a question for Catholics or other Christians?

Question

hi

i used to be (maybe still am) a Catholic but the more I look at life I only see that you can succeed no matter how bad a person you are through your will power. my question is where is the help from God for the people who are in pain. Isn't it all just about the will power and not God. i fear i'll become an atheist; i just can't believe the world is as it is. i can understnad some trials we go thru' but sorry, there are things beyond my comprehension

thanx

Answer 1

No matter what you are or call yourself the trials will still be there. They will still come. No it's about god. He saved me more than I can tell you. I have had pain unbearable pain I called on Jesus The pain did not leave all at once. but it left.If a higher power can not help No one can. Don't let anyone steal your joy.

Answer 2

I guess the key to the answer is what do you define as success? If "succeed" means having a nice house, car, money in the bank and such, yeah, you can succeed without God. In fact, it may be easier to be a success by those standards without God.

But "willpower" cannot make you be a "good" person, have a loving family, friends, the self-respect that comes with living a virtuous and moral life.

When my wife and I had our first miscarriage, I turned to the Book of Job for reading about how Job had everything, and basically had all of it lost through testing by the devil. Job endured despite urgings from his friends, until he cracked and denounced God. God's response was that there are things that are simply unknowable for us. Why are people in pain, even if they are faithful and virutous people? I don't know...it doesn't seem fair that the wicked prosper sometimes or the good suffer...and it isn't "fair." It just IS.

Answer 3

All humans are subject to time and circumstance. Even those who have a lot materially can lose it all in a tsunami (or other disaster) catastrophic financial event, or health failure. So its best not to trust in our material means as a sign of success. God has purposed to bring relief to all mankind, including those who suffer the most. That is what you are asking for when you say the Lords Prayer ( you can analyze it phrase by phrase ie like your will be done on earth as it is in heaven - Matthew 6:9,10 and Psalm 37:10, 11)

Answer 4

I just came through a very painful illness that took a long time to be diagnosed and treated. Having the assurrance that Jesus was by my side through the illness gave me an inner peace that non believers have never experienced. I was not at all frightened or panic stricken as were the rest of my non believing family. I have had a full recovery and I believe that it has strengthened my faith even more than ever.

Answer 5

What makes you think that successful people aren't in pain? The person with the darkest heart may be successful and admired by others, yet he/she lacks the inner sense of peace that only comes from knowing God. To YOU they may seem carefree and happy, but I guarantee they are not that way on the inside.

As for Christians who suffer, of course God feels their pain. In some way, He will answer their prayers, thought it may not be the answer they want or expect. And believe me, God knows their heart. Their reward will be in Heaven.

Answer 6

God did not create the pain, human beings' sins do. Pain is a part of life on this earth. The difference between atheists and Christians is not that God will take our pain away, but through God we can find peace and hope inspite of our pain. In the bible Jesus suffered. He did not tell us that we would not suffer, in fact, He told us that we would suffer. We must trust in God and, while we suffer, we must offer our suffering to Him. By offering our suffering to Him we join our sufferings to Jesus sufferings on the cross for us. In this way our suffering allows us to join in His redemption of souls and our suffering will thus serve a beautiful purpose. Atheists just suffer for nothing.

I, personally, have been through five years of great suffering. I have had much personal illness, great financial loss, and watched my mother die to lung cancer. In fact, just as I was writing the previous sentence, my husband called to tell me that my father-in-law, who had an angiogram this morning, found out that his arteries are 95% clogged and that he must have open heart surgery in the next 2 days to have a chance of survival. If I did not have my faith in God, I could not have possibly endured the last few years and would not be able to bear the next two days. No matter what happens with my father-in-law, I know that God will be there for my husband, my mother-in-law, my family, and me. I thank God that I am not an atheist and I thank Him for the hope He gives me and my family. I thank you for your question, as it has allowed me to see God's hand in it in helping me face this new crisis in my life by answering your question.

May you allow God to show you the way back to Him, for it is really worth it! Find a local Catholic parish, talk to the priest, and check into attending the RCIA classes which teach about our faith. I can see that God is calling you to a closer relationship with Him. May God bless you!

Answer 7

Jesus is not about getting worldly gain, but spiritual guidance and a home in heaven. That is why the world can't understand God. God is out of reach for those that want fame and fortune.
As for me and my home we will choose God.

Answer 8

dear friend if you think you don't need no God because you are "in control" you are mistaking.
Your birth was it under your control?
Your time of death is it under your control?
When those two World Trade Center Towers collapsed was it under your control?NO,NO,& NO.
Satan wants to make you think that you have the control but you don't.
Don't be deceived, atheists have been blinded and their hearts are cold rock solid because of rejection of God/Christ.

Answer 9

ppl create their own sufferings