Fr. Josh answers questions about what to do when you feel angry at God because of unanswered prayers to alleviate the suffering of a loved one, if cohabitation is a good solution to handle an unexpected pregnancy before marriage, and which translation of the Bible is the best to get started with.
“The more you perceive your prayer to be unanswered, the more intense your prayer becomes and the more you lean into the person of Jesus Christ and are drawn into an intimacy with him.”
SHOWNOTES
Glory Story (1:45)
Listener Feedback (6:52)
Unanswered Prayers (8:52)
Hi Father Josh, I found your podcast recently and your topics are super interesting and you give ‘rock star’ advice based on our faith. We are catching up on older episodes and my wife and I heard your answer from a couple of months ago to a question about finding happiness when depressed. Here’s my situation: I have a teenage daughter with severe anxiety and depression. We are taking her to the best experts we can find and getting her the best treatment/medications that we can. It’s been a couple of years now and it seems like nothing is working and if anything, it’s getting worse. My daughter doesn’t even want to go to Mass anymore with us and has essentially turned her back on God. I know I’m biased but my daughter is a great person who used to love God and I can’t see the redemption in her suffering. I know that I can’t see what God plans for us and have asked God to please give me her pain but she’s still suffering with this. I also know Mary also suffered her son’s immeasurable pain for us. My wife and I have turned everything over to Jesus and intellectually we know He wants us to trust Him with our problems but, if I’m honest, I’m starting to get angry and resentful. Do you have any advice on how to deal with my anger and resentment towards God after so many years of praying, fasting, trusting, etc., with the situation not getting better? Thanks for all you do.
– T
Unplanned Pregnancy Before Marriage (16:03)
Aloha, Father Josh! Warm greetings from Hawaii! Before my question, I just want to say thank you so much for being a conduit of God’s grace and wisdom to so many lives. Your podcast challenges and inspires me every week; I pray for your strength as a priest and in your ministry. May you always be blessed.
My question: About two months ago, my boyfriend and I learned that I am pregnant. We have been together for 11 months, we are both in our later twenties, active in parish ministry and not living together. After finding out that I am pregnant, I sought counsel first from my spiritual director, a religious sister, who advised us to tell our priests that I step down from ministry for this time. Our priests were very understanding and supportive. One of our priests asked us what our plans were regarding our relationship. We told him that we both intend to be married, but he advised us that if there is any form of “pressure” to be married (pregnancy being one of them), we need to pause the marriage preparation, which we understood. During this time, we also sought advice from another couple in our church who has gone through the same thing (pregnancy before marriage, but cohabited then married when their firstborn daughter was 2 years old), and they advised that because consistency is so important in our child’s life, it is recommended that we live together. I feel very torn about this. Yes, we struggle to be chaste… but knowing the high divorce rate of couples who cohabitate before marriage, I really don’t want to live with my boyfriend before we are married. This is difficult too because at my boyfriend’s home, he has a lot of family members who can help us with our baby, but at my own home, it’s just my sister and I. I don’t know what to do. Please let me know what you advise, Father. Thank you so much.
– Anonymous
Bible Translations (24:03)
Hey Fr Josh! I want to thank you for taking the time to put out this podcast. I have truly been inspired to be more intentional in the practice of my faith. I feel called to dive deeper into studying Scripture, but I’ve already hit a speed bump. There are SO many translations of the Bible. Which is the most accurate translation? Do you have a favorite Bible you can recommend? Thanks for your time.
– Amanda
Resources
- Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation by Fr. Josh
- The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
- Ignatius Catholic Study Bible
- Saint Benedict Press Holy Bible
- The New American Bible
Meet Your Host
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. Then, one day in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest.
Now, Fr. Josh is the pastor for Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Louisiana, and he is a presenter in three of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body, and The 99 as well as the author of Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation.
My name is Helen James, i am married to my husband for over 5 years now and we were living happily together with our two kids, until my lovely and caring husband traveled to Italy for a business trip; where he met this Lady, Casanna. Ever Since then my husband has become different. He hates me and our innocent kids with passion, and never cares about us again. So when my husband came back from his trip a few months ago, he said he did not want to see me and our kids in our matrimonial home again. He drove us out of the house at night and went back to Italy the next morning. I and my kids were almost on the street frustrated, begging to put food on our table.. In the process I came across a friend who told me about this great man named Dr Ozigidon Henz and the seventh spirit…at first I was scared but when I thought of what my kids were going through I summoned courage and contacted him immediately and he responded after a few hours. I explained to him about my situation and he said that he will help me and told me what to do and I did what he had requested of me. He asked me to stay calm for 48 hours and that my husband will come back to me within seven hours my husband will call me..And truly, when it was the seventh hour according to Dr Ozigidon Henz. My husband called me to come back to the house saying that he was sorry that he has sent the house key through his friend to me and that he will be coming home in the next two days. According to Dr Ozigidon Henz my husband returned to me. This is how I get my family back after a long break up by a strange lady. With all this help from Dr Ozigidon Henz and the seventh spirit as he likes to call it. So I said to myself that I won’t just keep this testimony to myself because I know there are many people like me out there who are facing many issues and need the same help. You can also bring your problems to him no matter what it is he will put an end. you can contact him on his email ( drozigidonhenz.spell.net@gmail.com ) or call him on +2349054750112. i bet you will be glad you did.