“Interesting, since at her death, Mother Theresa claimed she didn’t know if she believed in God.”
That’s not true. Many people confuse Mother Teresa’s (please note correct spelling of her name) mentioning if not feeling the presence of God with atheism. The two are not the same. The former is a loss of consolations from God, a test and challenge by God, while the latter is a belief that no God exists.
Clearly, Mother Teresa continued to believe in God even when she felt abandoned by Him:
“Lord, my God, who am I that You should forsake me? The Child of your Love — and now become as the most hated one — the one — You have thrown away as unwanted — unloved. I call, I cling, I want — and there is no One to answer — no One on Whom I can cling — no, No One. — Alone ... Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — how painful is this unknown pain — I have no Faith — I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart — & make me suffer untold agony.”
“Such deep longing for God — and ... repulsed — empty — no faith — no love — no zeal. — [The saving of] Souls holds no attraction — Heaven means nothing — pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything.”
I believe you are correct here. Good distinction between the Psalmist’s cries and unbelief. Don’t know if it was Teresa of Avila or not who said, “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends no wonder you have so few.”
Very good answer.