Losing Faith · Contentment · Spiritual Practices 101

10/25/21 • 39 min

In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Richella, Nate, and James answer listener questions about losing faith, contentment, and where to start with spiritual practices.

[1:25] The three of you have been addressing questions/concerns from parents who are grieving at the waning faith of the children they so lovingly raised. I'm writing as the 22-year old son of two God-fearing parents. To put it try to put it concisely, here is my question: I barely know a life outside of church & a personal relationship with Jesus. All through high school and college I gave a lot of my life to serving ministries. But now that my faith is slipping away, I feel like not only a square peg in a round hole at church, but having lost a sense of mission/purpose, I also feel like a square peg in a round hole in the world. Losing faith has been doubly alienating. What advice do you have for someone who grew up in the church and is now losing faith? When I'm in a circle praying at Bible study, I ask myself, "what am I even doing here?" I want my conviction-driven life back, but I don't know how.... and it's just so hard.

[13:52] Paul says in Phil 4:12-13 that he has learned to be content through the strength of Christ. I lack contentment big time. I've looked for discussions of how to learn contentment but not found any that are not simplistic. Would you please speak to how one can learn contentment?

[28:17] I work with college students who are just beginning to become aware of their internal lives and engage in the spiritual rhythms. My question is: How do you begin to introduce spiritual practices to people who have little experience in engaging with their inner lives?

Resources

Everything Happens for a Reason, by Kate Bowler
A Spiritual Formation Workbook, by James Bryan Smith and Linda Graybeal
Lyfe, resources from the British Bible Society
Starting Your Spiritual Journey, Videos on the Streams by Joe Davis
The Making of an Ordinary Saint, by Nathan Foster

In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Richella, Nate, and James answer listener questions about losing faith, contentment, and where to start with spiritual practices.

Resources

Everything Happens for a Reason, by Kate Bowler
A Spiritual Formation Workbook, by James Bryan Smith and Linda Graybeal
Lyfe, resources from the British Bible Society
Starting Your Spiritual Journey, Videos on the Streams by Joe Davis
The Making of an Ordinary Saint, by Nathan Foster

Previous Episode

Women in Ministry · The Trinity · Spiritual Direction

Want to Suggest a Question?

To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].

In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, James, Richella, and Nate answer listener questions about women in ministry and gender roles, the Trinity, and Spiritual Direction.

Show Notes

[3:40] We've got several questions about women in ministry, question about gender roles, and different hurdles that women like a young mother might face for different spiritual practices.

[19:08] A couple of listeners have asked questions focusing on communicating with the Trinity when having inner dialogue with God, the Father, Jesus, the Eternal Son, and the Holy Spirit and who to address, who to pray to and why.

[33:14] Many people ask us about Spiritual Direction. Would a Spiritual Director be helpful to me to draw closer to the heart of God or would this be one more interesting diversion from personally hearing from God? How do we think about Spiritual Direction in community? Should I find a Spiritual Director rather than a mentor?

Resources

Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly
The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr
Worship, Community, and the Triune God of Grace by James B. Torrance
Life in the Trinity by Donald Fairbairn
The God Revealed in Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Trinitarian Theology published by Grace Communion International
The Great Dance: The Christian Vision Revisited by C. Baxter Kruger
Mythical Me by Richella J. Parham

Next Episode

Spiritual Practices for Busy People · Why Go Back to Church · Judging Family Members

Want to Suggest a Question?

To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].

Show Notes

In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Nate, Richella, and James answer listener questions about practices to help keep centered on Christ with a busy schedule, returning to church when you are not feeling loved there, and the struggle of judging family members.

[1:21] I am an older student attending junior college and working at the school newspaper part time. I find it a struggle to keep up a rhythm of life because so much of my schedule is dictated by what my professors assign or the chaotic nature of working at a newspaper. In this arena the unexpected is common. What types of practices would you suggest to help me keep centered on Christ?

[15:58] My question wants to be: Why are church people so unloving... so rigid in being right that they fail to love people in such sad places? And why should I go back to church now, if that’s what I’m going to face?

[27:34] God has made me aware of my judgmental attitude towards my family members. How can I grow in this area and not only keep my comments and advice to myself, but also let go of that judgement which is in my heart?

Resources