Why doesn't it work?

Question

The Bible has all these verses about how if you ask for something in the name of Jesus, it will be given to you and how God will give us what we want if we ask and how he wants to help us.

My significant other is suffering with lupus, the organ-threatening type. He lives each day in constant pain and currently walks with a cane. He is 26 years old and still forced to hold down a job so he can keep his insurance, and is toughing it through school at the same time. He could die at any time if his immune system decides that some vital organ is a threat and attacks it. He also has a five-year-old daughter who relies on him for support (his wife left him when the baby was a week old; he's not her biological parent).

There are countless people praying for him, in accordance with exactly what the Bible says. So where is his healing? Did God lie? Why doesn't the Bible explain this? It just says ask for it in my name and it will be given. But it's not.

Forget it. If people are more worried about whether I'm converted or not than ANSWERING MY QUESTION...forget it. Forget the fact that I put aside my beliefs for a bit to try and seek guidance through something else. I came looking for answers to what people keep telling me, not to be told that I'm living in sin. Forget all of it.

Answer 1

Great question.

I don't believe those verses apply to us. Most (I think all, but I am not going to say that without having looked all of them up) of the verses where Jesus says "whatever you ask for in my name... etc.," Jesus was only with the twelve apostles. This was a miraculous gift given to the apostles, not a promise for all of God's people.

God does perform miracles sometimes in cases like this, but He usually just works on the spirits of men, where He is needed the most.

I hope that God will pour out His healing on your situation, both physically and spiritually. I pray that God will walk through this with him, with you, and with all of those who love him, especially his 5 year old. I know how hard it is not to blame God and be mad at God during times like this, but I assure you, God is also mad at the situation. Disease is the result of sin (not his sin, mind you, but just sin in general), and it is not what God had planned for the world. Yet, God has prepared a better place for those who love Him. Thank goodness this world is not forever.

My heart goes out to you. God bless.

Answer 2

Does it appear to you that Gos promised to answers all prayer request in the way you want? I am sorry about who ever taught you that. There certainly forces at work we do not understand. I know a lady who went to healing services for a week and prayed each day the same as far as she could tell and it was not until the 6th day that she was healed. Who knows why not the first day. She has no clue.

We are not in control, and the desire to be in control often gets in our way to God. Example we often seach until we are worn to the point of giving up loking for a mate we love and are loved by. Often it is immediately after we decide we want to live alone and are happy to do so when that love finds us.

Is it that the force of evil no longer can use this desire as a worm or bait to distract us, or because we are somehow attached to something and God does not desire us to have harmful attachments??? I do not pretend to know but what I do know is that what we should be doing is following the known directions given us and when we do this then in the end there will be reward and meantime the acceptance of these guidlines will bring peace, so what I suggest is eliminate short time wishes desires and fear and praise God and pray for guidance, and pray to accept the will of God. In this way nothing you are doing will stand in the way of a prayer being answered in the way you prefer. It would be a shame one day to discover that you may have been in the way. Still there may be death of an unwanted nature here or else where. it is all part of all of our lives.

PEACE BE WITH YOU AND KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD.

Answer 3

The bible often leaves out important details, or splits them up into different parts, making it rather difficult to understand.

It's important to realize that the church, not the bible, is the recognized authority in these matters.

In all the biblical accounts, it was Jesus who healed, not the scriptures.

Today, under normal circumstances, it is the power and authority God gave to his church that heals, not the scriptures.

Regarding the "ask" thing; Jesus was speaking primarily to the men who would go out into the world to institute his universal church.

Those men were given very special powers by God to do miracles, and to obtain whatever they might need for their critically important work.

God kept his promises to them.

As for the rest of us, God still performs miracles, but he doesn't seem to do them on demand .... and there's always the question of whether we really deserve to receive any favors from God.

It's up to us to align our will with his in all things, to repent of our sins, and to faithfully pray without ceasing until he decides when and if our request should be granted.

That's the true test of faith.

I suggest you take the next step and become active in the church, preferably the one, true church, get some professional prayer assistance and/or sacramental help there, and then see what happens.

What other choice do you have, anyway?

Answer 4

Do not lose heart. Faith healing is not impossible. There're many examples of it happening in the world. I think, the most important thing is that your other half must be willing to totally embrace the proscribed religion. God(s) works in mysterious ways. I have known people diagnosed with terminal cancer with few weeks to live, survived past their deadline (no pun intended), only to find the cancer cells have disappeared.
There are still many things science cannot explain. My theory is that the brain can work wonders, only if one can utilise its power.
No matter how desolute the position is, be glad that your other half is still with you and treasure your tme together.
There's always people putting you done coz its events or stories like this that make them waver in their faith. Hence, by branding you a unbeliever or a sinner, can they explain the inaction of their God

Answer 5

I am so sorry for your pain and trials. I have never been in a situation that stressful and horrible, so I guess I don't have a basis for any advice, but I still want to help. Try not to think of God, the Bible, and your faith as tools to solving all your problems. It sounds like your faith is very strong, but is being tested severely by this tragedy. Please take heart from the fact that IT IS GOD'S MESSAGE THAT HEALS, not any notion of a supreme deity swooping down from on high to solve our problems. To see for yourself, go to the church you attend, and just wait and see how much support you are given, how much love and praying goes on in your regard. But please don't blame yourself, or God, for this; your faith and strength will get you through this.

Answer 6

they're being jerks tonight. i wish there was something i could tell you that would make it all make sense, that wouldn't sound like an old cliche, but there isn't. God is not always there when you need a miracle, but he is there when u need something to belive in, even if it seems like grasping at straws to believe in anything, sometimes belief is all you have, and maybe it's better than nothing? your call. I'm praying for you and your loved ones too, add me to the list

Answer 7

god let his own son go through a living hell, and his son was probably one of the best people on earth. god probably could have done things any which way he wanted, but chose the path that was very painful and unfair.

and yet, we see these evil bastards with health and wealth and control over peoples lives, who don't give two shits about god.

so, rather than figuring out the mystery of miracles, you should try to just let it go....and maybe that's when your miracle will come.

Answer 8

The same reason my older sister is dieing from cancer after praying and being supported and etc.(the story is truly too long and heartbreaking to tell.)

either...
A) God exists but doesn't want to help because...

*somehow, you're 'praying wrong'

*it's just not in his version of what happens

*he doesn't care

*he's testing your faith
(a pretty malicious test if you ask me.)




B) God exists but can't help...


C) God exists, he is helping, it just takes more time to become apparent.


D) God does not exist


It's messed up huh?
Unfortunately, bitterness at your (all our?)
circumstances only isolates us from support and rots our hearts.

My sister fell into this sort of darkness/defensiveness/ striking out at those who were trying to support her and hasn't resurfaced. She's now had operations on her neck, skull, liver, breast, etc. She's still alive, years after they said she would not be, but still very bitter and unpleasant and miserable.

Anyways, sorry to digress.
My humble advice is to keep praying and to live for the day.

Answer 9

You could additionally take a look at "I'm sorry, I can not recollect." Or, the most up-to-date from her fellow comrades. "I Know Nothing!" To the fellow approximately gun huggers? 34 an afternoon injured/killed through gun hearth. Many of the ones at police or crook arms. 2000 in keeping with day spared from crime. Most not ever even contain gun hearth. Just the presentation of the gun. Most occasions towards a hand folding a gun additionally.

Answer 10

Life deals us a rough hand sometimes sweet heart...people who believe or don't believe still seem to suffer the same hardships...I wouldn't put too much stock in faiths and try to be there for him and make each other happy...I'm sorry to say it seems to be the only and best thing you have atm...good luck...