I'm struggling

ivebeenshown

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I'm struggling to stay strong in the faith. I'm struggling to focus on becoming more saintly rather than giving into my worldly desires in the face of great uncertainty. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when most around me are Catholic in name only or in private only, or on their own terms only. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when those around me who are fervent and conformant seem totally inaccessible to me. I'm struggling to pray because I just don't like to talk a lot, and I'm growing weak from praying for strength. I'm struggling to accept the blossoming hardships that I believe the Lord has let me realize are coming upon the world.

I'm just really struggling.
 

WarriorAngel

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I'm struggling to stay strong in the faith. I'm struggling to focus on becoming more saintly rather than giving into my worldly desires in the face of great uncertainty. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when most around me are Catholic in name only or in private only, or on their own terms only. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when those around me who are fervent and conformant seem totally inaccessible to me. I'm struggling to pray because I just don't like to talk a lot, and I'm growing weak from praying for strength. I'm struggling to accept the blossoming hardships that I believe the Lord has let me realize are coming upon the world.

I'm just really struggling.
Well, if it makes you feel any better - you are already being saintly.

Being a saint is by no means without struggling in this life.
It's staying afloat when you are nearly drowning.
Its feeling darkness and not giving up.

Thats what a true saint does.

Dont think for a single moment that having saintly qualities is like some automoatic - life is a breeze now.

Remember - you keep going - keep moving forward and some day - you may be a saint in heaven for people on earth who will need you to pray for their struggles.

You're going to be ok.
Dont forget that.
Our Lady told the children at Fatima - she didnt promise things would be good here, but in the next life.

Life - its the ups and the downs.. but you have a life saver who keeps you afloat in all of it.
 
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anjelica

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I feel for you and with you. Been there - am there often. It sounds twee to say He will bring you through it, but it's true - and I sure have been through some appalling stuff and terrible darknesses. But all of this is strengthening for us - if we allow it to be. Praying for you.
 
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Michie

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I'm struggling to stay strong in the faith. I'm struggling to focus on becoming more saintly rather than giving into my worldly desires in the face of great uncertainty. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when most around me are Catholic in name only or in private only, or on their own terms only. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when those around me who are fervent and conformant seem totally inaccessible to me. I'm struggling to pray because I just don't like to talk a lot, and I'm growing weak from praying for strength. I'm struggling to accept the blossoming hardships that I believe the Lord has let me realize are coming upon the world.

I'm just really struggling.
I'm so sorry. I have been struggling for a long time myself. I feel totally depressed about it. It is not a fun place to be. You can PM me if you ever want to talk. Prayers for you. *hugs*
 
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WarriorAngel

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OBOB is a great place to get help.
Here's why - we are all in this together.
We all love and pray for one another regardless of said 'leanings'.
We are all here to share our different struggles.

Just like the Church - one big boat of patients in need of our Physician. Helping one another to stay strong in spite of the darkness in this world.
This world wont last forever.
Our souls do, so we have to keep on keeping on.
 
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anjelica

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Awww, Michie. I didn't realise you were struggling so badly. I am too, but I think so manymon here are. This morning forninstance I felt I had lost EVERYTHING but things got better later. Sometimes I don't know how we get through - but we do.
 
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Michie

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By the grace of God I imagine. Seriously Angelica, you come across as saintly to me. I really admire your attitude in such dire circumstances. I often wish we were in closer proximity so I could help somehow. *hugs*
Awww, Michie. I didn't realise you were struggling so badly. I am too, but I think so manymon here are. This morning forninstance I felt I had lost EVERYTHING but things got better later. Sometimes I don't know how we get through - but we do.
 
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Rhamiel

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I'm struggling to stay strong in the faith. I'm struggling to focus on becoming more saintly rather than giving into my worldly desires in the face of great uncertainty. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when most around me are Catholic in name only or in private only, or on their own terms only. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when those around me who are fervent and conformant seem totally inaccessible to me. I'm struggling to pray because I just don't like to talk a lot, and I'm growing weak from praying for strength. I'm struggling to accept the blossoming hardships that I believe the Lord has let me realize are coming upon the world.

I'm just really struggling.

may the Lord bless you and protect you from all harm :)

you are an inspiration to so many people
remember that you help so many more people then you will ever know in this life

Well, if it makes you feel any better - you are already being saintly.

Being a saint is by no means without struggling in this life.
It's staying afloat when you are nearly drowning.
Its feeling darkness and not giving up.

Thats what a true saint does.

God bless you
thank you for saying that
I needed to hear it as well
 
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anjelica

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Michie, thankyou for what you have said. I am nowhere near saintly though. I wobble far too much at times. I get so hurt at times. And only just manage to keep going. So I can empathise with the OP and anyone in that place
 
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Michie

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Well if there is anything I can do to help,even across the pond...let me know. *hug*
Michie, thankyou for what you have said. I am nowhere near saintly though. I wobble far too much at times. I get so hurt at times. And only just manage to keep going. So I can empathise with the OP and anyone in that place
 
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mea kulpa

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We are all struggling right now. There is a lot of confussion in the church. Its when those seeds of doubt creep in that we need to be stubborn and determined to see it through. Like a runner struggling to get up a hill you have to bite down and double those efforts.

I have trouble with prayer too and for the same reason i think. The devil wants to stop us from praying. For the month of may as a gift to our lady i am trying to learn the hail mary in latin. The devil hates latin and today as i have been reciting the hail mary in latin over and over making mistakes starting again i realise i have been praying all day long.
 
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pdudgeon

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i found something that helped me today.
Our parish says a community rosary together before mass starts.

The worship team (with the blessings of our priest) organized this.
The team does the leadership of the rosary by rotation, and begin about 30 minutes before mass,
no matter if even one other person is there and waiting for the rosary to begin.
The worship team also supplied a small bowl in the narthex with extra rosaries for anyone who didn't have one,
so they too could join in.

This is a small but very important thing to provide the parish with, because as i discovered if a rosary is said together in a public group in a place of worship, a plenary indulgence is obtained for those who have said the rosary.

Why is that important?
It works along with the person's sincere contrition and the mass itself to help heal the small cracks and fissures in us spiritually that develop over time, and which tend to wear us down.

Today i walked out of that mass a whole person.
and it felt wonderful!
 
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benedictaoo

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I'm struggling to stay strong in the faith. I'm struggling to focus on becoming more saintly rather than giving into my worldly desires in the face of great uncertainty. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when most around me are Catholic in name only or in private only, or on their own terms only. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when those around me who are fervent and conformant seem totally inaccessible to me. I'm struggling to pray because I just don't like to talk a lot, and I'm growing weak from praying for strength. I'm struggling to accept the blossoming hardships that I believe the Lord has let me realize are coming upon the world.

I'm just really struggling.
Praying for you. Hang in there. We all struggle. Thanks for sharing.
 
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anjelica

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We certainly do all struggle.

And for me, whatever, Mass helps. Yesterday I felt so bad inside that I felt I could not go. I felt the most intense fear. Reasons that I will not say but are to do with my life. I overcame the feelings and. Went. It was. Amazing because. I left that Mass feeling totally different. Today is another battle, or once again I am wanting to rum away. But I will go. I have to or I would collapse totally.

I guess we just have to kep on getting up and getting going, trusting it will be ok in the end. Prayng for you.
 
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Ronald

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I'm struggling to stay strong in the faith. I'm struggling to focus on becoming more saintly rather than giving into my worldly desires in the face of great uncertainty. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when most around me are Catholic in name only or in private only, or on their own terms only. I'm struggling to feel at home in the Catholic Church when those around me who are fervent and conformant seem totally inaccessible to me. I'm struggling to pray because I just don't like to talk a lot, and I'm growing weak from praying for strength. I'm struggling to accept the blossoming hardships that I believe the Lord has let me realize are coming upon the world.

I'm just really struggling.
So, what you are doing is not working. Take a break from your normal routine. Go to the beach or some nice place that's tranquil and bring your Bible. Faith comes by the word and is strengthened by the word. A pastor told a depressed person that could not get out of that rut to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. And when you do it, come back and see me. Well, the guy did it and what happened is he forgot what he was depressed about and was at peace, with joy and comfort.
>>>The Word ... as far as prayers, just get to the point, be thankful, and don't babble on and on like some do thinking they are super spiritual. Remember, the "Our Father ..." prayer is excellent but you can also just speak plainly to God as you would normally communicate -- He knows what you are going to say and what your needs are anyways. He just wants to hear from you like your son own would. God Bless
 
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