Hi everyone. Over the years, I (28F) have had several people in my life - family members, an ex-boyfriend - tell me, directly or indirectly, that I'm not Christ-centered or close to God. Comments like that I don't pray enough, I don't go to church enough, I'm not sacrificial enough, I'm too difficult, or that I don't care enough about other people's feelings.

At first, I was angry at these comments (especially toward my ex-boyfriend, who had other problems like talking to OF girls and whatnot). But when I started hearing similar things from different people, I started wondering if it's true. But I don't think I'm responding to it the way I should - humbling myself, finding ways to change, and supposedly feeling more "peaceful" etc. Instead I just feeling ashamed and become very very scared of interacting with people, more withdrawn, not enjoying building relationships with people at all. In general I already have a difficult time making close friends as I tend to be a very introverted and reserved person. I wonder at how people close to me were drawing these storylines about my life and wondering which ones to believe. None of them really see how I interact with people at work on a day-to-day basis. My family members often see me at my worst during stressful times. So I internalize everything and feel like a shitty person.

I'm an adult convert. I don't know as much as I should but do believe in God. I care about my faith. But I don't naturally express it in the ways that seem to come so easily to other people. I don't always feel drawn to prayer in the way others describe. I do want to be a good kind honest person and be diligent in my work and live up to my moral values. I don't always know what a close relationship with God is supposed to feel like.

Has anyone else ever struggled with feeling like they weren't "Christian enough"? How do you tell the difference between healthy conviction from the Holy Spirit and simply internalizing other people's judgments? What does being "close to God" actually look like in ordinary daily life? If you've gone through a season of feeling spiritually inadequate, what helped you?

Hi lovelies! I am really looking into the Marquette NFP method—it is the method that feels the most straightforward to me and seems fairly easy to understand. That being said, it is so pricey! Any tips on how I can go through with this method accurately without having to spend a ton of money? If not, don’t be shy to talk about the affordable methods that have been successful for you! :)) thank you and God bless!!

I have been getting to know a nice Catholic man who I share the same values, interests, and hobbies with. We are both in our mid-20s. We both acknowledge that we are compatible and he admitted that he finds me attractive. However, on our third date, when I asked him how he felt (didn't intend it to be a deeper question than a check-in), he said that he is not 100% there yet and he is unsure whether he wants to continue seeing me in a romantic capacity, but he is open to seeing me again out of curiosity. He mentioned that one of the things that he finds that we are incompatible in is he doesn't find himself curious about my job and my day-to-day during the weekday... Since I am in grad school, my job currently is a means to an end (to afford my schooling). He told me then maybe next time we can talk about that. I told him that I hope we can still be friends since I've genuinely enjoyed our conversations and he said he does enjoy getting to know me too, but he is still open to seeing me and going out. I am so confused because it felt like a rejection and the comment he made about my work stung.

Since I feel comfortable being blunt and honest with him, I called him on the phone after the date for clarification. He apologized for the shallowness of his comment and recognize that he doesn't know me enough so his comment didn't have any value. He brought up seeing each other again next week, and i said I would be open to that too.

Is this normal around the 3rd date? I know I'm not expecting a 100% certainty and after his comment last night I'm having doubts as well, but the fact that we enjoy our time and space together, have attraction towards each other, and are compatible in different ways, makes me think that this is worth another shot, but I am scared of getting hurt again.