If God is there why is a bad mans life good and a good mans life full of misfortune?

Question

Does any one think that God is just an imaginary friend, am afraid i am very bitter about all the stuff thats happening to me and the world around me, and i always hear happy christians telling me that i will be saved if i pray, well i did pray but i dont feel any better, if anything i feel isolated and very upset that nothing is improving.

Answer 1

god is not the good police making sure that every decent person only has good stuff happen to them. if nothing bad ever happened you would never grow or mature. it's the tough times that shapes your character.

Answer 2

Why is a bad mans life good? Do you think these people are actually happy?

This doubt you are having is what makes faith so special. Remember the time we are here is like a grain of sand in an hour glass at best. We are given free will and we make our beds and have to sleep in them.

Keep praying. Pray for the bad men, the poor and unfortunate. Do selfless things for these people and do what you can do as a single person to make the world a better place.

If you effect one person positively, that may change that persons world. Think about it. It is all relative.

Answer 3

Religion works on the idea that those who lead a humble life or suffer misfortune but depend on the grace of God (in Christianity) will be rewarded in the 'after-life.' Any religion, barring those that don't believe in an after-life, will promote certain actions that will get you to a better after-life or next life. Therefore, Christianity will argue that the bad man is only leading a good life for about 80 years while the good man will get to lead a good life for the rest of eternity.

I read a philosophy book once that used a man and his brother. The man's brother was rich, successful, and happy, but he obtained all his money by cheating others. The man himself was poor, lonely, and could barely afford a home. However, the brother goes to jail for his actions in the end (basically we are all responsible for our actions, whatever they may be)

But if praying isn't for you, then don't force yourself. I think that faith comes in two forms: sometimes it's outstanding and undeniable and sometimes it's near impossible (I think I heard that on ER once, but it's definately true). Just trust yourself and whatever your answer is will come!

Answer 4

The most direct way to accept what you have no control over is to accept that there are things you have no control over. Prayer is a refusal to accept this, as it is an attempt to influence a magic sky daddy to do your will in areas where you otherwise can't. Yet if you can accept that there are no magic men in the sky, and that the universe is impersonal and your very existence has no external purpose, it actually becomes easier to accept the things you can't control.

If there are any gods, they certainly don't float around granting good fortune to people based on their beliefs.

You have experienced the lie of faith. If you believe that god will come to your rescue, then you feel abandoned and let down when it doesn't happen. Yet if you are mired deep in the cult, you can't share these feelings with anyone. You end up both isolated and abandoned.

Answer 5

Maybe the things that you think are "bad" right now are really a blessing in disguise?

If there's a God I don't think He can help the billions of people on the planet with their individual problems.

I never really understood the whole "praying" thing. Have you seen the movie "Bruce Almighty?"

There are billions of prayers. I don't think God can answer all of them. Or probably any of them. I kind of subscribe to the whole "central intelligence" to the universe, because I don't think that God is that involved in things that happen on our planet. I hate when sports athletes thank God when they win. It really pisses me off. It's just a stupid sporting game. How many people are dying across the world, and God helped you win that game? Grow up!

I kind of think that praying, while it is a defense mechanism that might make someone feel better in times of crisis, I'm not sure if it actually does anything.

Answer 6

I hope I do not come off as insensitive, but your statement betrays a certain something. To whom are you bitter? To whom did you pray? You cannot be bitter "at the world" for this is too generic. You cannot be bitter at Christians, since if God is not real it is not their fault, and if He is real then they can't control Him. You must be bitter with God. God is not a "life-improver" or a genie. You must commit your life to Him, and by that I mean trusting on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross to die for your sins and save you from Hell to Heaven! Once you realize what He did for you...you'd be grateful enough to dedicate your life to Him. This is where we find true happiness. I believe that success or failure in life is defined as the sum of the choices that you make...think about that :)

Answer 7

I do not think their is truly a bad person that is happy, happiness cannot be judged by a persons possessions. Too often people place importance on material things and financial worth and they do not bring joy nor peace.

The bible says only through Christ can one truly obtain peace and happiness. Prayer is not only a one time thing, the bible says you have to pray always in supplication(humility). You have to praise God in the good times and even more during the bad times. God tests those he loves, these tests are not meant to break us but to strenghten us. During the trying times the devil will seek to attack placing thoughts in your mind to discourage prayer, but you have to remember just as he is there, so is God. If you keep crying out to the Lord and read his word you will gain the strength and encouragement needed to make it through the storms of life.

I am speaking from experience, me and my family have experienced some very, very hard times over the past years and it was only through the power of prayer and faith in God why we were able to make it through. You have to have faith and trust and believe that the Lord will bring you out. If he take you to it, he will bring you through it.

Trust God and just follow his plan and I am certain that you will be looking back at these hard moments and say thank you Lord for the storm, because it was then I learnt to rely on you and know that you are capable and able.

Be encouraged and God bless you.

Answer 8

Psalms 14: 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Psalms 19: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Job 14: 1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

Answer 9

I have always believed we need sad Christian songs too. Christianity is a journey. It is supposed to be fun and easy, hard and unfortunate. The bible talks about how even the lowest are praised for they have no where to go but up and the highest shouldn't be lifted up for they have no where to go but down. It is just a big cycle.
When I get upset that nothing is happening or improving I think about this:
God is perfect so what he plans is perfect. Unfortunately we are not perfect and our plans are not perfect. When we are given Gods plans it is going to become messed up. It is not because God is flawed or plans bad things but because he hands it off to us.

Answer 10

Withn the exception of the first answer, which, no doubt, was spawned of the great deceiver himself, there's acommon thread to the rest of the answers that belies simplicity at it's finest: Do what you feel in your heart of heart & through all that you have learned from all teachings you have received is the right thing & you will be delivered, Fail this simple little short quiz called life & you will pay. Do you Really think all your so-called suffering has been for naught? I know you gotta be smarter than that!

Answer 11

The enemy has 2 approaches to lie to you.
1. Keep you happy so you don't look for God, therefore having your rewards here on earth.
2. Keep you miserable so you blame God or discount His existence.

Its up to you to use your brain and see through the lies and misleading of the world.

Doing miracles or making your life better will not help your faith. Jesus tells us that in the Gospels. If a person is determined to not believe, nothing will change his mind.