Does praying help?

Question

I used to not be able to go to sleep at night unless I said my prayers.I went through such hard time the past few years and praying didn't seem to help. I asked to be strong, for him to be strong. For guidence. I got nothing so I stopped. Now all I hear is that I should pray.I lost faith.God wasn't there for me when I needes him the most.Where do I go from here?

Answer 1

Yeah, He shows up every 10 years or so.

Answer 2

I have been in a similar situation and I stopped praying, going to church, the whole 9!
But then I realized that praying was working...just because the specific situation wasn't addressed, other situations were improving. Like God sent me new people to help with the situation, or I was given a break from the situation. Sometimes *the big prayer* takes a long time to come true...my friend once told me *God's delays aren't God's denials*. Some situations take work, even on the otherside.
Keep praying, and look for other gifts that come that relieve you from the situation while *the big problem* is being worked out.

Answer 3

God answers ALL prayers. But like with any good father, the answer is sometimes "no". This doesn't mean that He doesn't love you or that He doesn't care. Sometimes He doesn't interfere because there is a lesson that we need to learn. Other times He is there and we don't even realize. Also, please remember that faith without works is dead. In other words, it takes more than prayer to help you in a situation. You must put in some work. For example, if a person plants a garden with nothing but beans, all the prayer in the world will not make corn come up. If you want corn, plant corn. Don't plant beans and then pray for corn and then get upset with God when your garden is full of bean sprouts. I pray that I was of some help to you. God Bless.

Answer 4

Keep praying. Also, listen. I went through a period like that. God is always looking over and out for you. I found that those times when I felt like he was no where to be found he was right there all the time. Go to church and surround yourself with people of your faith that can bring positivity into your life. There is a song that really helps me when I'm feeling down...Here are the words:

I know trials sometimes weigh you down
Searching for the answers and they can not be found
Just know that God is on your side
He'll be there right on time
Don't worry, Everything will be alright.
Hold On,
Things are gonna work out for you.
Hold On,
God is gonna show up real soon.
Hold On,
Even when you feel misunderstood,
Your situation is working out for your good.
Hold On.

Answer 5

Wow, difficult question. I know exactly what you mean. I pray every night and sometimes I wonder why I do it, because God has never answered me. My husband on the other hand, says that God has answered him many times. On the night his father died, he said to me just before he went to sleep that God told him everything's okay and what's more, he saw God's feet! Yeah, I know... weird! You can try meditating, doing spiritual exercises. That's one way of getting closer to God and to fill yourself with His love and light. There are websites dedicating to teaching you how to meditate. I start by taking three deep breaths and chanting "ani-hu". You can chant anything basically. You can chant "Jesus Christ" also. Then you just let your mind go silent. Every time you feel yourself starting to think again, you chant. Sometimes when I get really silent, I start praying and basically at those moments I just thank God, because I don't know, I get filled with this grateful feeling.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Praying only works if you have faith. But don't forget the song that is so true: Some of god's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. It's true. There's a reason he didn't answer you. You may never know what that reason is. You just have to trust him.
Or maybe he answered you and you just don't realize it.God works in mysterious ways

Answer 7

Have you ever watched parents teach babies to walk? They hold thier hands, then just one hand, then they let go? It gives them a thrill when baby takes steps even after the baby realizes no one is holding on to them. Sometimes they fall, and for weeks won't try again, and definately not without hanging on to someones hand. However, sometimes babies take off, but a good parent is still right there.

God is a good parent. He is ever with you, no matter how much you ignore Him. There is no way he will ever leave you, even when you walk away from Him. Prayer works, even when we don't get what we ask for, he see's the big picture. God's will is so different from ours.

Answer 8

You should rejoice when your going through struggles because god is molding you to be someone stronger and better. Jesus said that god already knows what we need before we pray. Maybe stop worrying - I know -go through what it sounds like your saying - try this - stop by a church sometime and just stop thinking about your life and stare at the crucifix

Answer 9

The most important question of all, seriously, did you have Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If you didn't, then you cannot talk with God the Father. You always have to pray in Jesus' name, because if you don't, then you are praying to the wrong God. So seek Jesus, who is God's Son, and you will be stronger and find much more than anything you could ever imagine, trust me.

Answer 10

Praying helps release troubling energies that Satan wants us to hold inside. By keeping the stress inside us, a person can feel miserable. Sometimes God says no or allows us to go through tribulations to make us a stronger person.