Quote:
Originally Posted by Original Position
While obviously not a case of quitting Christianity, even so great a Christian as Mother Teresa reports feeling this sense of despair (I haven't actually read these letters, so I assume the article is somewhat accurate).
Also, in my reading of the Christian mystics this despair doesn't seem that uncommon.
Jesus said on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?"
Though these examples show great difficulty in the soul, I don't think it's the same thing as existentialist despair.
David prayed for God to restore to him the JOY of his salvation. At the time he was suffering severe trials because of his sin. So we do not always experience the immediate presence of God. Nor is this trial always due to sin - obviously not for Jesus, uncertain why Mother Teresa had such extreme trials. I suspect though that many Christians do go through what she did but either don't speak of it or they are not public figures.
Christians do not have, nor or they promised, a trouble free life. On the contrary "Whom the Lord loves, He disciplines". And not all discipline is punishment for sin - it is often for the purpose of spiritual growth.
I identify with M.T. - I still have a sin nature, "Now we see in a mirror imperfectly, but then face to face". I have made some truly bad decisions, even since I became a Christian. Though God forgives the sin and though He does provide help for messed up lives, there are still consequences - and He doesn't always allow us to escape those consequences in this life.
If a Christian has severe doubts about the truth of Christianity, which certainly happens, then he would also have similar feelings to a non-Christian, and for similar reasons - he is no longer sure his life does have meaning greater than himself. The cure for the feeling is the same - return to the Lord and seek His will. Why it doesn't appear to have worked for M.T. I don't know - but she appears to have continued her search all her life, she didn't reject God or become an apostate. I believe that all the trials we have in this life produce the "gold, silver and precious stones" the Bible talks about as our reward in heaven. Perhaps M.T. will have far more of these rewards than others who seem to have had more joy and peace in their lives. She remained faithful through trials that might have broken me. But she seems to have persevered. That's real faith, real trust.