Confusion on Prayer, please help?!?

[Sourgirl]

Ok lemme first start off by saying that I am 20 yrs. old. I have been raised in a strong Christian family all of my life, and I have been taught to pray for help to God to guide me through my life. But my question is, why? Why do bad things happen to Christians? And why do we have to pray about it when good things happen to Non-Christians and they dont pray about it? Im just confused on this. And I know its bad to doubt things like this. But my life hasnt been going very well lately, and I just wonder why? Why do I spend every night with my eyes full of tears praying to Jesus that good things will happen in my life? I know everyone is his child Christians and Non Christians, but why does he let us suffer?

[Sourgirl]

All those people who answered in that post on the other board just say that basically "God works in mysterious ways". I have spent my whole life being an undoubting Christian, just taking things as they came, and trying to make the best of everything that happens. But Im tired of that. Im tired of people hurting me for no good reason. Im tired of being a caring good person who looks out for the well being of others before herself. When do I get a break in life? When are MY prayers answered? How much pain and heartache and how many tears do I have to cry before God sees that I have had enough? I dont want to be recommended to another post I want someone to help me and try to answer my question. :confused:

[Breni Sue]

Hey Sourgirl! :)

I am going to move this thread over to the "Ask" forum, because I feel your questions might be more properly addressed there. If you any questions about this, please contact me! :)

Thanks, Kyrie

[Ann]

Hello SG
This is a very important question. I am glad you are seeking the answer for it now instead of going through years plodding along thinking "well I guess God just doesn't hear me" or "whatever is meant to be will be" or worse yet "God doesn't love me like He does other people". God does not want His people to be frustrated in prayer or powerless in their lives and their walk with Him. In fact Jesus told us in Luke 10:19 that He gave us power over all the power of the enemy. He intends His body, the church -and that means you and me- to be the instrument through which His will is carried out in this earth.

Some people think God is a lot like a bubblegum machine. Put a prayer in the slot and out pops what they asked for. Other people think He is like a giant grab bag. Reach in and grab a promise and it will happen in their life just the way they want. Both these ideas miss something very important. God's word is full of great and precious promises. All His promises are true and they are available to us. But have you noticed almost all of them have conditions that must be met in order for us to have the promised results? God says if you will then I will. Let's look at some examples. People pray for financial blessings. Sometimes they "claim" the scripture that says God wants us to prosper (3 John 1:2) but they don't read the whole verse and find that what it fully says is "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." or they read the whole verse but don't do the things like spending time in prayer and in God's word - living it as well as reading it - that will make their soul prosper. They may even have a lot of bitterness, unforgiveness, envy. and other things that weaken their soul and spirit stored up inside them. Or someone may say I heard God promised to bless His people financially but they don't look over in Malachi 3 and read Mal 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." They maybe put $1 or on a really generous week $5 or $10 in the offering plate and wonder why their money doesn't meet the bills never mind abundance. They are not meeting the condition so they don't get the blessing that results from meeting it. I had to learn that one the hard way. I think a lot of people do. Or perhaps they just say where is the abundant life Jesus promised. I'm not getting what I want here. Psalm 37:4 tells us "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." It is when we make God first and most important in our heart and life and let the Holy Spirit shape our desires that we get what we want the majority of the time.

Then there are times that God in His wisdom knows that what we are asking for is not the thing that is the best thing for us. In Romans 8:28-31 He tells us "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Notice that the conditions are loving God and being willing to be walking in His purpose. If we meet those conditions everything even the seemingly bad stuff will work together for good for us. One of the times I most clearly saw this work out was a young man who worked in a mill in Alabama. He loved God and wanted with all his heart to please Him. So it would seem he should be blessed, right? But just before Thanksgiving one year another guy came to work drunk and started a fight with him. The other guy had a knife and Randy took it away from him so they said he was fighting too and fired both of them. (How not to feel blessed). Randy's supervisor liked him and told his brother about him and the brother hired him. But it was no where near as good a job. (So he still didn't feel very blessed but he said Thank You Lord, I don't see how but I know some way You are working this all for my good). In less than 2 months the whole department at the mill where Randy had worked was shut down and the work moved to another country. Randy had not worked there quite a year so he would not have been eligible for unemployment. (He began to see some good. He still had a pay check coming in.) He got promoted and the new company sent him to seminars and meetings in several states. He and his wife discovered they loved to travel. He is now making far more than he did before, is a supervisor, loves his job. About half of the men at the mill still are not working regularly now 4 years later. What the devil meant for bad and it certainly did look bad, God worked together for good.

Another thing that can be involved when prayers seem unanswered is that there may be things in our lives or in our spiritual heritage that give the enemy legal ground to cause us problems. You have probably seen posts here by some women who wonder why the man in their life is not acting like a husband should and why God isn't answering their prayers about this and then as you read on and find out that he is not their husband, they are just living together. They're going against God's word and wanting Him to say it's all OK and bless them. You and I both know He's not going to do that. It would harm them a lot if He did because they would have no reason to do right and stop sinning if all was comfortable and happy. Sometimes the legal ground is more sublte, there may have ben involvement with the occult (fortune telling, ouija boards, horoscopes, trying to use a spiritual power to control someone, etc.) or with a false religion, etc. These things need to be dealt with so the person can be free to receive and keep the blessings they want and need. Sometimes they are reaping what they sow. They may say "God won't help me" and that gives the enemy an invitation to block the help or they may always put themself or someone else down, talk bad about people or wish bad things would happen to those people and that too issues an invitation to trouble.

And in all honesty there are some things that our natural minds just don't "get". Psalm 73 sounds a lot like your post
[[A Psalm of Asaph.]] Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
Psa 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped
Psa 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psa 73:4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength isfirm.
Psa 73:5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Psa 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Psa 73:8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Psa 73:9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Psa 73:10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Psa 73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Psa 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Psa 73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psa 73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Psa 73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Psa 73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Psa 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Psa 73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Psa 73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Psa 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
Psa 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Psa 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Psa 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Psa 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Psa 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psa 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Psa 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

This is all pretty general of course but it gives you some things to think about and talk over with the Lord. You can look at your own prayers, attitudes, life, and background and see what applies and what does not. If there are specifics you want to ask about please post again or if you'd rather email or pm me and I'll try to help.

[grandpa]

:angel: My Dearest Child: Your question is one that is asked by countless people constantly. Others have been here and ask just about the same thing. Is life easy? No it is not. The question is Why do bad things happen to good people?? This question cannot be answered with a one liner. It cannot be answered by books written by many. Once I heard a minister talking on this very subect, and he said: A long time ago great grandma and grandpa Adam and Eve sold out to the devil. This is also a bit simple. I will try to give a bit of comfort if I can. Troubles are a bit like fleas and dogs. Allmost all dogs have some-some more than others.Mizz Ann's treatise was good. I myself can look back on my life and see that if I had received everything that I had prayed for!! Trouble-Trouble. I can see now that If I had gotten what I wanted everytime I had wanted it, it would not have been good. This probably does not help very much when you feel like you are in the bottom of the pit and no way out. I have been there too. I had a bout of depression many years ago and I just had to keep moving. It lasted about three years before I found out what it was. I got comfort and cure finally. Now when I hear about anyone and depression, My heart goes to them instantly. This again probably does not help much when You are depressed. I have a few questions. Do you have a loving Church family that you can lean on?? I certainly hope so. When we have troubles It helps that we have some good Christian friends to go to. Someday you may see someone down and out that needs a hand, and you can give that hand up. When you are feeling bad, God and our Savior Jesus have NOT left you. They are ever so close and care about you. Hang in there and keep us posted. We care. Agape. Grandpa.

[b]

SourGirl,

I'm only 18, but I hope I can help you.

I'm not sure of your situation, and even if I were I doubt that I could fully empathise with you, but I can tell you that I have had bad times too, but it's gonna be ok because God CAN see you and hear you even if you don't feel that.

Not long ago, I went through quite a tough time, and I felt so alone. I had little trust for a lot of people in my life, and I felt so so alone. I knew that God was there with me, but I couldn't understand why this was happening to me. Was it some kind of punishment for my behaviour? Did God just ignore me? etc... Now that I'm looking back now, I realise that I am so much stronger for going through that. God gave me a deep strength within. I'm not for one minute suggesting that life is all rosy, but I'm stronger for having been through many past experiences. It's not nice learning things like that, and we don't ask to be taught it, but looking back, there is no other way to learn the same message. God knows best.

The only thing in life that is reliable is God, not as a last resort, but as our best resort. God made EVERYTHING, so surely He is bound to know and love best.

This might seem quite poor 'easier said than done' advise for you right now, but it's not. God doesn't do things, or not do things as a punishment. We are saved by grace. Our very human nature, makes us alone without Jesus, stained with sin in the eyes of God. Jesus took our punishment on the cross, so you are not being punished. God promises that He will not make us do anything we cannot bear. You can bear this. God hears you. It may seem like the last thing you want to do right now, but you need to ask God what He's teaching you.

The reason why you're going through this is unbeknown to me. I don't know you. Alot of stuff that we go through is caused by our mistakes, or the sinful nature of humankind. But even if the things that you're going through now are a result of your bad choices, or somebody else's God will use it for good.

God will make you stronger. Each and every day you feel such gut wrenching pain, God is making you that little bit stronger, if only you open your eyes to how He's teaching you.

Please please don't give up hope. It may seem the worst thing ever right now, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Please post any problems you have on here or the prayer request board. Fellowship, just knowing that somebody is thinking and praying for you somewhere on this earth, can be really encouraging when you're down. Please come back here.

I hope this has helped in some way.
May God Bless you.
b