With all that is going on in the world, it's enough to make one give up on faith and even God. Asking the question, why do bad things happen to good people? Why does that sweet little kid who never did anything wrong end up dying of cancer? Why does that teenager with a promising future get killed in a school shooting?
Why do these things happen? I don't have an answer that makes sense. All I can do is trust. It is moments like these that my faith falters but then takes a giant leap.
God could have made us like robots. He could have forced us to do every little thing. Instead, he chose to give us free will. The ability to choose our actions.
C. S. Lewis once said, "free will, though it makes evil possible, it is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having." God loves us so much that he does not want to force us to do anything. He gives us choice to choose. I choose to be Catholic because I believe that God has never let me astray before.
If He does that in the good times, I know for certain He will be the light in the darkness when things look bleakest. I have put my faith and trust in a savior who loves to save. He doesn't always act and work in ways we understand.
We don't always know what his plans, but one thing I know for certain. If we saw what God sees, I know I would probably act the same way he does. It seems at times that he asks too much of us, but really we often ask so much of him.
He died on the cross for us. He gave us the ability to one day join him in eternity. He has already gone to great lengths for us. I am constantly shown God's love, mercy, and power through his creation, those around me and through those who inspire me daily. Through my mom, my dad, my many siblings, friends, and many mentors, I've been incredibly inspired throughout the years. You are never alone.
God hears you, Are you being quiet enough to hear his voice? Are you listening in the right way? Sometimes I don't hear God because I'm too busy waiting for a certain response from Him, that I neglect to hear his actual response. Put your faith in Jesus Christ and he will never leave you.
I continue to be Catholic because no matter what I'm going through, no matter how hard things get, I am never alone. When I'm feeling lonely, afraid, annoyed, frustrated, angry, confused and many more emotions, I know that God is always there. He can hear me.
And if I shut up long enough to listen I can hear his response. I can feel his presence in ways I don't think I would if I stopped believing. God sometimes uses other people in our lives to be his response.
Once I was confused as to why God loved me. Why would he take the time to love me when I'm constantly feeling broken? I went to Mass that morning as I often did in the school chapel before school started for the day.
One of my teachers had brought his newborn daughter to Mass with him that day. As I saw the joy and love in his eyes when he looked at his daughter, I thought about God's love for me.
I realized that if a human father loved his daughter that much, how much more does the heavenly Father love me? Whenever I doubt God's love, I think back to that day in Mass and I am able to stay rooted in my faith. Find something or someone that keeps you grounded in your faith. In the trials and tribulations it and/or they will help you through it and you will keep your faith.