Trials after intense prayer?

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Sunflower98

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I apologize if this sounds nutty…is it possible that intense prayer/devotion invites trials into one’s life?

Here’s why I ask: My husband did a 30 day St. Michael novena that ended on the Saint’s feast day. The very same day he finished, he began having problems with his boss…problems he hadn’t had previously. From that day forward, she decided he couldn’t do anything right. She relished in berating him and escalating petty issues. DH worked tirelessly to appease her. Because he is a spiritual man/devout Catholic, he also kept praying intensely for a resolution. He most recently began a 30 day Eucharistic Adoration and fasting devotion for his employment intentions, particularly protection of his job. Unfortunately, his boss fired him yesterday. Her reasons were vague at best. His firing is devastating personally and professionally to him and financially to our family.

The irony of his firing during Holy Week while in the midst of another intense devotion is not lost on me. Is it just coincidence and me simply trying to make sense of something horrible? Or, is it possible a spiritual component could be in play? Thanks, all, for your thoughts/opinions.
 
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"Second, he shows the same thing from divine action, saying, ‘the Lord gave; the Lord has taken away’ (Job 1:21). Here, his true opinion about divine providence in relation to human affairs must first be considered. When he says, the Lord gave, he confessed that earthly prosperity does not come to men accidentally, either according to fate or the stars, or as a result of human exertion alone, but by divine direction. When he says, however, the Lord has taken away, he confesses also that earthly adversities also arise among men by the judgment of divine providence. This leads to the conclusion that man does not have a just complaint with God if he should be despoiled of his temporal goods, because he who gave freely could bestow them either until the end of his life, or temporarily. So when he takes temporal goods away from man before the end of life, man cannot complain.

Third, he shows the same thing from the good pleasure of the divine will, saying, as God pleased, so it has been done. For friends will, and do not will, the same thing. Thus if it is the good pleasure of God that someone should be despoiled of temporal goods, if he loves God, he ought to conform his will to the divine will, so that he is not absorbed by sadness in this consideration." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Job, L. 4, 1:22)
 
Thank you for the insights. I don’t dispute that this is obviously God’s will for us. I’ll concede, however, that my attitude about it needs work.

I apologize, I did a poor job of asking my intended question. What I’m specifically wondering is if intense devotion can somehow provoke evil forces? Again, I acknowledge this seems superstitious or nutty.
 
I think its only sensible for Satan to attempt to tear down the work that Christ has done through this novena.

Stay strong, and pray. Christ is with you, even if you cannot feel it.
 
The important thing is to persevere in the faith and keep praying. The present looks gloomy but the future may bring your family great things, just like it happened to Job in the Bible.
 
While it may sound odd, it is quite a sensible thing to realize that hardship can be a blessing to the Holy man, and that monetary and worldly things can be a punishment to the unholy.
 
I tried to do an intense prayer and fasting program for 90 days. About 70 days into it my husband dropped dead. I don’t think my prayers brought that on, but I wonder if the Holy Spirit might inspire us to pray more before an impending trial so we are better prepared to deal with it.

I had to cut the fasting way back so I can stay upright, but am determined to finish the last batch of prayers even though late.
 
Take it from the Master. What happened to Jesus after he fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights?
 
Its his basic counter attack when we do something that infuriates him, nothing to really worry about, keep pressing forward, God has other plans.
 
It could be the devil trying to rip out your faith, but I know corporations can fire for any or no reason unless they are blatantly discriminating against someone on some level.

The work world is a world of its own. You just don’t know.
 
I’m sorry for your loss. Preparing us for a difficult event sounds like a good way to look at it.
 
Could God be preparing him for something greater down the road?
Perhaps a better job, a move. Its hard to submit ourselves to the will of God. I will keep yall in my prayers. Remember that no amount of prayer will change Gods will, it changes are ability to respond to and accept Gods will.
 
“5. Demons use temptation and obstacles to hinder those they perceive to be advancing in the faith. This is defeated by prayer, fasting, and faith.
6. Demons are subtle.
7. Demons try to incite fear.
8. Demons are persistent; returning even after they fail.
. . .
13. Demons can appear bigger than they are.
14. If demons fail to overcome a man, they regroup and return with their leader, like they did with Job.
15. The demons are liars.
16. The demons are not to be feared.
. . .
If they find us rejoicing in the Lord, contemplating the bliss of the future and mindful of the Lord, deeming all things in His hand and that no evil spirit has any strength against the Christian, nor any power at all over any one— when they behold the soul fortified with these thoughts— they are perplexed and turn away. Thus the enemy, seeing Job fenced around them, withdrew from him. But finding Judas unguarded, they took him captive. Thus if we are wishful to despise the enemy, let us ever ponder over the things of the Lord, and let the soul ever rejoice in hope.”

“The devil doesn’t even have power over swine. For as it is written in the Gospel, they besought the Lord, saying, “Let us enter the swine.” They had no power over swine, let alone men formed in the image of God.”
St. Anthony the Great
 
NJada said:
If they find us rejoicing in the Lord, contemplating the bliss of the future and mindful of the Lord, deeming all things in His hand and that no evil spirit has any strength against the Christian, nor any power at all over any one— when they behold the soul fortified with these thoughts— they are perplexed and turn away.
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This is very true. Thank you for sharing this. God bless.
 
Sunflower98 said:
I’m sorry for your loss. Preparing us for a difficult event sounds like a good way to look at it.
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I know a job loss is so difficult for a man who loves his work. I have seen this in my own family and it’s rough.
However, from what you have posted, it sounds like the problem is not with your husband. There is an issue going on in that workplace that has nothing to do with him, and my guess is the Lord removed him from the situation. It’s going to be rough for a while but I have faith you will come out in a better place. Pray to Jesus, Mary and of course St. Joseph the Worker. I will pray for you too.

I have been let go in the past a couple times myself in difficult circumstances and once was completely unexpected (I had been given a job transfer to another office ostensibly because they had more work for me to do and I was laid off in the middle of my first day at the new office). Like I said these were not problems with me. It was problems with the workplaces having economic or other issues. Don’t be devastated, turn it into a positive and pray. It will get better. I have been through this twice.
 
I’m so sorry to hear that. Prayers with him.
 
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Sunflower98 said:
What I’m specifically wondering is if intense devotion can somehow provoke evil forces? Again, I acknowledge this seems superstitious or nutty.
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It’s not nutty. It’s true. Remember the famous saying “no good deed goes unpunished?” If you start getting closer to God, pray more, do good deeds, the devil swoops down to stop that ASAP! He wants you to feel defeated and abandon God. Satan says “see, you do all these good deeds and you are rewarded with crap. What good is God to you?” The hardest thing is to continue praying, doing good deeds and getting closer to God when everything is turning to crap. Especially when everything is opposite from what you prayed for.

I too, had a serious personal rejection this week as well. Holy Week! I only pray that God has better things in store for me. I don’t see it and I certainly don’t feel it. I just feel used, rejected and alone. But then I think of Jesus and the rejection he suffered tomorrow on Good Friday. It puts it all into perspective. Jesus knows what we go through. God knows too.

I pray that your husband can get through this season of rejection. It’s hard.
 
Thank you, Tis_Bearself. I truly appreciate your prayers. I just wish I wasn’t so afraid.
 
Thank you, Nap66. I feel very much the same way you do right now. I appreciate your prayers and your intentions will be in mine as well.
 
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