Christians, ex-Christians and atheists: have you ever had a prayer answered?

Question

...or believed that you had a prayer answered but no longer believe that it was actually God (in the case of the ex-Christians and Atheists)?

Lifelong atheists, of course, will say "no." So unless you have actually prayed to God, or have something interesting or funny to add, don't bother.

btw, just for the curious, I'm atheist.

Christians, if you've NEVER had a prayer answered, I REALLY want to hear from you. :) So please, be honest, as your God commands.

Thought said:

"It is interesting that most who says they have answered prayers get a lot of negative votes while people who say that they haven't had prayers answered get positive votes."

I agree, Thought. It's a funny coincidence, right? Just so you know, I gave every thoughtful, honest, relevant answer a thumbs up. :)

Good story, Elder Woman. :) Thanks.

Answer 1

I prayed when I was a Christian. There was never an answer.

Answer 2

Many of the problems you may be facing could be just the tip of the iceberg on what is really happening in your marriage. I dont mean to scare you but many problems when they either first show up or if they keep reoccurring could be just whats showing from a larger problem that either you or your spouse cannot even see. One of the only things you can do to help is to talk honestly and openly with each other in the marriage. If things become more serious more serious options need to be looked at as possibilities. I have a blog that has more information on some of what I've been writing about. If you feel like checking it out I would completly suggest it. Read here https://tr.im/t8rxg

Love is a choice that is made everyday when you wake up and every night when you go to sleep. Some days you may not feel the original feeling but love isnt a feeling or an emotion. Its an action a verb. Falling out of love may just mean you need to spice things up a little or that you were never in love in the first place. Don't just get out of a marriage just because you don't think you like the person anymore.

Answer 3

Every single prayer I have ever prayed has been answered.

Mind you, "No" is still an answer. People seem to forget that.

How do I know that even the "No" answers were still answers? Because I haven't ever regretted not getting a Yes on those prayers. When I look back, I realize that a "No" was always the better answer.

There have also been a few "No"s that I ignored. That never turned out well. There have also been quite a few "Yes"es, one that I think God might have done just to show me that I don't always want a "yes" (and, again, looking back I appreciate that he showed me that).

The problem is, if you believe prayer works then every prayer is answered (I do, so I believe every prayer I have is answered, though I freely admit it could just be my own perception of events). If you don't believe prayer works, no answer will be enough (because the answer will either not be what the person wants or they wont recognize the answer as being divine rather than mundane). For example, say I pray for rain and it rains. If that an answer to prayer or a coincidence? If I believe, then it is an answer. If I don't, it is a coincidence. If it doesn't rain and I believe, that is still an answer. If it doesn't rain and I don't believe, then that is an affirmative of my (lack of) beliefs.

Edit: It is interesting that most who says they have answered prayers get a lot of negative votes while people who say that they haven't had prayers answered get positive votes.

Edit: No is a perfectly acceptable answer. If a parent always said yes to their child, that is called spoiling. Prayer is for communicating with God, not for getting things done for you.

Answer 4

I was a Christian as a kid and I prayed often, but I never had a prayer answered or felt that God communicated with me. There was never even any ambiguous phenomena that suggested that I may have had a prayer answered or received a message from God. Prayer just didn't have any effect at all. If fact, some of the things I prayed for help with, such as my mother's depression or my friend being abused by his mother, actually got worse. What was I to conclude other than that God either wasn't there or didn't care?

Answer 5

I too was raised Christian (Roman Catholic). Even as a young child it did not ring true to me. Like you, I considered myself a lapsed, haphazard sort of Christian throughout most of my adult life, not really believing but not disbelieving either. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore---an entire religion based on a Big Book of Fairy Tales? Where was the supposed "truth"? I tried my best to be an atheist, but couldn't help feeling that there still was something bigger than all of us. Luckily for me, I discovered a religion that I didn't have to "adapt" to---it WAS me! I am now a pagan. I pray to the Goddess who is, essentially, Mother Earth. My "values" are as high or higher than any so-called "Christian" I know. It's a religion that reveres nature and teaches to to live WITH the earth, not fight against it. I consider the other creatures with whom we share the earth to be brothers and sisters. I am one with nature. There are many forms of paganism, but I am monotheistic. Most of all, the Goddess listens to me and teaches me. It may not be for everyone, but I've never been happier. I hope you find your own answers, friend.

Answer 6

absolutly, but not always in the way i want Him to answer it...

My biggest example is my dad, who died a couple years ago from ALS...He was my best friend :( i prayed and prayed for a miracle for a long time, then i started trying to be unselfish and just pray that God would take care of him and make him happy and do what was best for him...My dad died my junior year of high school...

i dont know why my dad had to die at all, much less such a horrid death...but i had prayed that God would make my dad happy and take care of him...and in Heaven, all his needs are met and he's very very happy now...so my prayer was answered

i still miss my dad terribly, and i cry every single night...but i have to pray for God to give me strength and to not be selfish and want him back here when he's 1,000,000,000 times happier where he is now

Answer 7

I have had many of my prayers answered and many prayers that got no higher than the ceiling. Some have been answered almost immediately and others have taken years. Get rid of the "Blessing Blockers" and pray according to the will of God and your prayers will be answered too. You ask what is the will of God? He wrote it down for you read it, study it, know what blessing God has given you in his covenant.

Answer 8

No, never.
The only time something came true is when I applied a different belief trough something taught by some Buddhists about visualization techniques.
But I think it was just a coincidence anyway.
I never had any prayer answered really.

Answer 9

Texting lets you control the tone and establish what kind of conversation you want to have. Learn here https://tr.im/ZeTfA
This is probably the most important part. With texting, you can stop and think about what you want to say to your ex at each step of the way. Instead of reacting emotionally, you can take your time, figure out the right thing to say (I’ll give you most of it), and be strategic with your ex without saying something that you’ll regret.

Answer 10

As an ex-Christian, for all the prayers that I've heard being answered, I can't say that any of them actually were.

Answer 11

At age 68, I have a lot of questions about God. I'm not always sure what God is. But, I find it hard to believe there isn't a greater good that binds us together. So I pray. I have had every prayer answered in that, since God knows the problem, I ask only that God's will be done and that I understand the answer. Sooner or later I understand all answers to my prayers. I live a fairly comfortable life and I believe it is a gift from God.