The 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church is replete with many wonderful stories of how followers of Christ, sometimes in the most desperate of circumstances, reached out to God in prayer and were transformed by grace. One story that comes to mind is that of St. Patrick, who as a youth was taken as a slave and forced to tend sheep in Ireland. He began his time there as a worldly youth, but after years of prayer and suffering, he grew in faith and was transformed into a saint. He escaped, and eventually returned to convert his persecutors.
Here is Patrick recalling his time as a captive:
But after I came to Ireland—every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed—the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was moved so that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many in the night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I used to get up for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm, and there was no sloth in me—as I now see, because the spirit within me was then fervent.
One of the most important spiritual truths that I often discuss during my talks and seminars is how to get faith. Who doesn’t want more faith? Who doesn’t want to eliminate apathy and doubt? I remember being at a fast food restaurant and overhearing two men talk about people who have the gift of faith. One said to the other, “I would give anything to have faith. I know a friend that has great faith. I don’t know how he does it.”
Perhaps you feel the same way. You have some faith, but in times of trial it is put to the test. Often we have doubt and feel alone in our journey. We feel abandoned by God when things don’t go well with our lives or our families. In the Bible “doubt” is mentioned 15 times, but it feels like a lot more. Faith is referenced over 200 times!
If you ever have doubt and feel you might be the only one struggling with your faith, you are not alone. Most saints have had their doubts at some point in their journey. Some have had dark moments of despair. Reflect on the famous St. John of the Cross and his “Dark Night of the Soul.” With Roman Catholic spirituality, it is often depicted as a spiritual crisis as we strive for union with God. Perhaps we all need our own desert experience in order to truly find God.
St. Therese of Lisieux wrote extensively of her pain. She was noteworthy in her writing of her struggles and experience of the “dark night.” She had doubt of the existence of eternity but her Catholic faith somehow strengthened despite her prolonged period of spiritual darkness. She would tell her fellow nuns that she had a darkness that was a “night of nothingness.”
It was both comforting and disturbing to learn about Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s letters to her confessors and confidants. She had her feeling of emptiness and darkness. She wrote,“I have no faith—I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart and make me suffer untold agony.” She even said that her constant smile was a “mask or cloak that covers everything”.
It was comforting to know we are not alone in our struggles, but perhaps somewhat disturbing that one of our heroes was just like us in her doubts, and even, at times, fears. In the end, Mother Teresa rose above it and did incredible things for the Lord with great faith!
Our suffering is part of our journey in striving for more faith and holiness. We know that God is perfecting us in His image and molding us through the fire of the Holy Spirit.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1: 6-7).
Yes, the suffering, the doubt, the questioning is part of the process to increase faith.
At the core of the challenge of doubt is fear. Fear that things are not going to work out in the way we want. Fear that your problem is bigger than God’s love. Fear is our enemy. The enemy uses fear to immobilize and defeat us. The devil works overtime to try to defeat our purpose in our lives. The devil can’t steal our salvation but wants to paralyze us with doubt and lack of confidence. We hear whispers that we aren’t good enough or shouldn’t be in ministry because of our sinfulness. Do you feel that you will never be healed? That you aren’t worthy? They are not coming from the Lord but the enemy.
When we let fear into our lives, it is difficult to be the “light of Christ.” When others look at us do they see confidence that we are saved? That our faith is transforming us? That no matter what is happening to us that God is with us? Do we believe in this truth?:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
One of my favorite definitions of fear is “false evidence appearing real.” Fear is a lie from the enemy. The enemy wants us to believe that nothing is going to work out. We have anxiety over our health, relationships, family, finances and many other things. We give the enemy power when we focus on the glass half full and all the things that can go wrong.
The battlefield is the mind. That is where we have to have faith and not let the enemy into our brains. That is the source of our praying in faith. We need faith and obedience to God. We need to reflect and pray Scripture such as,
For the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
We must pray by saying “I don’t receive the negative thoughts or fears.” When we get the “what if’s” of what might happen to our health, finances, relationships, family, job and more, we need to pray for the protection of not focusing on the future, but the present.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? … So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or “What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself (Matthew 6: 25-34).
Always know that Jesus is waiting for you in your tomorrow with open arms!
When we pray, our minds and souls are seeking union with God. That union especially happens when we praise Him and are positive with our thoughts. St. Paul especially helps us as we read,
Rejoice, in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things … Then the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:4-9).
What was the biggest problem you faced five years ago? Most of us have forgotten what it was because Jesus took care of it. Whatever current issues and problems we have are ones that Jesus will help us get through, but we need confidence and endurance.
Hebrews 10:35-36 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:35-36).
We fight fear and pray for the Lord to strengthen us and supply our needs.
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me (Philippians 4:13,19).
My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
His glorious riches is the love that conquers fear.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love (1 John 4:18 ).
What is faith? Our answer is:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
To have faith is to make the impossible possible for our lives. It is the Blessed Mother who said,
May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38 ).
Why is faith so important? Let’s go back to Hebrews,
Without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6).
It is impossible to please Him by our works no matter how many or anything else. We please Him by our sincere faith and even more when our faith is tested. All of us, similar to “doubting” Thomas the Apostle, have to ask ourselves the question, do we believe without seeing proof of what we need to believe? We need to have the faith like the Centurion that said to Jesus,
only say the word and my servant will be healed (Matthew 8:8 ).
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Author: Deacon Steve Greco
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