I hav a very shakey faith at the moment and everytime I rty to rebuild it by praying and being all spiritual etc, God lets me down because a tonne of bad stuff happens and my prayers are like...i dunno. i see no effect?? I knwo I'm gonna get a load of negative stuff from this making me feel like crud from both atheists and believers but i just want to know, why have I put so much into it and got nothing? It sounds absolutley awful I know :(
2006-06-28 08:23:26 · 41 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I've always liked this poem...
One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
Mary Stevens
2006-06-28 08:35:21 · answer #1 · answered by mindful1 3 · 9⤊ 2⤋
Well I have experienced the same feelings, it made me doubt him in serious way. I am not at all the holy-moly kind of person. I mean I don´t go to church often nor do I pray everyday, but I am starting to realise some of those old irratating cliches do have something to look at.
Like ´´God does things in his own time´´ I have also prayer for something and only later did it happen(at least when I noticed it).
I always ask God to protect my family, and last year my 15 year old cousin was robbed a gun point, he came out with out a single scratch on him. And the people who did it, where caught, are know to be very violent.
And ´´God does something for a reason´´ okay here I have no good examples of the top of my head.
My life has been far from peachy and I´m not even 21 yet, but I think all the things I have seen and experienced has taught me some kind of lesson wherether I wanted to learn it or not. So some things happen just to make or character stronger
Some times I wonder why God allows children to get brutally raped, or innocent people to be killed, or people to strave to death, or even wh he allows war. But then I realise he would not allow these things, it must be the devil. The whole good and evil thing. So when somthing bad happens, its not God who does it.
And yes it is aweful to think like this, but honestly everyone does it at some point or other. I know I did, and still do. Maybe it is healthy to question something so important.
So don´t feel to bad, just keep up what you are doing and you will see the effect sometime if you keep a look out. God works in his own myterious ways, not like we´d like him to.
=>
2006-06-28 08:27:00 · answer #2 · answered by Storm 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is how I look at it. I get back what I give in life, if I've done something mean, I'll get back the same.
The bad stuff happens to help make you stronger.
God will never give you more than you can handle.
Don't give up your faith, God is there to be a guide, not control every aspect of your life and what happens to you.
As long as you feel you are getting nothing that is exactly what you will get, nothing.
Don't feel bad or let people make you feel like crud for questioning. It happens to everyone and it's up to you to rebuild your faith and find your inner peace.
2006-06-28 08:34:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly what you're going through..I feel the exact same way. I just know that when you pray to God, the devil is also around and he does ANYTHING that he possibly can to prevent good things from happening to you. Plus the Bible says.. that God will always answer a prayer..it might just take some time! Be patient! Believe me, I know it's very hard, but faith isn't easy. That's why it is so rewarding in the end. Just wait, pray, and whatever you do, remember..God is always right there..watching! I'll be praying for you! :)
2006-06-28 08:40:59 · answer #4 · answered by Susan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in God but follow no organized religion. What does make sense to me is that God gives everything and everyone free will. When bad things happen to us it is generally a result of free will. If God controlled the actions of even one person God would have to control the actions of all and that's not freedom. It's control. When my little brother was tragically killed in 2000 I was in the same place you are right now. I asked God how he could let this happen. The answer is that God doesn't let things happen because he doesn't control the world. I stripped myself of all religious influences and began a search for the true God in my life. By doing so I have learned that people will do what they are going to do and those around them have to live with the results. We cannot control anyone's actions but our own. I can't tell you why God answers some prayers while others go unanswered. Nobody can. I do believe that ultimately if God is acting at all in our lives it is in our own best interest. We are the product of our life experiences. That which does not kill you can only make you stronger.
2006-06-28 08:34:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sin in your life? God says he will not listen to prayers if their is a excessive sin problem. Maybe its time for you to grow up spiritually and realize that its through faith and trial and error that is going to make you strong in the long run. Just because it seems he's not answering your prayers, doesn't mean He hasn't already or isn't in due time. Have faith in Him and know not everything you pray is a Yes but can sometimes be a No.
2006-06-28 08:33:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hola.....Darling when it seems that God is not answering your prayers he is......He knows our hearts desires and only wants what is best for us.....he answers all prayers(only sometimes it will take you a while to see this ) because he answers with what is in our best interests.I can tell by your question that this is troubling you....I am by no means an expert but I do love the Lord.....when I was in my darkest moments he held me in the palm of his hand(only I like you didn't know it)I will keep you in my prayers.....read the 23rd psalm.....and remember when you are in a valley(darkness bad things happening etc)this is when you grow..as a person ..its painful to be in the valley but....you will grow there...and for petes sake don't have a picnic in the valley....climb out .The Devil would love to have you feeling negatively...and find 1 thing each day to be thankful for.....examples...are all around you..and realize that somewhere someone isn't quite as blessed as you are...after all you do believe in God...and thats a wonderful thing
2006-06-28 08:41:15 · answer #7 · answered by latinrn2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not ignore His own. Maybe He wants you to use the bad things that happen to build your faith. I understand that your prayers may seem like they have no effect. Please understand this: God has three answers for prayers - Yes, No, & Wait. Wait is the hardest answer you will recieve. I don't think God is ignoring you, but maybe He is trying to teach you something. Keep praying and reading your Bible. Find some friends who will help you and pray for you. I will keep you in my prayers. If you need any advice or someone to listen to you email me. mlehill@yahoo.com I'll read your emails and try to give you an answer or at the very best encouragement.
2006-06-28 08:34:59 · answer #8 · answered by redeyedtreefrog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is real. God listens
Hey I know it gets hard sometimes when things don't go rite. Its easy to say "why did this happen to me I prayed this morning". Life is not supposed to be easy if it were easy than it would defeat the purpose of being here in the first place. I would like you to Neal beside your bed tonight and ask Heavenly Father to show you that you are doing the right thing. And if you are not ask him to show you how. If you ask he will listen. Sometimes Prayers are answered differently than what you expect because God sees things in a whole different light than we do. Try not to get discouraged.
2006-06-28 08:31:09 · answer #9 · answered by dkwr14 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been there, you just need to keep pressing in keep reading and praying.. God wil answer you things will get better. Some times we go through things like this and in the end when we make it through there is a bigger reward at the end.. God knows what you are going through and he will answer you when he feels it is time we just need to have faith that it will happen.. Dont give in that is what satan wants and that is another reason why it says many will fall away in the last days because it will get harder but there is always a greater reward in the end.. Trust in God and he will help you through.
2006-06-28 08:29:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you praying and all of this stuff because you believe or because you are trying to believe?(I was the same way) What religion do you follow? I sounds like to me that you need to do some research on different religions, and find the best fit for you. If you would like to talk to someone feel free to contact me.
I believe that just because bad stuff happens doesn't mean that G-d isn't listening. I believe that when bad stuff happens, He teaches you to make lemons out of lemonade. The reason bad stuff happens is so we know when good stuff does. :)
2006-06-28 08:33:20 · answer #11 · answered by Mike and Gina 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋