How come some people have the strength to get through their own problems, and others needs God or Jesus?

Question

I had a talk with a believer earlier. They said God gave them the strength to make changes and fix problems in their life. They had the will but not the power. Jesus gave them the power they said.

My question is how come some people (i.e. atheists, agnostics) seem to have the power on their own to fix their own problems while others need to turn to God or Jesus for assistance?

Answer 1

They don't have enough faith in themselves to solve their own problems, so they believe that if they are able to overcome something they must have had help from a supernatural source when in fact it was really their own will all along. It's passing the buck and it's pretty sad when you have to do it to yourself.

Answer 2

Sweetie, plain and simple, Everyone has and needs to rely on God. Sometimes it takes true suffering for one to admit that they need to call upon a higher power for help when all else fails you. I think it's safe to say that everyone has had a moment of like that where they had to pray for help or try to bargain with God.

If Mankind truly had the strength to fix their own problems by themselves, don't you think the world would be in a much better condition that it's in today? Think about it, out of all the small and major problems that's going on in the world today, what solution has the governments and the super powers come up with? None, not one solution. Can human government ruler-ship offer peace and security? No! Take a good look around!

Adam and Eve, even though tricked by Satan, didn't think they need God. And look where it got them!

Answer 3

Your question should first address why we exist in the first place.

Belief in God or Jesus is not a guarantee you won't have problems. First, catholic faith in God or Jesus appeals to the intellect and is founded, not on mere sentiment or conjecture, or blind prejudice, but upon the rock of reason.

Secondly, that it provides suitable and effective means to enable the individual to deal with the problems and difficulties of life; that is, it provides a practical working system whereby each one can, with reasonable diligence, save his soul from the contamination of sin, lead a pure, honest, upright life, and thus secure his eternal salvation. (which is why we are here in the first place)

I assert, then, in the first place, that Catholicism is sane, because it appeals to man's intellect and is founded on reason, and does not shrink from or fear the closest critical or scientific investigation. http://www.catholicapologetics.net/apolo_70.htm

Atheists and agnostics do not reject reason and science, but what they reject is the characature or idol or talisman that prot cults have reduced Jesus into. Atheists and agnostics do not reject the God of the New Testament message, but a hidious portrait of their own making. They simply cannot reject something they have not yet perceived.

Millions of addicts all over the world have found help by increasing their conscious contact with God as they understand Him. Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous... there are hundreds of such fellowships. They have no denominational affiliation. They can't all be wrong.

God loves all of us, and doesn't like it when we hurt ourselves. God loves atheists and agnostics too. So our belief in Him has nothing to do with that fact.

What makes us human beings so valuable and important is that we are in some fashion connected to the Incarnate Jesus, whom God sent for the whole world.

To diminish the Incarnation even in principle is to diminish man. If we didn't have the Protestant Revolt, we would not have the Age of Enlightemment, which is why we have so many atheists today.

Answer 4

Well, fixing problems in life is only one aspect of having a relationship with God. I know many guys who became believers and were alcoholics before, and they just stopped drinking with no desire to drink ever again. But here we are talking about problems here on earth. The greatest problem or reason people turn to Jesus is because Jesus is the only one who can prevent you from going to hell. He said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me." So, maybe you can solve all your earthly problems without Christ, but you cannot solve the problem of sin with the answer of Jesus.

Answer 5

The big difference is that we as Christians rely on the Lord, to provide the answers to our problems, or give us the grace to endure them. God has a plan and purpose for each one of us, and when problems and trials come our way, we know as it says in Romans chapter 8 v 28 that all things work together for good, to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.

Knowing that whatever happens in our lives, God is bringing good out of that situation is very comforting, and this is what gives us the strength to endure. It gives us hope and patience in enduring whatever is difficult.

In James chapter 1 verse 3 days:

For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for everything.

For someone who is not a Christian, then there is no meaning or purpose to what happens to them. As far as they are concerned, they just get through life, and thats it! What a cold, empty existance.

Many people who are not Christians become substance misusers, and get hooked on alcohol and drugs. They lose reality while they drown in their sorrows. I know, I work with such, helping them recover. And yet, the Lord is waiting with outstretched arms, to save them from a wretched existance.
Others deflect from their problems, with other things, but sooner or later, things catch up with them, and many end up with divorce, or even mental breakdowns.

Jesus is the answer for the world today!

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life
When the clouds unfold, their wings of strife
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure when the billows role
Fastened to the rock, which cannot move
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love.

Answer 6

I think this goes to show how people are brainwashed by religion. I was born and raised baptist. Several years ago I turned away from christianity. I wouldn't consider myself atheist but I don't believe in a specific god figure. I recently went through a very traumatic time, probably the hardest of my life. I brought myself through. I pulled strength from every inch of my body to get passed the things that had happened to me; there was no god who gave me the strength. When I was younger I would have turned to god to solve my problems and give me strength. It seemed to have worked at the time but in retrospect it was all me. I concentrated on my problems through prayer and as I prayed I was able to fix the problems and think of them logically because they were all laid out on the table. Religion is all in the head. Strength comes from within but some people are brainwashed to think strength comes from god.

Answer 7

Do you have the strength to overcome your own problems and do not need Jesus? I have problems that I can overcome by myself, like controlling my appetite, and overspending. Some people do not have that self control. But on the other hand I have some real issues only God could give me the power to overcome them. If wasn't for Him, I don't know what I would have done. Like sin problems.

Answer 8

I think everybody needs support from somewhere.
Some have family, friends, colleagues etc, some have the church.
I think it is partly something which stops religious people from believing in themselves and partly because that is where their support network is - they tend to have few friends outside the church.
I have solved a lot of problems without God or Jesus, but I had a supportive family and fantastic friends so it wasn't all on my own.

Best wishes.

Answer 9

Why not take the help from God that's available? Sure doesn't hurt. Be pretty senseless to refuse the help that is available and do everything yourself when there is someone who knows more that is available to ask. The faithless probably don't ask for directions either. This comes from someone who has recent experience in receiving very direct answer to prayer.

Answer 10

There are problems and then there are PROBLEMS. Most people can handle minor issues in their lives, but when it comes to the big stuff supernatural help is necessary. A person does not gain victory over addiction without God's help because all addictions come from Satan. Any Satanic attack must involve Jesus because we as humans are just too weak to defeat him.