Prayer - Why Bother?

[LPS]

Please explain to me how my being unemployed is making the world a better place.

I am asking this kindly - please don’t take it as any judgment or attack!

Please just reflect for a bit and try to count any blessings or silver linings? I’m not expecting them to outweigh the burden and distress of being unemployed, but even the smallest things … have you had more time to spend with someone who was blessed by it? Have you become a little less prideful or independent and become a little more humble? Have you turned to God more often in prayer? Has someone been blessed because they were able to lend you a helping hand? EVERY situation has a silver lining and hidden little blessings; learning how to see them is a practice that is worth the effort.

Personally, I don’t know that our trials are meant to make the world a better place. But I do believe these are the things that can make us better people of God if we let them. God can use them for our good even though it is usually quite painful for us. Really, it’s our choice - we turn toward God for help, or we turn away from Him in our anger & disappointment.

Please turn toward Him.:grouphug:

 

[BobCatholic]

Nah, it’s just that you want a particular answer. Any other kind of answer is, well, “silence”.

I want an answer.

When I’m getting silence from God, nothing I can do about it.

I guess wanting to get a job and being able to provide for my family is evil. I’m doomed to be worse than an infidel because the Bible says that if someone cannot provide for their family, they are worse than an infidel.

BobCatholic: Do you believe in praising God in all circumstances, and having a joy in the Lord at all times?

No. I only praise God when things are good or at least not suffering. I cannot praise God for horrible things like suffering. I cannot praise God for 12 years of underemployment. It is one area i cannot trust God.

 

[nuntym]

• JMJ +

I want an answer that I want.

Corrected.

No. I only praise God when things are good or at least not suffering.

 

[Methos]

• JMJ +

Corrected.

I don’t get this post?!?!?

 

[Deus_tecum]

No. I only praise God when things are good or at least not suffering. I cannot praise God for horrible things like suffering. I cannot praise God for 12 years of underemployment. It is one area i cannot trust God.

Throughout Holy Scripture we are told to praise God in all circumstances. This does not mean for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. Paul and Silas praised God from prison.
Whatever happens to us in life, God allowed it to happen. We are to trust Him that He allowed it for our greater good. If we praise and thank Him for whatever he allowed to happen, He will turn it into a blessing. I suggest you do this in regard to underemployment, and when negative thoughts arise, say in prayer. “I trust You Lord that You know what’s best for me.”

 

[Lost_Sheep]

“I trust You Lord that You know what’s best for me.”

I trust God about as far as I can throw him.

The bottom line is, God holds all the cards. He has all the power in the universe. He is in a much better position to be flexible than I am. He does not have to worry about the challenges of life like I do.

 

[Deus_tecum]

I trust God about as far as I can throw him.

The bottom line is, God holds all the cards. He has all the power in the universe. He is in a much better position to be flexible than I am. He does not have to worry about the challenges of life like I do.

This is the root of your problems.

 

[BobCatholic]

I don’t get this post?!?!?

Some people are not charitable. They post mean things.

 

[Methos]

No. I only praise God when things are good or at least not suffering. I cannot praise God for horrible things like suffering. I cannot praise God for 12 years of underemployment. It is one area i cannot trust God.

If I may, Bob, I’ll tell you what I’ve been told about my 6 years of unemployment. I’ve been told that God, in answer to my prayers, would try to suggest me to the employer. Nudge, place a thought, etc, but it’s up to that person’s free will to respond to God’s will.

Never mind that God caused St Paul to fall and blinded him to get him to do what He wanted.

 

[BobCatholic]

If I may, Bob, I’ll tell you what I’ve been told about my 6 years of unemployment. I’ve been told that God, in answer to my prayers, would try to suggest me to the employer. Nudge, place a thought, etc, but it’s up to that person’s free will to respond to God’s will.

Never mind that God caused St Paul to fall and blinded him to get him to do what He wanted.

Now that’s an interesting thing. I hope he does the same to me.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

So basically you are telling me that God owes me nothing, yet I am supposed to praise Him, worship Him, glorify Him etc. and not expect anything in return.

Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[Deus_tecum]

So basically you are telling me that God owes me nothing, yet I am supposed to praise Him, worship Him, glorify Him etc. and not expect anything in return.

Am I understanding this correctly?

That’s a loaded question so I am not addressing it as worded. What I will say is when I find myself down in the dumps, and then examine my present moment, I often find no reason to be down in the dumps. In talking with other people who have problems I often ask,
Are you hungry?
Do you have any pain?
Are you too cold or too hot?
The answers are usually no, and their negative feelings are tied into perceptions about past or future events rather than their present moment. We should be filled with the glory, joy and peace of our Lord in each and every present moment, and not wallowing in the misery that feeds unbelief and cynicism for these things are of the devil.

 

[BobCatholic]

We should be filled with the glory, joy and peace of our Lord in each and every present moment,

Only available in heaven. Not here on earth.

and not wallowing in the misery that feeds unbelief and cynicism for these things are of the devil.

And also part of God’s will, as God’s will is for us to suffer.

“If you want to follow after me you must carry your cross”
“The father will scourge every son he receives.”

As long as we are on this planet, misery is the will of God.

 

[EIF5A]

I think it’s easy to forget “the next life”. The “abundant life” that God promises us is not of this world. It’s the next.

If we can see heaven and get a glimpse of God even for a moment, then I’m sure all our worries about this lifetime would fade. But none of us has been to heaven (if you have, please let us know).

But we have to persist in hope and faith, because without them, we have nothing to stand on.

Jesus Himself said this life will be difficult. Other people seem to have everything (financial security, success in family and business, spiritual health, etc). The rest of us feel abandoned by God because of life’s circumstances.

If we have childlike faith that God allows suffering for a reason and that persisting (and even being content with being poor) in the face of hardship will lead to an eternal reward, then that would be more pleasing to God.

*The parable of the laborers who worked different lengths of hours but got paid the same at the end. * God saw the distress and suffering of those who stood around longer without job and paid them the same, even if they worked less total hours. I believe that in the eternal view of things, God may operate in the same manner.

The difficulties in this life are not fun. But it’s a chance to store up greater treasures in heaven (whatever they happen to be) that the materially blessed now may not have.

 

[Methos]

But we have to persist in hope and faith, because without them, we have nothing to stand on.

I guess I’m on the floor and can’t get up.

Jesus Himself said this life will be difficult. Other people seem to have everything (financial security, success in family and business, spiritual health, etc).

All of which helps lessen the blow or temporarily keep it a bay.

The rest of us feel abandoned by God because of life’s circumstances.

I think it’s gone beyond feeling to fact, unless you’re among one of his special ones or a supporting character in their story.

If we have childlike faith that God allows suffering for a reason and that persisting (and even being content with being poor) in the face of hardship will lead to an eternal reward, then that would be more pleasing to God.

Given I didn’t have a pleasant childhood, do you really want to me have that? As a child, I learned very early not to trust. So, this whole “childlike” thing is completely alien to me. I do a favor for you and you do a favor for me is what I believe.

*The parable of the laborers who worked different lengths of hours but got paid the same at the end. * God saw the distress and suffering of those who stood around longer without job and paid them the same, even if they worked less total hours. I believe that in the eternal view of things, God may operate in the same manner.

That’s an interpretation I’ve never head.

The difficulties in this life are not fun. But it’s a chance to store up greater treasures in heaven (whatever they happen to be) that the materially blessed now may not have.

Since my chances of going to heaven are very slim, can I get my inheritance now? After all, given the states of my mind (as evident from my postings) and soul, if I were to drop dead say…now, I probably won’t be going there. Being able to indulge any pleasure, be it having cheesecake anytime I want to paying my bills in full, that comes to my mind would help make up for my lack of being able to feel happiness.

 

[EIF5A]

I guess I’m on the floor and can’t get up.

It’s easy to lose hope in ever getting back on our feet when all we’ve seen and known is continual falling down. But it’s not a futile cycle. There is always something new you learn, whether you know it consciously or not.

I think it’s gone beyond feeling to fact, unless you’re among one of his special ones or a supporting character in their story.

Have you seen a cute puppy? If you’ve seen 4 of them, does not the 5th look just as helpless and lovable? If humans are capable of feeling this for fellow creatures, then God who is love must feel more intensely for every single human being. Humans are created out of love in the image of God – each and every one. It is not God’s desire that we leave his house and be killed by the enemy or be lured away to death.

Doubting that God even cares for us is much easier than having a grain of belief. But believing that God cares will not be wasted. There is nothing to lose by believing.

Yes, there are saints and holy people in history — the “special ones” and “supporting characters in their story”. But God used them to bring the rest of us to His house. They were mini-shepherds bringing regular folks like you and me to Christ our Redeemer.

Given I didn’t have a pleasant childhood, do you really want to me have that? As a child, I learned very early not to trust. So, this whole “childlike” thing is completely alien to me. I do a favor for you and you do a favor for me is what I believe.

If you accept the premise that God desires all people to be saved, then you would believe that the effort you put in while on this earth will lead to salvation. Do a favor for God (repent, believe) and God does a favor for you (be saved).

That’s an interpretation I’ve never head.

I only recently came across it by the writings of St. Dorotheos of Gaza.

Since my chances of going to heaven are very slim, can I get my inheritance now? After all, given the states of my mind (as evident from my postings) and soul, if I were to drop dead say…now, I probably won’t be going there. Being able to indulge any pleasure, be it having cheesecake anytime I want to paying my bills in full, that comes to my mind would help make up for my lack of being able to feel happiness.

We do not enter heaven by our own power or merits. What seems impossible by humans is possible by God. All we need to put in is genuine effort and believe in the goodness of God. That will lead to growth in faith. God wants us to have life.

Joy and happiness do not depend on what’s going on in this world. It is the promise of eternal life and good things that we cannot imagine. God is the source of all that is objectively good. Imagine a world where there is no darkness, malice, suspicion, pride, ego, hate, envy, and all the heavy burdens of this world.

And maybe there’s cheesecake in heaven. Who knows

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I suppose I’m a bit like the OP - cynical. But sometimes I get a reminder from differing sources.

I drive for a living. Lately I’ve been driving past a church in a fairly ordinary suburb called Inala, and outside there’s one of those signs that occur from time to time viz. “God wants you to call him.” It seems to jump out at me, so I think I’d better make some effort.

I then make a belated spiritual telephone call, and get the usual response - either a disconnected message or an engaged tone. I don’t even get a message bank.

I suppose I’m being a bit facetious, but I think readers know what I mean.

Now don’t get me wrong - I’ve had quite a number of spiritual experiences, and I know very well God’s there and has me fair in his sights. He knows quite well I’m there as well.

So this business of seemingly unanswered prayer is a problem. And it goes back to Christ’s blunt statement -

Matthew 18:19 NIV “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

In reality though, how often do we see this actually happen?

Two or more of us pray quite sincerely for someone to be healed, and they’re not. Two or three of us pray for someone to get a job and they don’t. Two or three of us pray for the conversion of a family member, and they just go on as before.

It’s pretty easy to become cynical about prayer, in my experience. It reminds me of the joke about the tourist who sees a Hasidic Jew praying in front of the Wailing Wall, and proceeds to ask him what it’s like.

The Jew pauses for a moment, and replies, “It’s like praying to a wall”.

 

[Deus_tecum]

Only available in heaven. Not here on earth.

.

Please direct me to the Scriptures that say we are not to have joy and peace in our hearts while on earth.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I think it’s easy to forget “the next life”. The “abundant life” that God promises us is not of this world. It’s the next.

If we can see heaven and get a glimpse of God even for a moment, then I’m sure all our worries about this lifetime would fade. But none of us has been to heaven (if you have, please let us know).

There is no guarantee any of us are going to Heaven. If my life on this Earth is any indication of how much God “loves” then it all but a sure thing that I’m going to Hell.

 

[BobCatholic]

Two or more of us pray quite sincerely for someone to be healed, and they’re not. Two or three of us pray for someone to get a job and they don’t. Two or three of us pray for the conversion of a family member, and they just go on as before.

That’s because there is a catch. “Not my will but thy will be done” All prayer requests must be in conformity with the will of God. If 2 or 3 pray for something that is not in the will of God, game over. Answer is no. And if God says no, there is no appeal, no amount of praying will get around that. Game over. Don’t insert coin. Can’t ask saints to get around it either. Novenas won’t help. The. Game. Is. Over.

Please direct me to the Scriptures that say we are not to have joy and peace in our hearts while on earth.

Hebrews 12: God scourges every son he receives. This is not a joyful event. It HURTS. Scourging is the ripping of flesh off the bone with a horrible instrument.

Luke 14:27 you gotta carry your cross. Again, IT HURTS. PAINFUL.

Luke 14:25-33.I have to renounce my possessions. This means no possessions of any kind, no money, no anything. Poverty HURTS and is horrible!

Matthew 10:34: Not here to bring peace to this world, there will be conflict.

Now if someone has peace and joy while suffering horrific stuff, that’s masochism. Does God want masochists? Looks like it.