I Trust in Allah, But My Heart Feels Heavy and Lost
Salam everyone. I want to start by saying I still pray my salah and hold onto my deen, but honestly, I feel so lost and scared. A deep fear has settled in my heart that maybe Allah is displeased with me, that I won't be among those who receive His mercy and goodness. I worry constantly about not being counted among the righteous. A lot of this anxiety might stem from waswas about lowering my gaze. I do try, but it's a struggle, especially in the environment I'm in. Living here in Europe, I sometimes feel I can't openly express being Muslim at college. I fear my teachers and peers will misunderstand and label me negatively, so I end up acting distant, which just makes things more confusing for everyone. The whispers of Shaytan are the hardest part, constantly suggesting that small slips don't matter. I try to resist, but I'm not always strong enough. Now, it feels like my heart has grown distant, and I'm terrified I'm losing my connection to my religion. Has anyone else ever felt this way? Any advice on finding the light again would mean so much.