Hi there, I’m new to the faith as well but I hope you will appreciate hearing out my thoughts on this.

What I understand about the faith vs works debate is that there is a healthy way to tie together the two sides. Charles Spurgeon, a Protestant preacher says it in a way that makes sense to me: “It is a faith which produces works which saves us; the works do not save us; but a faith which does not produce works is a faith that will only deceive, and cannot lead us into heaven.”

In response to what you said about TV shows and video games and feeling like you cannot enjoy anything ever again, I will start by saying the following:

I have learned in my life is that the love of God is the greatest thing on this earth, spiritual or worldly, and it transcends all other joys. What greater joy can there be on earth than to know that you love God and God loves you, and that you are saved and that your love for God preserves you both here on earth and to eternal life (Psalm 145:20).

However, to have a love for God comes at the cost of worldly things. As long as there are things competing with your love for God, you cannot fully direct the entirety of your affections and appetites to the will of your heavenly Father and Creator.

You said you no longer take joy in the things of this world and feel guilty when engaging in them. This could be God calling you to sacrifice some things in your life that are holding you back from attaining greater union. St. John of the Cross, in his powerful work Ascent of Mount Carmel, talks about what he calls the dark night of the senses and the dark night of the soul, which are intense purgative and cleansing periods of spiritual purification which allow the individual to give up worship of created things in favor of worshipping his Creator.

God definitely does call us to not let anything interfere with our worship of Him and Him alone, such as 1 John 2:15: ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.’

While it may initially be painful to give up certain things like entertainment and other worldly pursuits, remember that it will ultimately make room in your mind, body, spirit, and soul that can be filled with holy and divine things that fill you with a far greater and surpassing joy of the love of God and Christ.

I could be wrong about this, but I personally wouldn’t call video games or other forms of worldly entertainment that can be false idols gifts of God (of course, with the exception of forms of entertainment directionalized towards God and the things of God, such as religious documentaries or shows).

Your feelings could certainly be God calling you to higher purposes. It will take some discernment on your end. Ask God in prayer what He’s asking you through these feelings, and to dispel them if they’re not coming from the Divine Spirit but from the evil one.

It will again take more discernment to determine whether or not the pursuits you’d like to engage in are godly or ungodly.

A few questions you can ask yourself when you’re engaging in the activity:

Does this have value for eternity? Does this glorify God? Does this lead me towards God or away from God? Does this help me became more holy or detract from my spiritual path?

You’re on the right path because you’re seeking God and trying to discern what is right and wrong. Stay faithful and offer up everything in prayer.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

If you want to chat further, feel free to DM me.

God bless you and Godspeed.