How do you know if God is answering your prayer or if is wishful thinking?

[Elena321]

I prayed last night regarding employment and then today I checked a website which I usually check where people can advertise jobs they need to be done.
I noticed someone had posted they wanted a language tutor for their kids in the foreign language that I speak.
It’s rare to see this type of job a I responded,stating that I wouldn’t be able to do it in person due to location but could online.

I thanked God for answering my prayer but now feel like a “delusional idiot” for thinking God has answered my prayer as the person replied back with essentially “thanks but no thanks” (due to the location).

 

[CatholicRaven]

You’re not a delusional idiot. It just sounds like you jumped to a conclusion about God’s answer before you actually knew the answer (in this case, before you got the job). Most of us have done that at one time or another. Or many, many times.

But we can’t presume to know how God will answer our prayers. Or when. Patience and perseverance is needed, along with trust in God.

Before we receive a definite answer, we still can thank God for many things, such as for listening, for caring, for opportunities (whether or not they work out as expected), etc. But we must also be willing to accept that things may not go the way we expect, or want, or pray for them to.

It’s sometimes hard to remember that, at the end of each request, we should pray, or at least imply, “May Your will, not mine, be done, Lord.”

I speak from experience.

 

[Elena321]

You’re not a delusional idiot. It just sounds like you jumped to a conclusion about God’s answer before you actually knew the answer (in this case, before you got the job). Most of us have done that at one time or another. Or many, many times.

But we can’t presume to know how God will answer our prayers. Or when. Patience and perseverance is needed, along with trust in God.

Before we receive a definite answer, we still can thank God for many things, such as for listening, for caring, for opportunities (whether or not they work out as expected), etc. But we must also be willing to accept that things may not go the way we expect, or want, or pray for them to.

It’s sometimes hard to remember that, at the end of each request, we should pray, or at least imply, “May Your will, not mine, be done, Lord.”

I speak from experience.

Thanks a lot

My issue also is though that I can never pray (sincerely) “may your will be done” as I worry that maybe Gods will might not be for me to be out of financial stress (or if I’m praying regarding physical illnesses may not be for me to be healed/helped)

 

[Mummsie]

It is very scary to say “thy will be done” and mean it. But, that is ultimately what we are called to do. Often times I think we need to reach bottom before we realize only God has the power to return us to joy. He loves your more than anyone here on earth ever could. He does have a plan for you. Count your blessings and thank Our Lord for being in your life and everything he has given you. We can’t do anything without God.

You may want to try praying the Divine Chaplet. It helped me tremendously.

Jesus, I trust in you.

God Bless You.

 

[BarbTh]

Thanks a lot

My issue also is though that I can never pray (sincerely) “may your will be done” as I worry that maybe Gods will might not be for me to be out of financial stress (or if I’m praying regarding physical illnesses may not be for me to be healed/helped)

I think what you might need to do is discuss what you are going through (a trial and a suffering) with a priest. Just make an appointment and state it to Father as you have above. You are not doing anything wrong at all - but I think you do need spiritual advice and guidance in handling or coping with your difficulty, trial and suffering.

 

[Katherine438]

I prayed last night regarding employment and then today I checked a website which I usually check where people can advertise jobs they need to be done.
I noticed someone had posted they wanted a language tutor for their kids in the foreign language that I speak.
It’s rare to see this type of job a I responded,stating that I wouldn’t be able to do it in person due to location but could online.

I thanked God for answering my prayer but now feel like a “delusional idiot” for thinking God has answered my prayer as the person replied back with essentially “thanks but no thanks” (due to the location).

I can tell you from my own personal experience that God even answers prayers that we do not make … God is the justification for everything that happens in our lives … whether we think it to be good or bad … our lives are justified by a loving God who gives to us as He sees fit, and takes away as He sees fit … all in an effort to bring us to be with Him after this life is over.

My own personal experience has been so strongly impacted by God … I live 500 feet from the water on the bay … and as a result of that, I do live with the fact that my home can be destroyed by water at any time … about 20 years ago we had a storm that flooded my block … people had to be taken off the block in boats … I was at work at the time and found out about the flood from a friend who knew I had no idea what was happening to my block at that moment … when I heard from my friend, I prayed to our Lord … I asked Him to please spare me, as I had been going through a rough time with many other issues, and I told Him that this one situation was something I could not handle at this particular time … when my husband and I arrived home the block had been pumped out and you could walk down the street … as we arrived to our home we saw a HUGE tree stump in the front of our house … it apparently had floated above the gate to land right by our doorstep … so we were absolutely sure the house had been flooded out … when we opened the door to our home there was nothing that was wet … no water had entered our home … our neighbors upon their return said it was impossible because they had seen the water surrounding our home on the outside … it was impossible … but it happened … so I knew that God had answered my prayer.

Now 16 years after that another storm hit our Town … Superstorm Sandy … this time I didn’t pray … I figured whatever happened would happen … the entire first floor of my home was destroyed … there had been 5 feet of water in my home … after going through a rough 2 years of getting the home repaired and lifted according to the new flood laws, I now have a much more beautiful home than I ever had before … my house had been run down, now it is practically new … the upstairs is still a little older … but that was the one part of the house that was modernized when we bought the house … so with the bottom of the house being new and the lift making the house look much more attractive, we are living in a practically brand new home at little expense to us … so I didn’t pray … but God ultimately gave me something better than I ever had.

Hence, I believe in prayer, and I also believe that when we don’t pray, God is still looking out for us and giving us what He feels is best for us.

I should add that I am a very sick woman … have been sick for over 30 years … and am dealing with many illnesses at the current time … I have become depressed as a result of so much illness … but ultimately I know that God is giving me what it will take for me to get to Heaven to be with Him forever.

I hope my answer helps you to realize that God is always listening to you and will answer your prayers according to His design for your life and to help you one day to be with Him forever. God Bless You

 

[St_Francis]

Thanks a lot

My issue also is though that I can never pray (sincerely) “may your will be done” as I worry that maybe Gods will might not be for me to be out of financial stress (or if I’m praying regarding physical illnesses may not be for me to be healed/helped)

That is very hard! I find that concentrating on Christ’s Passion makes it less scary.