When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)
We’ve all experienced those occasions when our prayers seem to have gone “unanswered”. Given the many comments in the Bible regarding the Lord hearing our prayers, could there really be such a thing as “unanswered prayer”? While the obvious answer is “no”, why is it that we sometimes ask but don’t receive?
In order to answer this question, let’s first be honest about what we mean by “unanswered prayer”. Basically, when we use this term, we’re not saying God didn’t answer, but rather that His answer was “no”. This leads to another important question (and one that IS answerable), “Why does God sometimes say ‘no'”? Let’s open up the Bible and look at some reasons why the Lord may deny our requests:
Lack of humility – Sometimes we feel that we know what’s best and proceed to tell God what we need. Even worse, we get angry when He doesn’t answer fast enough or in the way that we want. One of my favorite examples of humble prayer is the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon (Mark 7:24-30). Trying to help her daughter, the woman fell down at the feet of Jesus and begged for His help. Her posture alone speaks volumes about her mindset. She is approaching Jesus humbly, as a beggar. When the Lord responded to her plea with “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”, she was not fazed and replied, “Yes Lord, yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs”. She didn’t complain, she wasn’t offended and, more importantly, she didn’t give up. Instead, she continued to ask, humbly trusting in the Lord’s ability to help. The result? Her daughter was healed. What would have happened if the woman took offense and stormed off after the Lord’s initial response?
Lack of faith – When the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they were unsuccessful in casting a demon out of a boy, the Lord’s response was blunt and to the point – “Because of your little faith” (Matthew 17:20)! When we approach Jesus with a request, do we really believe in His power? Maybe, but that can change in a hurry, especially when a sick relative for whom we’re praying starts to take a turn for the worse. How important is faith when we pray? According to Jesus, “whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22). Does that mean that every time God doesn’t grant our request it’s because our faith is lacking? No, but it could be a contributing factor and should be addressed. Before you panic about your weak faith, however, remember that faith is a gift and you can’t increase it on your own. What you can do is ask the Lord to increase your faith, just like the father of the boy with a mute spirit, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
Asking for the wrong things – Let’s be honest, sometimes we pray for the wrong things. Even though it may be unintentional, we often ask for things that will increase our comfort and could harm our relationship with the Lord. That new job might pay more money and help us to better provide for our family, but it may require us to work extra hours which could cut into our family time. The increased earnings and security could also cause us to rely less on God, thinking that we are in total control of our lives. Once again, Scripture offers a clear answer to why we sometimes ask, but do not receive – You ask and you do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (James 4:3).
It may be harmful to us – Sometimes we ask for things that would be harmful to us spiritually. These seemingly “good” things could possibly cause us to lose our salvation. Even though Jesus promised that if we ask, we’ll receive, He never said that we’ll get EXACTLY what we requested. In fact, He assured us that we would not be given anything that is not good for us:
“Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
Instead of upsetting us, Jesus’ words should cause us to rejoice and give us confidence to ask for whatever we think we need. Ultimately, we know that the Father will never provide us with something harmful, even if we unwittingly request it!
He has something better in mind – As hard as it is to admit, sometimes we just can’t see the big picture. God always knows what’s best for us and for those around us. He also has a plan for our lives and that often involves doing things that we’d rather not do. Very few people would pray for increased suffering or more crosses in their life. As human beings who have a tendency to avoid pain and suffering, that is perfectly normal. Sometimes, however, doing God’s will involves suffering and even death. I have personally prayed for the physical healing of cancer-stricken relatives who have died. Does that mean that God didn’t answer my prayers? Not at all. He simply said “no” to the physical healing because it wasn’t what was best. One of my favorite and most comforting Bible verses is Romans 8:28 – We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him. Not just the good things, but EVERYTHING! Sometimes, my friends, we just have to trust that God knows more than we do. While we should never stop asking, we should be open to His answer. One of the best illustrations of this can be found by looking at Jesus’ prayer on the night before He died. Providing us with a powerful example of how we should pray for our needs, but remain open to God’s response, He used the following words:
“Father, if you are willing, remove this chalice from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
It’s perfectly acceptable for you to pray that your husband is healed from cancer or that you get that new job, but always be open to God’s Will. He sees the big picture and really does know what’s best. Imitate the example given to us by Jesus and always trust in His providence.
Although it’s difficult to accept, we need to trust that God always has a reason for saying “no” to our requests. He does this out of love and because He “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). Just like any loving parent, the Lord will sometimes say “no” because it really is what’s best for us. We may not get it now, but someday we’ll thank Him!
have you read: Where is God when it hurts?
i believe in blind faith in the Lord, whether i like it or not, His will supercedes all and i accept it.
and yes, i don’t like it sometime, but i have come to accept it peacefully.
‘
Gary, thanks for writing this.
I understand what the NT says, and what the OT says about suffering, evil, and why prayers are not answered. What option should a cancer patient choose when they aren’t cured?
I have to admit that the tension I feel comes from the tendency to see God in the more orthodox or traditional theistic way. When I do that, I can’t help but read God as being a capricious being who is not a very good communicator with it’s creation. I see God as claiming to love His creation as a parent, a friend, a lover even, but not liking its creation very much and not very attention to its needs. I see God as a despot who wants to reconcile all things to Himself, and claims to be eternal in His virtues and characteristics, but not really as there are clearly limits to His own ability to influence (not control mind you) His own creation.
Fortunately, I don’t see God this way. I see God as being “person” in the character of Jesus and in other creatures of His as they express love, mercy, compassion, gratitude, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in Jesus and these other people. This, for me, is how we realize our original blessing as children of God. I think that God has set things in motion, so to speak, and that it is all part of His plan, to use that language. It is then our responsibility to be God so to speak to others by allowing God to work through us.
I think all the reasons mentioned in scripture for suffering and evil, etc., namely when God says “No” is our own distorted perception. I don’t believe God can say “no” as it is clear from scripture that everything is a resounding YES when it comes to this creation. Pastorally, we have to be that YES to those who are faultering “the least among us.” Who are the least among us? Everyone around us and us!
When Jesus comments on someone not having enough faith, well, I think everyone, including the disciples falls into that category. There is no difference to me between Peter and Judas, or the rich man, or the blind man, or the Samaritan, or Martha, or Lazarus. Maybe even Jesus himself as He becomes like us. This is the God I can follow.
Given the many comments in the Bible regarding the Lord hearing our prayers, could there really be such a thing as ?unanswered prayer?? While the obvious answer is ?no?
Actually, there are prayers that God will not answer, not even with a “no,” there are prayers that He will refuse to even consider.
You want an example? What was Jesus’ response to the “prayer” of Herod to peform this magical feat and that magical feat?
His response was . . . nothing. Not, “no,” but genuine non-responsiveness. Jesus, that is to say, God, ignored him.
Why the non-answer, why not even the curtesy of a “no”? God is under no obligation to listen or respond to prayer made in bad faith, prayer that is essentially blasphemous, prayer that is a sin to even utter, prayer that merely injures the heart and soul to such an extent that it is even incapable of authentically talking to God.
What is the scripture reference for this?
Okay Luke 23:7-15. It reads that Herod (which one is up to speculation) was interested in seeing a miracle by Jesu, and “he [Herod] questioned him [Jesus] in many words; but he answered him nothing.” (verse 9). That can hardly be considered a prayer. What is bad faith and who are we to determine that? You can make the case that the Psalms are prayers so maybe God can say “no” to something like Psalm 137 which ends with the cheery line: “Happy is the one who seized your infants and dashed them against the rocks.” Has God ever agreed with that? Should we? Again, I think when you say things like God is under no obligation, it implies a god I want nothing to do with. I always here some Christians say things like this that God didn’t have to create us, or doesn’t need us. Then everything that God says about being our parent, our teacher, our lover, our guide, is disingenuous. That makes God into a jealous stalker who when rejected counters with sociopathic violence. I agree with Gary that God wants something better for us which we aren’t conscious of at the present time. When there is lack of humility or faith, I think that God continues to woo us and draw us to him, kicking and screaming if necessary. So, there can’t be a NO involved. Maybe a “How about this instead?” or “Wait a little longer, please.” He grants Satan’s request in Job, so I guess Satan has more humility and faith than us.
My spiritual advisor put this excellent question another way, what would have happened has God said yes to Christ’s prayer at gesthamene.
Great point, Mitchell!
“Total Consecration”
I have purchased St. Louis DeMonfort’s book a long time ago. I keep moving the book from its place. Knowing I am being called to read this book and consecrate myself to Our Lady.
Thank You for being the spark that will help ignite the flame that Our dear Lord wants to set a blaze within my heart and soul.
My pleasure, Carolyn. As we go through the process, please let me know how I can help.
I don’t believe that Jesus could have ever asked such a thing as he claimed to be one with the Father. In essence one with himself. So it’s a contradiction to suggest that Jesus could have asked for anything. Can God ask Himself what He wants? Had God said yes, thought, then I think He would have done so because He being God would have come up with a more rational response to solving the problem without using sanctified violence. Maybe God would have decided to be truly merciful and forgiving.
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“I don?t believe that Jesus could have ever asked such a thing as he claimed to be one with the Father. In essence one with himself. So it?s a contradiction to suggest that Jesus could have asked for anything” The request at Gethsemane is scriptural and you say you don’t believe it? Then you ask Bender for a scriptural reference….You have some SERIOUS issues. Sort them out and please be consistent when you post.
Jesus is fully human and fully divine – this is a mystery – the hypostatic union. If you can fully comprehend this then you have a special grace from God. Jesus the man knows the painful, horrific fate that awaits him – is it not human to dread it and desire not to undergo it? This sanctified violence you abhor is necessary if you see Jesus as the Passover lamb. There needs to be a sacrifice or a retribution to atone for Israel’s/humanity’s sins. You need a deeper understanding of the Old Testament and salvation history. Humanity cannot keep from sinning – over and over again man breaks his covenants with God. We deserve death/hell/God’s retribution but God so loved us he gave his only begotten Son and offered the ONLY sacrifice that can suffice. No offering from man can (this is scriptural) only the Son of Man who is both human and God.
“Had God said yes, thought, then I think He would have done so because He being God would have come up with a more rational response to solving the problem without using sanctified violence.”
Why is it violent? Sacrifices in the Old Testament involves killing. That’s one way to look at it. Another would be that Jesus took on all the sins of the world – the worst of humanity was on display during his Passion – violence, murder, betrayal, cowardice, hate, lies, indifference, injustice, etc. He went to battle (again violence) and emerged victorious with his death on the Cross.
The Catholic Church has the deposit of faith – be guided by its teaching, its dogma, its doctrine. Read the Cathecism, not only scripture. It can clarify some issues you may be wrestling with (obvious in your statement implying God is somehow irrational). Pray, read, contemplate and grow in your faith.
John, I appreciate your response. I agree with you on when you say that “that’s one way to look at it” which I do. I believe that Jesus was crucified BECAUSE of human beings and not FOR human beings. To say that he was crucified for US, meaning anyone who was not alive at that time, opens up a problem for me which there is no explanation. To say ultimately that “Jesus took on all the sins of the world ? the worst of humanity was on display during his Passion ? violence, murder, betrayal, cowardice, hate, lies, indifference, injustice, etc.” and that “he went to battle (again violence) and emerged victorious with his death on the Cross” to me are more theological statements to explain the event. If that is truly what happened, then there is no reason why there is still death and sin in the world as all the beings who did not exist at that time (like you and me and everyone reading this) would have been born without the stain of original sin. I understand the reasoning behind all the creeds and all the theology of the church, but none of them answer the question. That doesn’t mean I don’t believe that the events described took place, I just don’t think they can be taken literally or historically, as say, the events of September 11, 2001. We all know what happened and that it happened, but we are living more with the repercusions of that event and its meaning. The actual event is not relevent to the how we deal with its meaning. It of course is important, but irrelevant as it is stuck in time and cannot be changed. So, in that sense, I still believe that Jesus lived, preached, performed miracles, said pretty much all of what is attributed to him, was crucified and was resurrected. I believe it all even if it (any of it) didn’t happen in time. I’m not saying that it didn’t happen. I am saying “even if”. I admit that even as I pray, expose myself to the catechism, and cautiously study doctrine and dogma, I don’t believe much of the creeds because none of them explain anything about the nature of Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit. For me, it is in the daily living of the words of Jesus, having a trust in God which means trusting that no matter how bad things seem to get, all will be well. Why, because God, meaning not a being in and out of space and time, but time and space ITSELF is there with me, in me, around me, like air and water – like what makes me exist. This is my faith, as inadequate as it may seem to others. It is not the Pope’s faith, my bishop’s faith, my priest’s faith, your faith, my wife’s faith, but mine. And I hope that that is okay for now in that limited capacity with God. If it isn’t, then I see no reason to be blamed fopr anything. God created me with the original blessing, NOT the original sin of being His child. As I grow in that role, all I can do is rest in the assurance that when I fall short, I will be comforted, picked up, brushed off, patted on the back and told to move on with Him. I see no need to santify violence and I see not need to worship a bloodthirsty god, which doesn’t deserve that worship. That is not my god. I want nothing to do with something like that. It makes me more secure knowing that that old belief is as dead as the cultures which utlized it.
@Mateo Massiello
Jesus said in John’s Gospel, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father call him.” Scary, huh? Has He not called you? But you won’t come to Him. Anyone can always reject Him and the Father because of free will. Scarier, huh? Jesus also said in John’s Gospel, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I have to tell you, all of us come to a point where logic, reason, trying to “figure it all out” fails us. That is the point where the solid ground ends and we have to walk on water, on air, on nothing, so to speak. At this point we are required to say, “I believe anyway, even though it doesn’t make “sense” and I don’t understand.” This is what we call “faith.” It is believing what you don’t understand simply because you trust the person who said it. You can’t change it, make up other explanations because you can’t see how it fits in time, in history, or why we are not all now born without original sin. It is faith and belief because you trust the people who reported it are telling the truth. Do you believe the earth revolves around the sun? Do you know that from your own experience, or do you just believe it because you trust the scientists who told it to us? In the same way, we trust the accounts of the Bible, and what Our Lord said and did, because we trust Him and the disciples who reported it. St. Paul said the Cross is “a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.” 1 Cor. 1:2-3 Why? Because the Jews could not let themselves believe the Messiah would die a criminal death, and the Greeks were logical and the message “didn’t make sense,” a little like what you are expressing. What would help you is to admit it is beyond you (many if not all of us must eventually admit it is beyond our ability to understand) and believe simply because God says it is true. I pray you will be able to receive the grace that makes this possible. God bless you.
Well, many years ago I prayed for my wonderful cousin to get married. She got cancer. She was cured eventually, but that illness made her bitter and anxious, and completely ruined her father’s health.
Some time ago I felt obliged to pray for her new job. Soon she got cancer again.
Am I the only one who thinks it’s hard to believe that these “gifts” were not snakes, but fishes?
You need a lot of faith to really believe that He knows what He’s doing with us :-((
I’ve come to believe that we often forget that we are only a piece in a giant picture or a single actor in a huge play. When we ask for things, I believe the answer has a lot to do with how things also reflect on the greater picture and all the other people affected. Jesus, I trust you and Thy will be done play into this concept that we are not the stars in the show. Everyday I’m surprised by things that show that God is there and caring for me. Within God, Father really does know best regardless of what I want at any given time.
Amen.
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I have found if I pray for things in line with God’s will, those things are usually answered. So I pray my relatives and friends (and everyone, for that matter) will be saved, that they will come to Him. I pray God will provide for my material needs, in so far as He sees fit. I pray He will help me to follow Him and trust Him more. If people I know are ill, I pray for their recovery, but if this is not His will, then that they may be given the grace to endure their illness and grow in faith. When I was much younger I fell into the temptation to pray for things that would fulfill MY will, like giving God my wish list, like He worked for me. Now I try to follow the example of Jesus in the Garden; I make my request, but also say, not my will but Yours be done. If my loved one does not recover, I trust that even if it is not what I had wanted, (as Jesus was crucified regardless of His prayer), God heard my prayer and helped them unseen and I am given the grace and strength to continue to trust God, knowing my purpose and end are not in this world, but in the next. His will be done! Another good example for us is the Blessed Mother. If you look at the facts of her life outside of faith, she did not have such a great life. She was found pregnant without good explanation, they had to travel in her ninth month to be counted in a census, then there was no place for them, they had to escape and live in Egypt to save the life of the child, her husband died and left her a widow and her only son left her to preach, not to work and take care of her, then he was captured by the authorities and put to death as a criminal, and she witnessed his brutal and horrible death. I would guess she prayed for just the opposite in every instance, yet she always prayed God’s will would be done. How would we react if even one of those things were happening to us? Yet, in faith, we see Mary is the greatest of all women, graced beyond all humanity, finding favor with God, because of her ability to pray God’s will be done, and accept His will without question. If we are not doing that, we have a long way to go…
It’s not so much that Good says “NO” to our prayers, He says “I HAVE A BETTER IDEA”. Then if you are open to His will for you He will guide you to where He wants you and what is best for you.
As a women who has lived to be 78 years old, I know that God has always answered my prayers. Sometimes God says “no”( No is answer and if you have children ..you know what I mean) and sometimes “yes” and sometimes “keep praying”. He is an awesome God and whatever His answer is to me I trust in Him. He is “all knowing” and I am not!
I feel God gives to each and every one of us just what we need when we need it. To quote an old saying, “Father knows best,” and He certainly does without question. He’s our Supreme Parent in Heaven.
He healed me of a back problem many years after it began. I didn’t ask for a healing, yet He healed me anyway in His own time. I can’t begin to tell you how many of life’s issues He has gotten me thru. Without Him I would have been totally lost and beaten.
Our dear Lord and His Holy Mother have been so very good to me, gracing me with gifts beyond belief. I have seen the Miracle of the Sun…a sight so incredible, words cannot actually describe it sufficently. But I shall never forget it! And I was not alone, I had family and friends with me on a Pilgrimage, and they saw it too. I have seen the Corpus of a huge Crucifix come to life, and look directly at me! And at the same time, in-between my sobs, I heard, “See what I did for the love of you and all mankind”. There were other wonderful miracles I was graced to witness. He also allowed me to take miraculous photos, things I did not see with my eyes, but when the film was developed, Holy Images were present. 5 pairs of my rosaries turned from silvertone to a golden tone, at different intervals, including a rosary bracelet and a small Crucifix. These are such exquisite gifts from the Lord and Our Blessed Mother. I cannot thank Them enough!
If we only knew how much God loves us, we would fall on our knees and adore him unceasingly. And really that is all He wants from us—Love! That is the “secret” of a good life, a decent existance, and our ticket to Heaven. God bless us one and all!
I totally and wholeheartedly agree with this helpful article for those of us facing dramatic suffering in our lives. Thank you for putting into words what was in my heart.
That being said, may I ask you and your readers to PlEASE pray for my dying husband Paul? He has terminal kidney cancer that has spread to his liver, lungs and elsewhere. After surgery, chemo treatments and 5 visits to the best cancer hospital in the country (MD Anderson), even they can offer us NO HOPE. The medical world may say Paul is doomed to die, but we say, “Jesus can and WILL heal him, according to His holy Will.”
This good and faithful, hardworking servant of God, who is generous and honest to a fault, has much work to do yet in the Great Harvest of Souls. The last project he started before his diagnosis exactly one year ago, was to build a free Soup Kitchen for the Lonely. Paul feels that loneliness is one of the greatest problems in the world today…that we CAN do something about! Once God restores his health, you better belileve those walls will be going up! By the way, Paul insistes that our kids and grandkids be the ones to prepare and serve the meals, thus reinforcing the value of giving and humbling serving others.
Like the persistent widow in Jesus’ parable, I refuse to quit asking…Padre Pio, Maria Esperanza, Ven. Fr. Solauns Casey, countless other saints and angels (esp. St. Raphael, “The Medicine of God”), deceased relatives and friends, the holy souls in purgatory…ALL are begging God, uniting in prayer before the Almighty, asking the Father in Jesus’ Name, through the intercession of His Most Holy Immaculate Mother Mary, to heal Paul Burch!!!
Please join me and our 5 children (the youngest is only 14) and our 7 grandchildren (ages 2months – 9 years) who daily ask “Jesus, please heal Papaw”. God’s Will be done in all things. “Thy Will be done, O Lord. Thy Will be done. the Lord has given and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.”
Jesus, I trust in You. IN His Name, Tracy Burch
I will pray for Paul, Tracy, and I’ll spread the word. Stay strong!
God Bless,
Gary
I pray and hope that your prayers are answered. God bless your husband and his family. Thy will be done. With love, Dorothy, Canada. xxx
God loves us with a love that we can`t even imagine…He wants us to turn to Him first, with all of our issues , big & small. If we lean on Him for everything we learn He will always answer our prayers. Pray to the Holy Spirit for an understanding and to counsel us . TRUST in Him with faith , patience and no fear . Read scripture , believe it can happen today , then claim your blessings !
God bless
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“I love You Lord. And i know you want to rescue me from this suffering world. I know You wait for me in Paradise. I eagerly await seeing you. But my children still needs me. Please let me stay a little while longer. ”
My prayer to the Lord. Please pray for me and for those who need to stay a little bit longer.
It can be difficult to keep faith when the majority of the time God says NO to prayers. I used to have much much more faith than right now.
It feels like this….
God please hear me, No
God would you please, No
God I ask, No
No, no, no, no, no
After a while you give up praying for people you care about because you already know the answer will be No.
I’ve been wrestling with this a lot. My ex wife is mentally ill (diagnosed, not just the opinion of a disgruntled ex-husband). For about the last 5 or 6 years of our marriage, things got increasingly worse, and she eventually asked for a divorce. I like to think I would have stayed married if she hadn’t wanted the divorce, but the thought of staying in that marriage was dreadful.
I prayed for years, and still do, that God would heal her. She already was a believing Christian (Catholic), but her illness has changed her so much that I really don’t know what her faith is anymore. I didn’t ask God to restore her to me – I have moved on and found a new relationship – but I have asked him to restore her mind and spirit. The answer apparently is “no”, as her illness has become worse, and I’ve been praying for about 8 years now. It’s been off and on, since sometimes I just feel like God’s plan is totally inscrutable and he’s not willing to explain why.
That is at the heart of why I’m wrestling: I can accept that God loves us, both individually and as a species he created. I can accept that he has a much bigger picture of everything. But I’m having trouble with the concept of God creating us for a relationship with him, and that he is like a father.
Well, I do say no to my kids a lot, but when they ask me why, I usually try to give them a good and honest answer. I only say “because I said so” when I get frustrated with them. So, I thought God is supposed to be pretty much infinitely patient and loving. I also understand he’s all powerful and we don’t really have any “right” to question him. But a father who loves his children communicates with them, right? And communication is supposed to be back and forth, and not just one way. So even if God says no if I ask him to heal someone, if it’s his will, I guess it just doesn’t seem right that like a father, he wouldn’t say something like “Jon, I know you don’t understand why I won’t heal her. I think it’s good that you ask me for healing, but I haven’t and I won’t, and I’d like you to understand why.” It’s not about God being accountable to me – he’s not accountable to anyone but himself I guess, but eventually I feel like either my question isn’t worth his time, or something. And since he doesn’t just talk to us like a dad sitting across the table, it’s all guesswork our part (call it faith?) about what God has in mind. It just seems like a really weird relationship when we’re here on this forum speculating about God’s plans, and he doesn’t say anything we’re capable of understanding, and we have faith that he turns everything for good (and I believe that), but why doesn’t he just…talk to us? back and forth? And not in a way that we’re always trying to figure out if it’s just our thoughts making up what God is saying, but that we’re having a straight up conversation?
Jesus did when he was here on earth and talking with his disciples, but now not so much.
Also, about Jesus in Gethsemane, I think as being fully human, he wasn’t looking forward to the most horrible death imaginable. But as fully God, he understood God’s plan, his mission, why he was there, what he had to do, and why he would choose it. We on the other hand barely have a clue most of the time what God plans for us or wants from us, or why we constantly fall flat on our faces, or why bad things happen to us that he won’t stop or even ease the pain of.
You will be in my prayers, Jon.
God Bless You!
I’m not going to lie, this topic is incredibly painful and bitter for me.
God said “no” to my entire life, and it has caused me to become intensely disillusioned with God. Looking at God, and looking at my earthly father, and all those that worked in my life to harm me, there just doesn’t seem to be a difference.
My entire life, my earthly father resented my existence, because my mother stubbornly ignored him and gave me a name to honor God and Christ, ignoring his input. He tried to murder me in the womb, and because of his severe abuse, for most of my life it was like living life in a trance, unable to speak up about my inner thoughts and feelings.
Out of all his children, no matter how much I labored for him in his business ventures, it was “never enough”, and in the end he mocked me saying “he was going to blow every penny and leave me no inheritance”. When I did well, either in school he acted as if he had accomplished something, and didn’t even congratulate me or give any reward. Just made a frame to place the honors certificate in(some might find it heartwarming, but he just wanted to boast to his fellow employees at the place he worked). He made many promises, and never kept a single one.
While the children who never labored for him, received blessing after blessing from him.
My life experiences with God, seem pretty much the same. The only reason I endured such an evil earthly father, was to honor God would commanded “honor your father and mother”. No matter how many times I turned the other cheek, no matter how many times I showed mercy to others, or bore witness, it was never enough.
When I acted on Christ’s teachings to not fret over tomorrow, and placed myself at the mercy of others, my clothes were little more then rags, and even for a time I starved. All the while my earthly father mocked me, and relatives who were Church elders turned their backs to me.
God allowed evil after evil, to tear me down and rob me of whatever glory, victory or well doing, was rightfully mine. If I was in a race that was mine to win, God would allow evil to sabotage me. If I was starting to do good in some aspect of my life, God allowed that evil to bring me to ruin. If I found a treasure that could alleviate my poverty, that treasure was stolen or destroyed. Everything was about knocking me down and breaking me utterly.
When I was a small child, and other children spoke of Heaven, in my heart I could only say “Heaven is for other people”. Not out of shame, or guilt, but out of lack of feeling the warmth of love, and being utterly subdued.
Even though I was completely and totally broken, I found no fault with God and kept moving forward. Eventually, after briefly feeling the warmth of love, God took it all away. No matter how much I desperately reached out, it was all for naught as I was only dragged deeper into darkness. Every door was closed to me, every hope taken away. Even the hope of marriage was taken away, as God dragged me down a path that led to me becoming infertile.
Like a child that was hurt, and in pain, I sought after the comfort of a loving Father. God sought to replace the glory that was stolen from me with his glory, and etc. My main stumbling block, was that eternity was not written onto my heart and soul. After he showed me a vision of the New Jerusalem, it was wonderous, but it was the first time I became angry with him. At the time it was a mystery to me why I was so angry. In my anger, bitter words came out saying “I will never bow before you”.
Quickly that was challenged, as a vision of God was given to me, a geometric shape I’ve never seen before, ancient and “all powerful”. Upon seeing it, my soul compelled me to bow before it, while I felt an invisible presence behind me, and an invisible hand above my right shoulder. Afterwards, it was clear to me that an angel stood behind me, and if the angels hand had touched my shoulder, I would of been cut down on the spot.
Later, in my dreams, while interacting with the one in the whirlwind, it was revealed to me that I genuinely did not want to exist. That in truth, my soul repented in existing, and mourned the day I was born. For the next few years, I continued to interact with God as he brought many things to the surface, but in the end I felt like a used tool and grew tired of spending my life laboring in vain. When I prayed for my enemies, I seen great miracles, for myself? Yeah, it is a painful thing, as it often ended badly.
When I sought to end my life, God interfered. First by taking the implement away to were ever it was whisked away to. Secondly by distracting me, to keep me on the board. He returned to me a portion of an ability/talent he robbed from me when he dragged me away from the first and only time I felt love. In a vision, while still in the wilderness of sort, he showed me intense pleasure to the point it hurt, but not love.
Because of the prophecy’s he gave me, and the persecution I felt whenever trying to tell others as silently and anonymously as possible, great fear filled me that something bad was in store for me. So he would bring me to the edge of disaster and pull back.
No matter how much I try to rationalize why desiring eternal life would be a good thing, I just end up as a dog chasing my own tail, ending up where I began.
From, “how is it any different then what my enemies desired for me, and all those that delighted in seeing me down and in misfortune? Everything they sought to deprive me of, God makes eternal. I will never marry, beget and raise up children. Never be able to enjoy the things of life or go where I desire to go, do what I desire to do.”
To, “why do I have to sacrifice so much? Why since conception have I been so persecuted and hated? Why must I labor before the sun rises, to when the sun set’s, while all others have to do is labor at the last hour to receive the same pay?”.
The thought of eternal life exhausts me. My heart and soul long for nothingness. To hide and rest in the place, state of being before I was begotten. To slumber in nothingness as nothing. Looking at my life, no one was genuinely faithful to me. Everyone always used me for their own ends.
My suspicion, is that eternity was not written into me, because of a challenge between God and Satan. That is based upon a time my soul was compelled to challenge Satan. I accused Satan, “you have no hope for eternal life, so only do ceaseless evil. There is no hope for eternal life in my heart, yet even to my enemies I would not lie to hurt them, yet all you do is lie and engage in evil”. Shortly afterwards, one who I did not like, while I was examining different products came to me and asked me about the products. Without thinking, I warned him of certain products that might be dangerous/unhealthy, and explained why. He left thanking me. It happened so fast, it didn’t mentally register what had happened until afterwards.
I don’t hate God, I try, but I hate my own existence, and I’m so tired and exhausted of it all.
Even though some understanding has been given to me, it is an understanding that is too heavy and too bitter for me to handle.
I feel as if I’ve been dragged through the lives of the prophets in some way or form, throughout my life. It is too much.
Based upon some of the comments seen here, I will say this, your praying in the wrong way. When you pray, don’t ask God for anything, but relay your feelings and worries.
Example:
A test is coming up, and a person is worried. Don’t pray “please God give me a good grade….”, pray “God, I’m worried about this test……”.