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Michelle1982
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 23 |
| First Name: | Michelle | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant services at military chapels, Bible, Baptist, Berean, Calvary Chapel, ... |
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 04:12 pm |
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Is it normal to feel depressed while you are converting?
Lately, I don't even feel like I have the joy of the Lord in me anymore.
On sun night, I went to mass, and was frusterated because the priest was not very friendly.
Then,one of my friends text messaged me and wondered why I wasn't at the protestant service again. All of my protestant friends know that I am frusterated.
So, after mass, I went to the protestant service. It felt more comfortable there and the pastor and my friends gave me a hug. They were actually concerned about me.
Then, the music was soo awesome and worshipful! Yet, while I was enjoying the music and really felt like I was worshipping God, I could not get the doctrinal issues or lack of church authority out of my head.
Have you all experience this too?
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"..............From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." J
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ChildoftheCreator
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jul 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Minnesota USA |
| Posts: | 16 |
| First Name: | Hillary | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Lutheran |
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 04:46 pm |
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Yes, I have felt that. Since I have been in the same church since I was in second grade, it is really hard to feel at home anywhere else. It doesn't help that the music is better at my home church and that the service feels so much more comfortable.
I am kind of depressed, too because I feel like I am turning my back on my friends and family. It's really a bit frusterating because I know that I am doing the right thing, yet sometimes it doesn't feel right. I am certainly not converting because of the way the service makes me feel, that is for sure. But, I think the thing to focus on is the Eucharist. That is the reason why we would go to the Mass as opposed to a Protestant service.
Every time I go to the Lutheran service I can't help but keep on thinking about all the doctrines and it actually makes me a little cynical at times, which is not a good thing. I just need to keep thinking that these people really love the Lord and they are here to worship Him. I can do that without it mattering whether or not the doctrines are right. Of course, I really scrutinize the sermon to see which details I can take out of it and apply to my own life. Obviously the part where I should ask the Lord privately for forgiveness and not have to go to a preist would not be part of the stuff I take with me, but there are a lot of good things, too. For example, loving your neighbors no matter what they do to you, that both I and the pastor agree on.
Just remember, the preist is just a person and sometimes they have their bad days. Maybe every day is a bad day for them, who knows. He could need your help cheering him up.
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 854 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 05:02 pm |
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Hello, Michelle,
Bless your heart. I do indeed understand what you are feeling.
I felt sadness and loss upon leaving my precious Baptist pastors and the wonderful ladies whose Sunday School class I had taught for many years. I was heartbroken by the weeping and fearful concern of my astonished mother and sisters. I longed for the Baptist hymns and lovely choral anthems. I ached for the hugs and handshakes and friendly banter that are available before and after almost any Baptist service.
But, oh, Michelle. The Catholic Church had Jesus, physically present.
The Catholic Church had the Eucharist.
The Catholic Church had total reverence (my chapel does, anyway).
The Catholic Church had the Sacrament of Penance with its "I absolve you!"
The Catholic Church had Authority, not just opinion and private interpretation.
The Catholic Church had the doctors of the Church and the Sacraments to help me in a pursuit of holiness.
The Catholic Church had everything in place to help prepare me to behold the face of God and survive the experience.
It gets easier, Michelle; but we have to do our part to leave behind what needs to be left behind.
May our Lord strengthen you.Last edited on Tue Nov 13th, 2007 09:50 pm by Intercessor
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"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1216 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 09:29 pm |
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I think most converts have felt that way, Michelle, or at least confused and troubled, if not literally depressed. I referred to my own feelings before I made up my mind to become a Catholic as "seven tense weeks of alternately questioning my sanity and arriving at immensely exciting new plateaus of discovery."
I also observed, as a generality (true also in my own case): "At the end, in most converts' experience, an icy fear sets in, similar to the cold feet of pre-marriage jitters."
There can also be quite understandable sadness at the prospect of leaving good friends (i.e., not being able to worship together; not necessarily losing them, period), or of the prospect of opposition from friends and family (the topic of our chat this Wednesday night, by the way).
So you are perfectly "normal"! No need to worry about that. There is enough on your plate already.
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 720 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 09:52 pm |
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| Boy!!! Been there, done that!!! I think I have felt better and more cheerful when I have been heading for surgery. One of the major things that kept me going was the thought that I was doing what was right. I hung in there and everything turned for the better during "My Easter" and has been great every since.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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thiscatholicjourney
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | Reno, Nevada USA |
| Posts: | 34 |
| First Name: | Amber | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | From non-denominational to Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 11:33 pm |
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You're definitely not alone in this feeling. For several months, after my decision to become Catholic, I attended both Mass and my protestant service. Eventually, I came a point when I knew it was time to say goodbye and God gave me the grace to do so. Now, I honestly have no desire to go back, even to visit. What I have in the Eucharist can be found no where else!
Depression was a big part of it for me as well... and I already suffer from depression so it didn't make things any easier. Whenever I started to feel particularly down, I asked God to give me the strength and to ease those feelings. Looking back, I can see how much he intervened...
God bless you for all you're experiencing.
Peace be with you.
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Proudly entered the Catholic Church in 2007!
Learn about my journey!
http://thiscatholicjourney.com/blog.htm
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