How does prayer work?

[DeniseNY]

The Bible and the Church made it crystal clear that if you pray, you will receive.

True, but it nowhere does it say that you will receive exactly what you want, when you want it.

 

[Evania]

When I was suffering greatly from mental illness, but unaware I was mentally ill, I prayed and confessed my guts out for years. I pestered this God for most of my adult life.

I was utterly ignored. I now realize I wasn’t ignored, there simply wasn’t anyone there.

I also stopped drinking without God and have been sober for three years. My mental illness is now well controlled, thanks to psychotropic medication and not because of my prayers all those years ago.

Sober, mentally strong and godless. I’m glad to hear you’re sober.

I have some questions for you. I’m not being rude, but sincerely inquiring:

How can you be absolutely certain that your positive results were not the result of God? How do you know that they weren’t due to your prayers? You said earlier that the Bible teaches, “Ask and you shall receive”, then you go on to state your case based on this that God seemingly doesn’t exist, because He didn’t answer you. Then you go on to recount that what you have prayed for, came to pass.

Were you hoping for some other result other than what you now have? Were you expecting something more supernatural so it would “prove” it was from God? Did the desirable results not happen soon enough? Were you not aware that God could work through the mundane? Did you know or possibly reject the thought that He can work through other humans such as doctors or instruments such as modern medicine? In any event, what you were praying for came to pass, and somewhere along the way, you lost faith.

Could it be possible that Who God actually Is, wasn’t compatible to what you originally thought Him to be and thus you lost faith? Again, this isn’t a criticism, and I’m sorry for asking so many questions. I’m just seeking to understand.

 

[987mk]

I have some questions for you. I’m not being rude, but sincerely inquiring:

How can you be absolutely certain that your positive results were not the result of God? How do you know that they weren’t due to your prayers? You said earlier that the Bible teaches, “Ask and you shall receive”, then you go on to state your case based on this that God seemingly doesn’t exist, because He didn’t answer you. Then you go on to recount that what you have prayed for, came to pass.

Were you hoping for some other result other than what you now have? Were you expecting something more supernatural so it would “prove” it was from God? Did the desirable results not happen soon enough? Were you not aware that God could work through the mundane? Did you know or possibly reject the thought that He can work through other humans such as doctors or instruments such as modern medicine? In any event, what you were praying for came to pass, and somewhere along the way, you lost faith.

Could it be possible that Who God actually Is, wasn’t compatible to what you originally thought Him to be and thus you lost faith? Again, this isn’t a criticism, and I’m sorry for asking so many questions. I’m just seeking to understand.

If Gods mysterious plan to heal me was to have me reject him, deny that he exists, walk away from the Church and raise three atheist children…

That is mysterious.

 

[Trident_H]

If Gods mysterious plan to heal me was to have me reject him, deny that he exists, walk away from the Church and raise three atheist children…

That is mysterious.

Look. I’m being rude here. Because you’ve respected my wish to be left unruffled and yet here I am coming up to you again. In the middle of someone else’s question. It’s like the guy who wants the last word on stuff and then you politely let him have it only to find he wants to have it all over again only a little while later. I know that’s wrong. So if you think I’m doing that please just let me off gently at the next stop.

But I did have a thought in this. And I mean because I never know if it’s my thought or God’s I sort of feel I should drop it off here. And maybe step back a ways to see what you think. And I mean I know you’re not going to just jump up and down here and say this was the one thing you were waiting for. But here it is.

When you say God’s plan is mysterious (in a sarcastic way–I mean I did find that pretty witty) this might actually be possible. I don’t know. I mean look. What’s more impressive? An atheist doing good things even though he expects no reward in heaven or a Christian doing them. Expecting to play a harp for that. Expecting an eternal reward? I mean this looks like a pretty possible set-up here.

So since God’s a pretty smart guy is it possible that He was just doing you a favor? I mean some favor. But really? I mean maybe He just wanted you to be a star player in a different way. After all, you beat your addictions on your own. You struggled through that without God. So maybe God knew that you’d make it to the far side without His interference. So why get involved in your life now? Maybe He’s just hanging back because of something His absence might let you do that you’d never have done if you’d never stopped believing to begin with. He might then come swooping in to save you on your deathbed.

I mean I don’t know. It’s just out there. It’s just a thought. I don’t want to push this as a fact or anything. It’s just a what if.

And yeah, I know I could cheat and just say God helped you even though you didn’t know it. But I think that’s not fair. I mean if God wants the credit here I think He’s going to have to show a bit of moxie and get it Himself. I mean I can’t fight all His battles.

Besides. He knows that you don’t think He did. So while I guess that would also be sort of cool of God in a way. I mean cool to let himself get trashed even when actively helping. And not lift a finger to convince you otherwise. Because He’s not insecure like the rest of us. Because He’s tough enough to work with zero gratitude. But like I said. I guess that’d still be cheating. It’d still be cheating to say it that way. So I won’t say any of that. I mean I won’t even think it.

Peace 987mk. I’m still pretty impressed with you. I still think about that. I’d love to have you as a neighbor.

-Trident

 

[GreyWings]

My understanding is that God does answer prayer: “yes,” “no,” “not now.”

I think asking for the intercession of saints helps big time.

Also, praying from your heart, or spirit. Difficult to explain. It’s like praying with all of your being.

When I was suffering greatly from mental illness, but unaware I was mentally ill, I prayed and confessed my guts out for years. I pestered this God for most of my adult life.

I was utterly ignored. I now realize I wasn’t ignored, there simply wasn’t anyone there.

I also stopped drinking without God and have been sober for three years. My mental illness is now well controlled, thanks to psychotropic medication and not because of my prayers all those years ago.

Sober, mentally strong and godless. I’m glad to hear you’re sober.

As someone with trauma, anxiety and depression, this makes me feel sad. God and St. Michael have helped me greatly with my struggles. I have a stories to tell about this - they were very real, no coincidences.

God never promised it would be easy. It’s a tough world we live in. But He is definitely there and you are so loved by Him.

I hope you find your way back to the Lord. He’s your shepherd. I am the “lost sheep” and I was found…

Pax,

GreyWings

 

[987mk]

My understanding is that God does answer prayer: “yes,” “no,” “not now.”

I think asking for the intercession of saints helps big time.

Also, praying from your heart, or spirit. Difficult to explain. It’s like praying with all of your being.

As someone with trauma, anxiety and depression, this makes me feel sad. God and St. Michael have helped me greatly with my struggles. I have a stories to tell about this - they were very real, no coincidences.

God never promised it would be easy. It’s a tough world we live in. But He is definitely there and you are so loved by Him.

I hope you find your way back to the Lord. He’s your shepherd. I am the “lost sheep” and I was found…

Pax,

GreyWings

Lifes easier without worrying about Judgement from an invisible supernatural being.

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

God hides behind natural and social processes during many times.

Praying shows a person cared which is something God is going to ask them.

At the end of the day we have no idea how many or how few people prayed for us (we’d probably be shocked how long they prayed). A nun 10,000 miles away who’s never heard of you could pray for you on an intuition. If she prays Hail Marys or in tongues, she doesn’t even altogether know who it’s for.

Those who pray for you are probably given the power to pray because someone prays for them.

Because things in nature are paradixical, things in humanity very much more so, and things in God very much more so again, it’s a safe bet the progression isn’t exactly arithmetical!

 

[Evania]

If Gods mysterious plan to heal me was to have me reject him, deny that he exists, walk away from the Church and raise three atheist children…

That is mysterious.

No, His plan was to answer your request. Your request has been answered. Why would you blame God for your choice in rejecting Him? You admitted that you prayed. You admit that you received. Why did you turn away?

 

[Trident_H]

Lifes easier without worrying about Judgement from an invisible supernatural being.

Life’s easier without worrying about self-improvement too. A lot easier.

Peace 987mk

-Trident

 

[alphawoman]

Thanks alpha. Thank you for your patience with me. And your kind words. They mean so much to me. And to have you as a friend is a big deal. You have no idea. I mean I have learned a lot from you. The things you write are straight up. They have changed the way I see things sometimes. I mean you’ve gotten through to me more than once.

Peace, alpha!

-Trident

Just saw this - thanks Trident! That’s what I love about the discussions here; they’ve opened me up to new perspectives, too. Thanks for listening and asking questions! Your questions make me think through my own ideas and test my views before posting. So thank YOU!

 

[Trident_H]

Just saw this - thanks Trident! That’s what I love about the discussions here; they’ve opened me up to new perspectives, too. Thanks for listening and asking questions! Your questions make me think through my own ideas and test my views before posting. So thank YOU!

:hug1:

 

[clem456]

Lifes easier without worrying about Judgement from an invisible supernatural being.

That’s true to a certain extent,* if *by easier you mean more peaceful. Worrying about judgment can only lead to pointless anxiety. I don’t worry about judgment but my life still has hardships. So I have some peace through it all, easy or not.