I hate waiting for him to die

[Lady Bug]

This is awful and is not the first time I've said this. I need my dad for certain reasons, yet the only way for him to stop trying to force Islam on me is to die a natural death - because I don't think there is any other way he'll stop. This situation is just too abhorrent

 

[mourningdove~]

This is awful and is not the first time I've said this. I need my dad for certain reasons, yet the only way for him to stop trying to force Islam on me is to die a natural death - because I don't think there is any other way he'll stop. This situation is just too abhorrent

You are a Catholic. The Catholic Church teaches ways to deal with suffering of your sort ... suffering when circumstances do not change when we want them to change. Perhaps others here will share their wisdom about this with you.

Please know, God can and will get you through this. Do not lose faith in Him.
This situation will not go on forever, but for now ... 'it is'.
Know that God loves you, and you can trust Him.
Trust Him to get you thru this. He is Trustworthy.
And He loves you.

God bless and keep you @Lady Bug

 

[Lady Bug]

The Catholic Church teaches ways to deal with suffering of your sort

Please tell me

 

[mourningdove~]

Please tell me

I can tell you that it happened to me once, that I found myself in an extremely difficult situation that I was not able to get myself out of. Just wasn't possible; there was no way out. And I didn't know for how long the situation would last.

I believe I may have fallen victim to despair, had I not felt lead to research Catholic teachings on suffering. While I had been a Christian for many years, I'd never heard much preached or taught in Protestant churches about suffering. About how to endure it. How to persevere. But I remembered that Catholicism addressed it.

So the Lord works in mysterious ways! One morning I 'happened' to catch an old Mother Angelica show on EWTN and she was talking about suffering. Mother Angelica knew alot about suffering. And she was very helpful to me, in explaining God's purposes in suffering, how He uses our sufferings to grow us in virtue, to draw us nearer in relationship to Him, to increase our faith. To teach us how to persevere.

To hear that there was a purpose to my suffering was a big encouragement to me. Not to say that God inflicts suffering on His children, but He does allow for suffering to happen to us. We live in a fallen world and sometimes we truly cannot escape or run from the painful situations. But I learned that if we will humbly accept what is happening to us in the moment, as God's will for us at that time, and learn to trust Him, trust Him, trust Him .... God will come through for us in ways we never imagined, and yes, increase our faith in Him, too!

(Favorite prayer in difficult times: "Jesus, I trust in You")

I did proceed to read many Catholic books on suffering ... bought every one I could find.

(Favorite book in difficult times: "Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence")

Eventually, by the grace of God, I was able to stop mentally 'fighting' (resisting) the situation and accept that what was happening to me was God's will for my life at the time. Once I stopped the mental fighting, moments of peace began to come, and eventually the situation did change. It did go on for a time, but it also did come to an end. And the fruits of the lesson were good.

Now I've probably said all I should say, but I know there are persons of strong faith here who I think could offer you more ... perhaps persons who have been in foxhole situations ... or situations where they felt trapped for a time ... and learned there to depend on God.

I will say, your situation sounds very difficult. If you could leave, it would seem the healthy thing to do. But seems that you have reasons for staying, and that is okay, too. Just please know that God is there with you and He will get you thru this. That is why I responded to your opening post ... to hope to encourage you with what I know to be true.

What I've begun to share about persevering is sort of 'big girl' stuff. It's sort of 'next level' in the school of faith. Generally, persons seem not to want to talk much about enduring suffering, but suffering is a very real part of life here on earth. I do not know your story to know what spiritual lessons you may have already learned, but given what is happening to you now, I would say the Lord may be getting ready to graduate you to the next level!

I am a sort of silly person, but I do tend to see life as consisting of ongoing faith lessons.
(Works for me! I love to learn with God ...)

God bless you.

 

[RileyG]

Please tell me

"Lord, I offer this _____ for the conversion of my father"

 

[Lady Bug]

I'm always feeling suicidal over this
Suppose my dad lives til 100, that means I have to wait 10 years for relief?

 

[RileyG]

I'm always feeling suicidal over this
Suppose my dad lives til 100, that means I have to wait 10 years for relief?

Only pray God’s will be done.

 

[mourningdove~]

I'm always feeling suicidal over this
Suppose my dad lives til 100, that means I have to wait 10 years for relief?

I'm so sorry this situation gets so hard to bear at times. It's understandable why you would be hoping soon for some relief. It can be very hard bearing our problems alone. It's good that you can post here for support, and if things get really too hard for you to bear alone, I hope you won't hesitate to also contact a local crisis help line to personally talk with someone, or even the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: About

In 12 Step recovery programs, we have a saying: "One Day at a Time". I think it's a really good saying. When we are struggling with an issue, the problem becomes much easier to handle when we do it one day at a time, trusting in God to get us thru that one day. If the problem is still there the following day, we do it again ... and trust God to get us thru that day, like He did the day before!

I've found that trusting God, one day at a time, is often the best we can do with the big problem situations in our lives.

Saying a prayer for you tonite ...

 

[Solo81]

"My child, take care of your father in his old age, do not cause him sorrow as long as he lives.
Even if he has lost his mind, have patience; do not be disrespectful to him while you are in full health. For kindness done to one's father will never be forgotten, it will serve as reparation for your sins." Sirach 3: 12-14

God wants you to love your father, even if your father is severely trying you but iirc, your dad isn't doing this out of spite or hatred so that makes this situation a lot more bearable.

I think the solution to your troubles with your dad might be silence. When Jesus was accused and mocked he stayed silent. When your dad starts another attempt to convert you, stay silent. Try not to argue or defend yourself or get drawn into another argument that will only lead to the same conclusion- just be silent. This is not the ignoring or vindictive silence used as a punishment. Follow the example of Jesus and be silent.

 

[Lady Bug]

"My child, take care of your father in his old age, do not cause him sorrow as long as he lives.
Even if he has lost his mind, have patience; do not be disrespectful to him while you are in full health. For kindness done to one's father will never be forgotten, it will serve as reparation for your sins." Sirach 3: 12-14

God wants you to love your father, even if your father is severely trying you but iirc, your dad isn't doing this out of spite or hatred so that makes this situation a lot more bearable.

I think the solution to your troubles with your dad might be silence. When Jesus was accused and mocked he stayed silent. When your dad starts another attempt to convert you, stay silent. Try not to argue or defend yourself or get drawn into another argument that will only lead to the same conclusion- just be silent. This is not the ignoring or vindictive silence used as a punishment. Follow the example of Jesus and be silent.

It really hurts me knowing that if I had read the entire Bible (that is just so hard to do, sorry ), I might have known about this passage by now.