My best friend has in the last 5 yrs, lost three babies to miscarriage. Had a pulminary embolism, lost one ovary, found out end of last year her mother has breast cancer, her g'ma in law died suddenly, and now her mother in law is battling a metastatic kidney cancer, (they are still running tests to find all where it spread). We have been discussing whether we believe there is a God, and why he would do these things. But I am running out of hope that I will convince her to retain her faith. She says she asks for people to pray, but doesn't know if she believes there is a God, b/c he has been 'punishing' her so much. Thank you for any insight. ;)
2007-01-19 03:46:46 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, I'm not a christian but I agree with Leviathan, that I wouldn't want her to not be one based on anger with God.
If she believes God is punishing her, she believes in God.
She's just upset and hurt that she thinks God is doing this to her.
I'm sorry that she's had so many things happen to her, but perhaps it isn't God doing this to her. Perhaps she should look at this from a different angle. I've had miscarriages in my life and looked at it as nature/God/whatever's protection. Perhaps that fetus just wasn't going to survive or wouldn't have had a quality life.. perhaps it just wasn't time to have children, etc... there are always at least two ways of looking at something.
Cancer happens to a lot of people. I've lost family members that way. I've lost friends that way.
It's a part of life.
I know this isn't much comfort, but perhaps if you could get her to look at the blessings in her life rather than focusing on the tragedies, it might help.
It's nice of you to want to help your friend this way.. that's one blessing she has that I can see :)
2007-01-19 04:04:20 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell her to start going back to church.
I'm an atheist but I dont want to know about someone who becomes an atheist because God was mean to her - that would just make her a pathetic crybaby - where did god say he'd be NICE to her? Maybe he likes her to suffer, or maybe he doesnt give a damn.
My insight is tell her god moves in mysterious ways or some of that nonsense. If she's really had that hard a time I'm sure she needs something - but that something might not be an imaginary friend - why dont you just be there for her?
2007-01-19 11:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well it does seem like she's had it rough! But look at Job in the Bible. He lost almost everything! and He did nothing to displease God!
One of my best friends had a sister who died from cancer four years ago and then her mom just died from cancer in August. her dad has had nothing to do with her since she was little, and thats all the family she has. She's 19. I stayed with her for awhile, spending the night at her house so she wouldn't be alone, and just being a support for her. but then she asked me if I would give her a couple nights by herself, and she's only asked me to stay one night with her since then in the last 6 months. She has only come to church twice, and it looks pretty hopeless in human eyes. She says she's not angry with God, but her actions prove otherwise. But the Lord gave me a promise that He wasn't done with her!! so I'm standing on His Word that He's going to bring her back into the body! So many times I've had doubts, but I just keep praying that He opens up her eyes! And really that's all we can do! In this last month she hasn't answered my phone calls or my texts, I did see her this last Sunday, and she acted like we had been talking this whole time. But then I've tried getting ahold of her this week and she won't answer me again. So I think that's just God's way of saying that He's going to do it all! I'm not going to be able to take any credit for bringing her back! So just pray for your friend, and "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Ps. 37:4
2007-01-19 12:09:54 · answer #3 · answered by *Spotless* 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to think that god is not up there pointing a finger saying "You bug me" and casting all of those nasty things at her. God didn't do it, it is just the way life is. More prayer will be useless since either god does not exist or he does and she did something that really p*ssed him off. I do not believe that. Bad things happen to good people. Tell her not to put her faith in god, but in her friends and fellow man. I think her rewards will be greater.
2007-01-19 11:57:05 · answer #4 · answered by bocasbeachbum 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a believer, but it seems to me that in times of crisis believers need their faith more, not less. If this were my friend, I think I'd tell her that this was her time to be a comfort to all the people in her life who needed her to be strong for them, just as it's your time to be strong for her.
All the best, to you and your friend.
2007-01-19 12:00:00 · answer #5 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist but I sincerely feel badly for your friend. That one load of stressors.
2007-01-19 11:52:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me this would be a prime example that he is not real...sorry for her loss though.
2007-01-19 11:52:21 · answer #7 · answered by deathfromace 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am concerned about your use of the word "make".
2007-01-19 12:00:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋