Why does God answer my prayers but not starving children's?

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

Does God intervene in our lives and answer our prayers?

I was thinking of all the things I have prayed for, and that I had thought had been answered by God. When my exams go well for example, I praise God, and when any good thing happens I generally praise God. I have been so blessed in my life and I thank God for it.

But has God really answered my prayer and blessed me, or was it just chance and free will?

I say this, because if God did answer my prayer and helped me with these things, then why doesn’t He answer the prayers of starving children across the world etc.?

I’m sure He does help some, but it seems like He doesn’t help every starving child that prays to Him. Why is this?

His ways are above our ways, I understand this, but it isn’t a very satisfying answer… can anyone think of a reason?

I can just about understand why suffering exists, as a result of our own free will and original sin etc… but then I don’t understand why God would answer my prayers but not the prayers of children who are in desperate need.

 

[FrStevenJones]

Christ on the Cross provides the answer. Did the Father rescue his beloved son from earthly death, despite his perfect prayers and sinlessness? No, but he did rescue Him from everlasting death. Faith and hope in God never fails, but his kingdom is not of this world, but the next!

 

[jakasaki]

God has provided for all of us.

There is plenty of food on earth to feed all ~

We are a wasteful and greedy creature.

It is man how stops food from being available to each and every human on the planet.

It’s called control.

That’s my answer.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Sultan,

God answers all our prayers, but not necessarily the way we want. He knows what is best for us. And when we thank God for a successful outcome, we should also be ready to accept disappointments.

Verbum

 

[Nimzovik]

Does God intervene in our lives and answer our prayers?

I was thinking of all the things I have prayed for, and that I had thought had been answered by God. When my exams go well for example, I praise God, and when any good thing happens I generally praise God. I have been so blessed in my life and I thank God for it.

But has God really answered my prayer and blessed me, or was it just chance and free will?

I say this, because if God did answer my prayer and helped me with these things, then why doesn’t He answer the prayers of starving children across the world etc.?

I’m sure He does help some, but it seems like He doesn’t help every starving child that prays to Him. Why is this?

His ways are above our ways, I understand this, but it isn’t a very satisfying answer… can anyone think of a reason?

I can just about understand why suffering exists, as a result of our own free will and original sin etc… but then I don’t understand why God would answer my prayers but not the prayers of children who are in desperate need.

then why doesn’t He answer the prayers of starving children across the world etc.?

Is rather a fallacious observation methinks.

 

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

then why doesn’t He answer the prayers of starving children across the world etc.?

Is rather a fallacious observation methinks.

Is it?

If you read on, I admit that I’m sure God does answer some, but I highly doubt all.

 

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

Hi Sultan,

God answers all our prayers, but not necessarily the way we want. He knows what is best for us. And when we thank God for a successful outcome, we should also be ready to accept disappointments.

Verbum

How is a child starving to death God’s answer? What could it possibly achieve? How is that best for the child?

 

[Nimzovik]

Well … if we want to be that extreme in terms of our questioning, let’s just ask** why there is evil.** Why did God allow Herod to murder children when Our Lord was born?

 

[Steveabrous]

How is a child starving to death God’s answer? What could it possibly achieve? How is that best for the child?

THere are several answers to your question here. None of which will make anyone go “Oh, ok” nor would it make any of us want to trade places with them.

The first answer is this. The human race was found guilty and condemned to death. When God carries out our sentence is his business and his alone. Why is it a tragedy if a child dies but not when an 80 year old man dies of “natural causes”. It is only our perspective that says one is acceptable and the other isn’t.

The second answer is this. Building on that premise. From a salvation perspective the child is in a much better position when they go in front of our lord for judgement, since they are not at the age of accountability they most likely go directly to paridise. But the 80 year old man , most likely, has some explaining to do.

Third answer is. Are they really praying to God? If we are talking about the areas in Africa most are not Christian. The ones that are, like Darfer, God allows his people to suffer for salvation. Look at the early church in Rome.

 

[johnnyc176]

Does God intervene in our lives and answer our prayers?

I was thinking of all the things I have prayed for, and that I had thought had been answered by God. When my exams go well for example, I praise God, and when any good thing happens I generally praise God. I have been so blessed in my life and I thank God for it.

But has God really answered my prayer and blessed me, or was it just chance and free will?

I say this, because if God did answer my prayer and helped me with these things, then why doesn’t He answer the prayers of starving children across the world etc.?

I’m sure He does help some, but it seems like He doesn’t help every starving child that prays to Him. Why is this?

His ways are above our ways, I understand this, but it isn’t a very satisfying answer… can anyone think of a reason?

I can just about understand why suffering exists, as a result of our own free will and original sin etc… but then I don’t understand why God would answer my prayers but not the prayers of children who are in desperate need.

Perhaps, since you have been blessed, you will now turn around and be an answer to a prayer of a starving child?

 

[MPat]

Does God intervene in our lives and answer our prayers?

I was thinking of all the things I have prayed for, and that I had thought had been answered by God. When my exams go well for example, I praise God, and when any good thing happens I generally praise God. I have been so blessed in my life and I thank God for it.

But has God really answered my prayer and blessed me, or was it just chance and free will?

I say this, because if God did answer my prayer and helped me with these things, then why doesn’t He answer the prayers of starving children across the world etc.?

I’m sure He does help some, but it seems like He doesn’t help every starving child that prays to Him. Why is this?

His ways are above our ways, I understand this, but it isn’t a very satisfying answer… can anyone think of a reason?

I can just about understand why suffering exists, as a result of our own free will and original sin etc… but then I don’t understand why God would answer my prayers but not the prayers of children who are in desperate need.

First of all, how do you know what those children are asking for? Do you have some statistics, or are you simply guessing?

 

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

First of all, how do you know what those children are asking for? Do you have some statistics, or are you simply guessing?

Well, I know for sure that many people around the world, in the thousands, are at least praying for them, for those things.

Children themselves… well it’s an educated guess. Do you seriously believe they all don’t? People in suffering usually tend to do so.

 

[snarflemike]

Is it?

If you read on, I admit that I’m sure God does answer some, but I highly doubt all.

That’s worth pursuing. What would the world look like if God answered every prayer?

 

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

That’s worth pursuing. What would the world look like if God answered every prayer?

If God answered all the prayers from children who cry out for recovery from disease and starvation and just want a better life… I’d think the world would probably be a better place.

 

[snarflemike]

If God answered all the prayers from children who cry out for recovery from disease and starvation and just want a better life… I’d think the world would probably be a better place.

That’s not ALL prayers, that’s just some prayers, from some people. Why do you limit yourself? Why shouldn’t God answer ALL prayers of ALL people?

 

[Steveabrous]

That’s not ALL prayers, that’s just some prayers, from some people. Why do you limit yourself? Why shouldn’t God answer ALL prayers of ALL people?

Watch Bruce almighty. It would be chaos. God is not the God of chaos.

 

[snarflemike]

Watch Bruce almighty. It would be chaos. God is not the God of chaos.

Just to be clear, I’m not asking why God doesn’t answer all prayers of all people (at least, not the way they expect). I’m asking the OP why just focus on starving children? What about people starving for love, or justice, or mercy, or joy, or peace? We’re all starving for something.

The question really boils down to, why didn’t God just skip this life and create us perfect in heaven. That’s a question worth pondering, but all the questions that lead up to this one are just nibbling around the edges.

 

[Sultan_Of_Swing]

Just to be clear, I’m not asking why God doesn’t answer all prayers of all people (at least, not the way they expect). I’m asking the OP why just focus on starving children? What about people starving for love, or justice, or mercy, or joy, or peace? We’re all starving for something.

The question really boils down to, why didn’t God just skip this life and create us perfect in heaven. That’s a question worth pondering, but all the questions that lead up to this one are just nibbling around the edges.

Okay, let’s take all the people in need into account.

So… what is the reason God doesn’t answer their prayers?

I know the Bruce Almighty scenario and that is very different. I mean people who are truly in need. Is there a reason why God doesn’t answer all their prayers? Or is this just some mystery of life we have to accept?

 

[Steveabrous]

Just to be clear, I’m not asking why God doesn’t answer all prayers of all people (at least, not the way they expect).

He does. But like you said sometimes its not the way they expect. or the answer is no.

I’m asking the OP why just focus on starving children? What about people starving for love,

Only God can truely fulfill

or justice

God is a Just God, and Justice will be done. Either in this life, hell or Purgatory

or mercy, or joy, or peace? We’re all starving for something.

Mercy begins with you and me. Joy and Peace are gifts ( or maybe they’re fruits) of the spirit and a relationship with Jesus will fill this need

 

[Aloysium]

God knows better than we do what is good for us.
Prayer opens up a communication with Him.
The prayer in fact can be understood as coming from Him. Seen in this light, it would be a way to focus one’s attention on an issue that needs to be worked at. So, God doesn’t actually answer prayers the way you think He does. The prayer changes us, makes us more aware of what we need to do to. If you find yourself praying for the little children, ultimately you will begin donating, volunteering or trying to influence government policy.
We have been blessed with different talents, graces. We are meant to use them to help our neighbour as participants in God’s church on earth.
Frequently, weatlh is a curse that distracts us from what is true and eternally fulfilling, locking us in our selfishness.
1+eternity= 50+eternity= 80+eternity; the eternity part is what matters. Here on earth, as we pray, it is our goal to make this God’s Kingdom by doing His will.