved in a new community of faithful people.

[JasonV]

Can't add anything which hasn't been said. You'll be fine!

[Sonfest Rocker]

the thing i find hard is i have the mental knowledge but i dont really have the heart not sure if that makes sence

[Secundulus]

the thing i find hard is i have the mental knowledge but i dont really have the heart not sure if that makes sence
You know that God exists but you don't feel his presence right now. That makes you doubt what you know. Is that it?

Some of the great mystics of the Church have written about this very thing which they too experienced. St. John of the Cross described it perfectly.

Even Christ himself felt it when on the Cross he cried, "My God, why have you forsaken me."

The thing you have to do is not to give up. Maintain a spiritual disciple with prayer and as God sees your faithfulness, he will return to your senses. If you do this, you will be much stronger than before. God is not abandoning you. He is strengthening you so that you will later be able to overcome all in faith.

Edit to add ----

Faith is not an emotion. Faith is loyalty to God.

[karen freeinchristman]

Just having said Morning Prayer, I would like to recommend to you, Haylea, that you try to say Morning and Evening Prayer as often as you can (every day if possible) - Here are links to the online C of E liturgies, which make it so easy to say them because all the readings are already there for you:

Morning Prayer (http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/dailyprayer/morning/) - I recommend choosing the Common Worship option - click on 'today', under 'Common Worship'

Evening Prayer (http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/dailyprayer/evening/)- Again, I recommend the Common Worship option


Say them out loud, even though it feels silly at first to do that when you are alone. I didn't used to get anything out of saying these, but I've found that now, it is of immense help and sustains me. The Psalms especially, when read every day, are so helpful, especially when we are going through rough patches in the journey.

Try to commit yourself to doing at least one of these per day for a week and see what difference it makes. It only takes 15 minutes or so. :)

[Sonfest Rocker]

i find it hard to pray... its hard to explain
i open my mouth words dont come out
i go to church and it takes all my effort not to a) walk out and b) cry

it sounds stupid
i feel stupid
gahh
:(

[karen freeinchristman]

It isn't stupid -

Try doing it silently at first, then.

Tonights Evening Prayer has Psalm 27 - if nothing else, read Psalm 27 from your bible.

[Sonfest Rocker]

It isn't stupid -

Try doing it silently at first, then.

Tonights Evening Prayer has Psalm 27 - if nothing else, read Psalm 27 from your bible.
ok maybe

i am over life atm
i dont know what i believe
i feel so alone....:(

[higgs2]

Keep reading the prayerbook, preferrably along with a service, even if you don't believe or it seems useless to do so. Keep praying, alone if you have to and in company when you can. Don't judge whether what you are doing is true or whether you are believing or not. Just keep reading the prayers.

It's called practicing a religion for a reason, and sometimes it's so difficult it seems pointless. That is just when you should *not give up* because you are probably going to have some sort of breaththrough in your faith. Pray alone, but most importantly pray with others.

Good luck. It's hard, but it seems that you are sincere and up for the challenge.

Hope this helps.

[Sonfest Rocker]

i cant pray
i try to pray and i feel soo bad so down...

[Mick116]

i cant pray
i try to pray and i feel soo bad so down...
You may not know me personally, but know that prayers for you are being offered to God.

I can certainly relate when you say, "it is difficult to pray". I have the same difficulties with prayer. And praying "by the book", morning and evening, is a difficult routine to establish, especially when our faith is stretched so far and thin.

At the risk of sounding cliche, you are not alone. The spirit of Jesus is alive within you, and around you, in the hearts and minds of your brohers and sisters in Christ. The God that is so hidden from our senses, so vague, so mysterious, is, paradoxically, nearer to us than our next breath.

Don't worry about finding the right words to pray. Praying isn't much about speaking, anyway, as if we needed to tell God something. I suggest playing some relaxing music, make yourself a tea or a coffee, get comfortable, and just sit and sip your caffeinated beverage in the presence of God. Listen with your heart, but don't worry about speaking. Your silence can be offered to God as a prayer.

Together, may we pray, "Lord, I believe... help my unbelief".

God be with you, dear sister.

[PaladinGirl]

i have hardly any faith im strugaling.....
i guess its not really important tho......

I know what it's like to struggle. But struggling can be a good thing. Here is some of what the Bible (verses from the NRSV) says about struggling:

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Colossians 1:28-29 It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Hebrews 10:32-33 But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.

Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

2 Esdras 12:47 for the Most High has you in remembrance, and the Mighty One has not forgotten you in your struggle.

I sincerely hope that these Bible verses are helpful to you.

And yes, it is important what you are going through. You are my sister in Christ and I don't want to see you struggling. But remember that often times after we are through the struggle, we are stronger in our faith.

the thing i find hard is i have the mental knowledge but i dont really have the heart not sure if that makes sence

I have also felt this way before. It has not happened often to me before but it has happened to me in the past. I will pray for you. :crossrc:

i find it hard to pray... its hard to explain
i open my mouth words dont come out
i go to church and it takes all my effort not to a) walk out and b) cry

it sounds stupid
i feel stupid
gahh
:(

Don't feel stupid Sonfest Rocker. You can't help what you are going through. I understand that you are struggling deeply. And for this I offer you my hugs and prayers. :hug: :crossrc:

ok maybe

i am over life atm
i dont know what i believe
i feel so alone....:(

I know what it is like to feel alone. I have felt that way many times in the past. Try not to give up. The problems will end at some point in the future. These trials will not last forever.

i cant pray
i try to pray and i feel soo bad so down...

Have you tried praying formal prayers such as the Our Father? Perhaps that would help.

I sincerely hope that my post is welcome and that it has helped you. I care about you Sonfest Rocker. May God richly bless you and may your trials disappear quickly.

[Finella]

Sonfest, it seems to me that every post you've made in this thread is a prayer. That is a true prayer, voicing how you really feel.

Many of us have been there, and are still there. Keep connecting with those you love and who love you, and it will be alright. It sucks right now, but there will be another side.

[karen freeinchristman]

Sonfest, it seems to me that every post you've made in this thread is a prayer.
Good point!

[karen freeinchristman]

I stumbled across this webpage today and thought you might find it helpful: http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11572520/

[norbie]

My Dear Sister in Christ, you don't know how sad your posts make me. I know how you most likely feel: burned out, empty inside, I did so much for you, God why have you abandon me, why have you make me feel so lonely, why isn't there love for me? A big hole in your heart.
Please believe this 'old man' I went through this a few times in my life, and I found a 'medizine' for it. Don't do anything, just find a undisturbed place, sit down close your eyes and say to Jesus: Lord, I am lost, I can't go on like this, I put my life into your hands - show me a way out, show me what to do.
And trust me, Jesus will put his arms around you, will give you grace, faith and hope, and his never ending love. Sometime we stand ourself in the way to let Jesus take over our life.
Talk to Jesus, he listen. When I was in your situation, I had tears in my eyes and told Jesus that I need help - and he heard my prayer.
Just let go - give your life full to Jesus, you are his most important person, he loves you.
My thoughts are with you, my Dear young Lady and a very big :hug: from your brother in Christ, Norbie