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Offline Andrew21091

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Struggles with faith
« on: April 10, 2012, 11:42:51 PM »
Please pray for me. I am struggling very much with my faith. It is becoming increasingly hard for me to believe. I struggle to pray and I struggle to believe. I've struggled with severe doubts about Orthodoxy. Its progressing and it is slowly starting to cause me to question my beliefs in general. I'm near despair about where my life is going and I feel lost.

One thing that I believe I need to do is withdraw myself from the forum and most of the internet in general. I need to distance myself from "internet Orthodoxy" and internet religion in general. It isn't helping me spiritually and is actually leaving me worse off than I was.

Please pray that God may have mercy on me.

Thank you all. I hope everyone has a blessed Holy Week and an even more blessed Pascha.

Christ is Risen.
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Offline Maximum Bob

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2012, 11:48:32 PM »
Lord have mercy on Andrew.
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Psalm 37:23 The Lord guides a man safely in the way he should go.

Prov. 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Offline Gebre Menfes Kidus

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2012, 11:56:37 PM »
My prayers are with you brother. You might indeed be wise to separate from forums and facebook and such for a while. Doubts are arrows from satan, and if you weren't a Christian then satan would not attack you like this. Doubts only come to those who believe. The godless don't agonize over doubts about God, but the faithful often do.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!" [St. Mark 9:23-24]


"Lord have mercy."


Selam
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Offline Shanghaiski

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2012, 02:33:58 PM »
Wanting to believe, even amidst doubts, is the seed of faith.

God be with you, Andrew!
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Offline LizaSymonenko

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2012, 02:48:59 PM »

Lord, have mercy upon Andrew!

Andrew, leave the forum if you have to, but, please do not leave the Church.

Remember, people are fallible...we are spiteful, proud, jealous and greedy...all of which comes out in our real and virtual conversations.

Don't judge the Church by her weak followers.

I wish you all the best, and may God guide you and help you in your struggles.
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Offline Papist

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2012, 07:32:22 PM »
Lord, have mercy!
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"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

Offline orthonorm

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2012, 07:41:24 PM »
A joyous Pascha to you.

Lord have mercy.
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Offline GTAsoldier

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2012, 08:12:56 PM »
Lord have mercy.

I'm having the same struggles as you, bro. I would also appreciate prayers at this time.

The best thing we can do is to pray without ceasing, repelling every doubtful thought with the Jesus Prayer when they arise. And then keep reciting it. Fix your mind on God, always.

Lord have mercy,

GTA
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Offline Papist

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2012, 08:15:47 PM »
Quote from: GTAsoldier on April 11, 2012, 08:12:56 PM
Lord have mercy.

I'm having the same struggles as you, bro. I would also appreciate prayers at this time.

The best thing we can do is to pray without ceasing, repelling every doubtful thought with the Jesus Prayer when they arise. And then keep reciting it. Fix your mind on God, always.

Lord have mercy,

GTA
Prayers for GTA as well!
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"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

Offline acts420

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2012, 09:58:44 PM »
Jesus, Anointed One, Son of God, guard Andrew's heart and reveal yourself to Andrew; holy Spirit guide him into Your peace.  Father, have mercy.  Thank you for You for being gently compassionate with our tender souls.  Holy Mother, pray for us.
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In Christ,
Jason
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Offline Maximum Bob

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2012, 10:20:47 PM »
Lord have mercy also on GTA.
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Psalm 37:23 The Lord guides a man safely in the way he should go.

Prov. 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Offline Salpy

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2012, 01:38:34 AM »
Lord have mercy!
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Offline GabrieltheCelt

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2012, 01:54:42 AM »
Lord, have mercy upon your servants Andrew and GTA.  Most Holy Theotokos, guide and comfort them, and do not abandon them.
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Offline Shiny

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2012, 05:24:11 AM »
Quote from: Andrew21091 on April 10, 2012, 11:42:51 PM
I need to distance myself from "internet Orthodoxy" and internet religion in general.

This x1000. It's very therapeutic to take a break from internet forums in general.
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Offline JR

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Re: Struggles with faith
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2012, 06:49:17 AM »
Lord have mercy on Andrew and GTA.

Always a good idea to take a break from the internet in general.

Have a holy and wonderful Pascha.

ps, keep praying and don't give up.
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