Was Jesus talking to us or just the apostles?

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I always thought that he was speaking to us as well as the apostles but why is it that we can pray constantly for help and for suffering to end but nothing. Not only nothing but life gets worse?

I think all I can believe is he was speaking to the apostles and it doesn’t apply to us otherwise things would change surely?

Matthew 7: 7-8 'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

Luke 17: 6 The Lord replied, 'If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.

Luke 18:1 Then he told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.
 
Most of the apostles were martyred, so I wouldn’t say that their life was free of suffering. Indeed I’d say they experienced ‘worse’ than most of us do. Not that they would have traded that suffering for Christ for anything.

Also, your third passage contains your answer. If prayers were always answered quickly, easily, and the way we wanted, why would Christ need to remind us not to lose heart?
 
Inquiry said:
Also, your third passage contains your answer. If prayers were always answered quickly, easily, and the way we wanted, why would Christ need to remind us not to lose heart?
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That’s what I’ve been doing but nothing is happening and I can see it getting worse, why worse?
 
Everything said by Jesus in the Gospels - including the private conversations - are relevant and applicable to laity, priests, religious, and to the world. There are a few verses interpreted in light of apostolic succession or Holy Orders (for example the Real Presence or the absolution of sins).
 
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Jesus was speaking to his apostles, but the concepts apply to us as well. However they may not apply the way we think. Jesus is not a “genie in a bottle” to grant our wishes. Jesus himself prayed “may this cup pass from me” as he neared his death. So God suffered and died! That shows us not that we won’t “suffer” or that we won’t need to “die” on a regular basis. What is does say is that through it all God is with us. God became human to show us we’re not alone. In the end, love wins. Always!
 
I always pray that everything be God’s will that is done. But, that’s just me.
 
Matthew25 said:
Jesus is not a “genie in a bottle” to grant our wishes.
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Correct He is much greater than a genie in a bottle.
Matthew25 said:
So God suffered and died! That shows us not that we won’t “suffer” or that we won’t need to “die” on a regular basis.
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So what you are saying is we are all supposed to suffer constantly for our entire lives and deal with it?
 
Read and re-read Luke 18:1. He did not provide a time frame for relief.

However, if you choose to embrace suffering, it ceases to be pure suffering. Join your suffering to that of Christ and you give meaning and purpose to your suffering. You become more Christ-like and that is a reward unto itself.

Is it easy? It was for me when I was facing death. For others in less mortal danger, it may be more difficult, but still eminently practicable.
 
po18guy said:
Is it easy? It was for me when I was facing death. For others in less mortal danger, it may be more difficult, but still eminently practicable.
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For me I found my chronic medical condition easier to cope with (although still difficult) then other stuff that happens in my life.
po18guy said:
However, if you choose to embrace suffering , it ceases to be pure suffering. Join your suffering to that of Christ and you give meaning and purpose to your suffering. You become more Christ-like and that is a reward unto itself.
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I can’t do this. If I have the flu I can offer it up and be happy that someone is benefiting from it but when the suffering is non medical with my life falling apart I can’t just offer it up and move on and need His help.
po18guy said:
He did not provide a time frame for relief.
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I understand that but some things have an expiry date.
 
I think you actually need to look at the context of the passages you are quoting. Matthew 7:7-8 is given in the context of the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is not exhorting you to ask for physical things. In fact in Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus is saying the opposite. Jesus says here that God knows what you need, so don’t be concerned about material things. Rather, be concerned about the coming of God’s kingdom and the righteousness of Christ. So when Jesus says ask, seek, knock, he isn’t talking about material gifts, although God will provide what you need (not necessarily what you want). In Luke’s parallel passage he makes it clear that Jesus is talking about faith and the Holy Spirit that you might come to faith and that you might receive the righteousness that comes from Christ.

Luke 17:6 the disciples explicitly ask Jesus to increase their faith, not their material possessions or their status in the world!

In Luke 18:1 the parable is speaking of a woman who is asking for protection against someone who was accusing her of something. She is asking for the judge to take her side and vindicate her as righteous. This is as Jesus is continuing on his journey to Jerusalem to die on the cross for our sins.

The good news is this, YOU ALREADY HAVE what it is that Christ is exhorting you to ask for. In your baptism you have been claimed by Christ, given the Holy Spirit, gifted faith, you are cleansed of your sin and made righteous by the blood of Christ before God. Don’t you see how fortunate you already are?

Yes, we will face tough times, but as Peter tells us set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ! Keep your eyes on the prize and repent of discontentedness. In fact, I would highly recommend you read Peter’s First Epistle very closely and very carefully.
 
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Hodos said:
the parable is speaking of a woman who is asking for protection against someone who was accusing her of something.
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Yes this is one of my problems. The most devastating thing I face in life is a liar destroying my life and reputation. I’m not asking for a sports car or lottery win.

Does He think I will grow in holiness to be battered about in life because I feel like I’m falling?
 
Gripper said:
Yes this is one of my problems. The most devastating thing I face in life is a liar destroying my life and reputation. I’m not asking for a sports car or lottery win.

Does He think I will grow in holiness to be battered about in life because I feel like I’m falling?
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In 1 Peter, what is Peter’s advice with regard to living in the world that is against Christ?
 
No. not saying that all all. I’m saying we shouldn’t expect that there won’t be suffering in this life. It will be present to all of us. I have no idea what type of pain you’re experiencing. I have no idea what your life circumstances are. I just know we all experience pain. We can also experience joy. And without writing a book here, I assure you that whatever your circumstances there is a way through it. Blessings on your journey.
 
Are you closing a door that God is not? He is not asking you, nor should we expect to embrace suffering and move on. It is our state in life. Our cross. What impels us is the hope we have in Christ for a resurrected, glorified body and eternal life. So many of the Psalms just “click” when suffering enters our lives.

It truly helps, despite the attention demanded by our suffering, to get outside of ourselves. Within ourselves is only despair. Our help comes from without, not from within.

Have you read Making Sense out of Suffering (Peter Kreeft) or Arise From Darkness (Fr. Benedict Groeschel)?
 
Gripper said:
I can’t do this. If I have the flu I can offer it up and be happy that someone is benefiting from it but when the suffering is non medical with my life falling apart I can’t just offer it up and move on and need His help.
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You can still offer up your sufferings and still have people benefit by your offering it up.

Consider what aspect of your situation is bothering you so much. For example, I think one of the major problems of our time is that we think we have control over our lives. If we do the right thing, good things will happen. If bad things happen, we think we did something wrong (as in incorrect, not necessarily morally wrong).

Illness, otoh, strikes indiscriminately, so we are better able to handle it without angst or the feeling that others are thinking we made a stupid decision.

The situation of one’s life falling apart can make a person feel very out of control as well.

There are any number of aspects which could be making you feel terrible about the awfulness of your life falling apart. (Intro to the Devout Life talks about these humiliations, by the way)

It could be that you are asking for the wrong thing. Sometimes I want God to fix the problem and I will only let go enough for that, but what God really wants to do is to heal me, which I am blocking.
 
Remember Jesus at Gethsemane said that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Then He asked His Father if it were possible, to take this cup away from him. But not as I will but as you will. Jesus understands every suffering we go through. I pray for peace in your soul.
 
James 4. We pray, but we ask amiss. This chapter was written for those who suffer. A life could be spent reading, studying and pondering it.

Embrace suffering. Dare to desire suffering - not out of perverse worldly masochism, but out of love - a profound bond with Christ.

Pray for the grace to bear suffering and you will receive it.

Moan and groan about your cross and it only becomes heavier.
 
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