Advice For When You Are Struggling Spiritually

[jazzytakara]

Lately I have felt as if my spiritual life is dulling, more prone to temptation, relationship with God waning. Its not that I don't believe in God, its just that I have hit a dry spot. Struggling with some personal issues, such as loneliness, OCD, and Depression. I am still struggling with the church teaching on homosexuality and same sex marriage. I feel as if I am lacking purpose and I have fallen in to mortal sin this past week as well, and it almost didn't phase me at first, which scared me. I am going to confession tomorrow, as I know what I did was wrong and I want to make amends and acquire any grace that could help me through this situation. I don't want to turn and run from God because life is a struggle these days, I want to keep pushing towards Him and the salvation and love He offers. I feel as if I am always in a near occassion of sin, and since I have been so weak lately, I fear for a time that will lead me to become spiritually dead inside. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations for me that could help me with these struggles. My prayer life has been more redundant than meaningful, I still wonder about Mary's role, and I worry I am falling away so soon after I started. Are there any saints that struggled with similar, books/writing that I could read by saints and other spiritual resources, someone I could talk to? Please pray for me...

[Brother Adam]

God bless you for continuing to desperately seek out God as you feel so far away from him. I believe a lot of us here can relate. The past 6 months I have found my "tongue" bound. Teaching was harder, praying more difficult, I never felt like I had anything to contribute socially. I was just in a funk. Sometimes these can be dry spells helping us advance to a deeper place in the spiritual life. Other times, and I can relate to this too, we find ourselves attached to sin instead of God. Sin destroys the grace and life of God in our soul.

 

First, I would say it is incredibly important to break the chains of sin, especially the habit of mortal sin. Deacon Ralph Poyo has an amazing talk about this on steubenville.org. I highly recommend looking it up. Regular confession and a daily rosary is a great start. Either you will stop committing mortal sin or you will stop praying the rosary. As soon as you slip into mortal sin run to confession. Every time. Identify what is keeping you in a near occasion of sin. Get it out of your life. Pray that God shows you the true horror of your sin. The more fully we realize that horror, the more we will be repelled from it. Surrender yourself to God. Be open to Him and everything He wants for your life. Trust in His mercy. Pray prayers for deliverance from evil, such as the Our Father and St. Michael. I recently experienced spiritual renewal when I went with desperate prayer back to God offering Him my whole life, and surrendering myself completely to Him. I think He was waiting for that.

 

Know that God is there. Even when we don't feel it. He is there, and He loves you. He is proud of you for reaching out to Him. Stay open to His grace and he is going to bless you. You are in my prayers.

[Kateri89]

Penance is a good way to work through this dry spell in my opinion. Some saints were more severe in this area like St. Kateri who would do things like lay on thorns and pray. I'm not suggesting anything quite so intense but punishing yourself for your sins will make you think twice before committing another one. It could be something as simple as donating some of your favorite clothing items to the poor. It's a good thing to do anyway and it's a sacrifice (even if its only a small one). And persevere in prayer even if it feels hollow. Just ask Jesus to help you in prayer. God bless!

[CatholicsAreKewl]

Lately I have felt as if my spiritual life is dulling, more prone to temptation, relationship with God waning. Its not that I don't believe in God, its just that I have hit a dry spot. Struggling with some personal issues, such as loneliness, OCD, and Depression. I am still struggling with the church teaching on homosexuality and same sex marriage. I feel as if I am lacking purpose and I have fallen in to mortal sin this past week as well, and it almost didn't phase me at first, which scared me. I am going to confession tomorrow, as I know what I did was wrong and I want to make amends and acquire any grace that could help me through this situation. I don't want to turn and run from God because life is a struggle these days, I want to keep pushing towards Him and the salvation and love He offers. I feel as if I am always in a near occassion of sin, and since I have been so weak lately, I fear for a time that will lead me to become spiritually dead inside. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations for me that could help me with these struggles. My prayer life has been more redundant than meaningful, I still wonder about Mary's role, and I worry I am falling away so soon after I started. Are there any saints that struggled with similar, books/writing that I could read by saints and other spiritual resources, someone I could talk to? Please pray for me...

 

I don't know if inducing guilt is a good route to take if you already have a lot on your plate. Relax. It might be better to focus less on feeling unworthy of love (that's what guilt is after all) and focus more on doing what will ultimately make you happy. Being in a funk can make things harder to deal with or care about. 

[Nihil Obstat]

Pick a patron saint, or several, that is/are meaningful to you, and try to develop a consistent prayer life around them. The consistency should help especially while things are hard like this. The saints can lead you better than you can lead yourself, so let them. Let them draw you closer to God. You may not feel like it is working, but it is the kind of thing where many things can happen without your realizing it.

Make frequent use of the sacraments of confession and communion. While you cannot usually feel the grace you gain from them, it is surely there, and it will help more than you will realize at first.

[HisChildForever]

There are a lot of great spiritual works out there, but I wouldn't dive into too many yet because you'll run into something that'll (at this time in your spiritual life) either depress you or make you think you're heading straight to the pit. There was a Phatmass discussion recently on "Imitation of Christ" and at least a couple members were wary of the language used. Then there are some like "Story of a Soul" - more than a few times I ended a chapter with a  :eek: expression because I was shocked by St. Therese's incomprehensible holiness.  :hehe2: 

 

So besides the suggestions already given, I suggest daily Scripture and Catechism reading.

[jazzytakara]

Thank you everyone for the prayers and suggestions, I will definitely be following them. I went to confession today, so I believe this is a good start. I also purchased one of my favourite movies about saints "Clare and Francis", they're stories  have inspired me in the past, so watching this movie will be helpful too. 

[Nihil Obstat]

I was just at confession today as well. My confessor said something very helpful, which I will paraphrase. We are made up of a body and soul. Therefore, in order to live in accordance with God's will we must take into account both aspects of our nature. Mortify the body with fasting and penance, and lift up the soul with prayer.

[Stella Matutina]

I am so glad to hear that you've been to Confession and plan to take the advice offered in this thread! Deo gratias!

 

I know it may not feel like a blessing right now, but there is good news: such a state truly is a blessing from God, and is something that all Catholics must endure, especially converts.

 

Our Lord has lovingly drawn you to the One True Faith as one guides a lost child home, with tenderness and care. But now you are expected to "grow up" spiritually. You must stand on your own, and show that you can love Christ and His Church with your whole heart and soul, while receiving no gifts (in the form of spiritual consolation) in return. In our earlthly life, when you are an adult, you are expected to do what is right because it is right, not because you will be rewarded for doing so. This is true in the spiritual life as well.

 

All this is to say: Congratulations! Our Lord must trust you enough to remove His Hand from yours for a moment, to see if you can take your first steps in spiritual progress. May God grant you abundant graces as you strive through this period of spiritual dryness. Consolations will come again, and they will be all the sweeter after the trial endured.

 

As to Our Blessed Mother: I was actually going to suggest that you go to her in this period of hardship, until I saw that her role is one of the things you are currently struggling with. Try not to fret about her role in the Church, as she truly is the Mother of God, and nobody could love her more than Our Lord does.

 

Believe me when I say, as a fellow convert, that these doubts and trials will ultimately bear great spiritual fruit if you weather the storm successfully. And if you fall, then rest assured that Our Lord is waiting to help you back up again.

[Stella Matutina]

I forgot to add (and I can't edit posts): Don't forget to unite your sufferings to the sufferings of Christ. In this way, you can use the trials and anxieties facing you in daily life as a means of further sancitification, and as a sort of prayer of their own for any intentions you may have. He was human too, and He suffered for us. He knows your pain, and when that pain is endured as patiently as is possible, wonderful things can happen.

 

Anyway, I've rambled enough. This just struck a cord with me, as I went through severe bouts of spiritual dryness, depression, and loneliness as well after coming to the faith. It's hard when everyone you know essentially thinks you've lost it. Things will improve.

[AnneLine]

Jazzy,

 

I just saw your prayer request in the prayer room.  No wonder you are feeling overwhelmed!  As a counselor and as a spiritual director, I'd be surprised if you WEREN'T feeling this way giving all that is going on!

 

 My prayers are with you, and if any of us can help to support you right now, we're here.

 

Stay close to our Lord in the Eucharist and in confession.   He understands what it is like to feel overwhelmed and distanced from His Father.   Let Him hold you and love you.

 

Asking Our Lady & St. Joseph to take care of all of you as well.

 

Praying HARD!