Crisis of faith

annie06

My Dad has just diagnosed with cancer.It's advanced but we are hopeful. All my family are practising Catholics and in general we try to led good lives. Dad's diagnoise is one of the many misfortunes that happened to our family this year.I have always placed great faith in God and got great strength from praying. However, this seem to be the final straw after many knocks. I find it difficult to pray. I am beginning to question does God exist and if so has he forgotton us?(I cannot believe I'm writing this)
I know it is said that God does not give us a cross that we are unable to carry but we are carrying several and are buckling under them.

Onesimus

Hi Annie. I know the feeling.

I would highly recommend you put forth this questions with trained professional Catholic apologists and priests over at Catholic Answer Forums.

Simply enter the ''Ask an apologist'' section. Click on ''Basic instructions for asking a question'' and then click on the ''simple form'' to ask your question.

You need to do this as you are also dealing with a potential bereavement and we are not gifted with that kind of Christian counselling or advice that Fr.Vincent Serpa would be at Catholic answers.

We posters could possibly only cause you further damage than is needed right now.

I will pray for your Father and I would this evening ( whilst waiting on your question to be answered ) invite you to meditate on the Suffering and Passion that Jesus went through and perhaps meditate on the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. If you Private Message me your dads first name ( if you don't mind ) I will keep him in my prayers this evening also.

God bless
Onesimus

martinedwards

Annie, I feel your pain and I'm praying for you and your family.

if you look around, you'll notice that there are very few 2000 year old folks in our churches.

this is because illness and death are a part of life.

I know you don't want to even consider the idea that your Dad's illness could be terminal, but unless the second coming happens any time soon, then it's a fact that only two things are sure in life.

Tax and death.

prayer in times of despair in hard.

really hard

ever read the Psalms?

3/4 of them are "God? why have you abandoned me?"

stick in there Annie, Stick in there!

Benny_Cake

martinedwards wrote: »

ever read the Psalms?

3/4 of them are "God? why have you abandoned me?"

stick in there Annie, Stick in there!

Indeed, there's no shame in feeling that way, even Jesus felt forsaken on the cross.

It can be so difficult to understand why the finest of people suffer so much while people who never give a moments thought to anyone other than themselves often breeze through life without a problem. It also can be difficult to come up with advice or answers that don't sound like complete clichés. All I'll say is that grace sometimes shows up in the most surprising places and ways, and that God is present, even in suffering. Try to remain open to that grace, and spend as much time with your father and family as you can. There are few positives in this but sometimes you grow closer together when someone is ill. Annie, I'll think of your Dad and your family in my prayers and I'm sure everyone else here will too.

Starokan

I happened across this thread by accident, i am not a christian but I have an abiding respect for all religions. I will think of you and pray for your family.

If it is any solace remember that God is always with you, the reasons why this is happening to your family is as yet unclear but someday the reasons will be revealed to you.

Trust in Gods love, it will sustain you through these difficult times and know that in the event of a bereavement to any member of your family at any time that they have joined God in heaven and their lives will never know pain and sorrow again.

Evaleigh

Hi Annie,

Sorry to hear about your dad and that you and your family are having a difficult time this year. I'm sure that your Dad will really benefit from the love and support of the people around him. That's how I believe that the goodness of God operates in our lives.
For me that is the only kind of faith that makes sense. Considering the suffering of people all over the world, I don't think it makes sense that the events of our lives are decided by God. Our human lives are difficult, so take comfort from the people around you and perhaps from some form of prayer, whatever you're able for.
Take care.

JimiTime

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Indeed, there's no shame in feeling that way, even Jesus felt forsaken on the cross.

I don't think he did. As the Jews were looking on at the man they had sent to be pierced, themselves learned in scripture, Jesus brought attention to a very Prophetic Psalm, the fulfillment of which was happenning at that very moment in front of their eyes. It also ultimately says, 'God, you will deliver me and glorify me'.

Psalm 22 wrote:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises[a] of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.
10 On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother's womb you have been my God.
11 Be not far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is none to help.
12 Many bulls encompass me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off!
O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dog!
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued[c] me from the horns of the wild oxen!
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted[d] shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
even the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.

JimiTime

annie06 wrote: »

My Dad has just diagnosed with cancer.It's advanced but we are hopeful. All my family are practising Catholics and in general we try to led good lives. Dad's diagnoise is one of the many misfortunes that happened to our family this year.I have always placed great faith in God and got great strength from praying. However, this seem to be the final straw after many knocks. I find it difficult to pray. I am beginning to question does God exist and if so has he forgotton us?(I cannot believe I'm writing this)
I know it is said that God does not give us a cross that we are unable to carry but we are carrying several and are buckling under them.

I would be surprised if we all haven't struggled with this somewhat at some point. Stay strong. I certainly found solace in the good news of the kingdom in the face of bereavements. Remember, though death is a most heinous enemy, Jesus Conquered it. Now death is only a temporary holding. Our Eternal father will make all things new, and wipe out every tear from our eyes, as he throws death and hades into oblivion!

Tsarina

annie06 wrote: »

My Dad has just diagnosed with cancer.It's advanced but we are hopeful. All my family are practising Catholics and in general we try to led good lives. Dad's diagnoise is one of the many misfortunes that happened to our family this year.I have always placed great faith in God and got great strength from praying. However, this seem to be the final straw after many knocks. I find it difficult to pray. I am beginning to question does God exist and if so has he forgotton us?(I cannot believe I'm writing this)
I know it is said that God does not give us a cross that we are unable to carry but we are carrying several and are buckling under them.

Hi Annie,

Funny how we question those closest to us when things go so badly wrong, maybe because we're pleading for help.

Your Friends in the Heavens are here just for these times, for all the tears and shouting and pleading and a shoulder to cry on - They understand. As for your misfortune, you might recall this scripture:

When being tried, let no-one say:

"I am being tried by God"

because God cannot be tried with evil, and neither does He try anyone else with evil"

James 1:13

They're not responsible for your pain, and perhaps knowing this will help you to draw closer to Them in this difficult time rather than draw further away.

If ever you feel able to, you might like to look at a very short book which helped my friend through a crisis, entitled:

Why God "Permits Evil"

or I can send you my PDF if you wish.


Keep close to our Heavenly Ones Annie! We're all there with you!


Tsarina