faith and answers to prayer

[SherryLee]

What happens when we have prayed for something we really believe to be right, and then the answer that comes seems totally opposite to what we prayed for. Does that mean we don't have enough faith, or that we don't have faith at all? If we are taking time to pray, doesn't that mean we must have some faith, or we would not be praying? Then what do we do with the disappointment we feel when the answer to our prayer seems contrary to what we believe is God's will? How do we deal with a situation where we have to stand back and say, "God, I really don't understand. Why are you letting this happen?"

Blesings,

SherryLee

[james423]

We are told that God knows the end from the beginning and if we knew what He did we wouldn't want things to work out any other way. Apparently, God wants us to realize that He may answer our prayers in another way because it is best for us and our character development and our future.

[Woody]

God has a lot on His plate. He has to answer to the Universe. So ... He may have His hands tied. He may not be able to answer your prayer in the way He really wants to. He has given a great deal of latitude to Satan on this earth. So ... you may be caught up in the middle of a Great Controversy. Just continue to do as the Holy Spirit inspires you through the study of the Bible and prayer.

Hang in there. God loves you. You can always bank on that. Some trials will be hard.

[Clio]

Have you prayed in such a way, with your heart set on a certain outcome, that you cannot see an answer that might be different than what you asked for?

Perhaps you asked for something, and then have an expectation that the thing you asked for can only be given in a certain way? Perhaps He offers an answer but through a different avenue?

Clio

[Gerr]

I am sure that the mother of James & John thought she was asking for the "right" things when she came asking Jesus to grant her two sons one to sit on the right and the other to sit on the left of Jesus. What was Jesus' reply?

"You do not know what you ask." Mt 20:22.

Or, we may ask and "do not receive, because you ask amiss," Ja 4:3.

Or, God simply does not see it as best to grant what we specifically ask for. One thing we can be sure, because He is omniscient, He knows what is best. We just have to trust Him that when we ask for fish He won't give a snake. When we ask for bread, He won't give us rock.

Gerry

[SherryLee]

Thank you for your responses. I appreciate the encouragement.

The Bible says, "without faith it is impossible to please Him." So how do we know if we have faith? I have read that faith is trusting God, believing that He loves us, and knows what is best for us. So, how do we define faith, or know that we really have faith? Doesn't it say in Matthew that if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, we can say unto this mountain to remove, and nothing shall we impossible to us? so, if you had a mountain that needed to be removed, how would you remove it?

Thank you,

SherryLee

[puddles]

Boy did I need to read this thread tonight! SherryLee you ask:

Quote:

Doesn't it say in Matthew that if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, we can say unto this mountain to remove, and nothing shall we impossible to us? so, if you had a mountain that needed to be removed, how would you remove it?

Presently I am dealing with a "mountain" of sorts and have struggled to get it to move. However like you also stated, I do believe God loves us and knows what is best for us. I'm one of his bratty kids that tends to run ahead then get my knees scraped and have to get God to bandage them up. That is why I've been so challenged by my mountain.

I've been praying faithfully that my husband gets one of the 2 jobs he's applied for at the "local" VA Hospital.

All that is about to follow is MY opinion and MY opinion only.

<stepping up on soapbox>

In the past 4 years he has applied to several job opportunities only to be told (a) he is too qualified or ( he is not what that particular company is looking for. He's only applied for accounting jobs (duh! he's an accountant!) He ended up settling on an accounting job for a headstart organization in another county and didn't even ask what he was to be paid, he was just glad he got the job. So you can imagine my shock and horror when he told me that he was being paid $21k/year. My husband is a very good accountant. He has the education and skills he's learned over the years and has worked in the accounting world for over 30 years. So, to be told he by a company he is too qualified, my response is "so do you want an accountant you can trust will not screw up your company or not?" then to be told he is not what they are looking for my next response is "well granted I'm not GQ material but I'll be hanging out in my cube so...your point?" Why don't they just come clean and say they want some 20 something right out of college?! Maybe you think I'm too sarcastic but, good heavens, how does someone over the age of 50 get a decent job! That is where my dilemma over the faith and answers to prayer comes into play.

Am I wanting my husband to get one of these jobs so bad that I'm missing the bigger picture here? Am I being selfish for wanting him to be paid as he deserves? I have been plagued with so much doubt over this. :sad I want my husband to have a good job, making a good wage. I will love and respect him regardless but out of my love for him, I would like to see him be shown some respect as well for all his efforts.

As my beloved grandmother would say, it just "sticks in my crawl" to see how good folks get messed over just because of "this" or "that". :

<stepping down off soapbox>

I have thoroughly enjoyed the comments on this thread.

[SherryLee]

Cleo, I read your response to my question last night, and didn't really pick up on what you were saying. I read it again this morning, and I had to take a second look. So let me say thank you! Yes, I think I am looking for things to be the way I have been praying for them, but perhaps God is offering an answer through a different avenue. It all concerns my dear daughter and her 6-month old baby boy, and the father who is fighting for custody of the little guy, (when he really has no right to - it's all about money). Seeing him come and take the baby away from his mommy (even if it is just for the weekend because of court order) has been a very difficult thing for me. Seeing my daughter hurting over all this hurts me even more. It all seems so unfair to me. But then, what in life is really fair anymore. There is so much more to the story that I can not really share here. But I have been so praying, so entreating God to place His hand over all this and turn it all around.

My struggle now is to forgive, and not have a "bad" attitude toward the father and his family. Isn't it amazing when it hurts, or when it seems injustice is done, how hard it is to forgive. But forgive, I know we must, and we must pray for those that need our forgiveness.

Thank you for all your thoughts and encouragement.

SherryLee

[Gerr]

When it comes to the "why" questions in religious matters, they are the most difficult ones to answer because God Himself has given us only a few clues in Scripture. I don't recall how many "whys" Job asked, but there were many. Yet in the end, God's only answer was to demonstrate His power and omniscience. How does that answer the "whys"? Only that our God knows, and that He is in control.

Bear in mind the dilemma God must be in, if the father of your grand-child is praying to the same God, pleading to allow Him to keep his visiting rights.

Gerry

[SherryLee]

Gerry, interesting concept! Although I have some very strong doubts about that! I am trusting through all this, that God does want to show His power and omniscience. And because He is a righteous God, He will deal righteously, and will bring about that which will, both bring glory to Him, and show the persons involved that "He is God".

Blessings,

SherryLee

[Toni]

Wow, Puddles, I can really identify with you! I have had a very, very similar experience with my husband and his attempts to do what he has wished for since he was a little boy. He goal in life was always to be a police officer. There have been numerous scandles and corruption within the department that he has most recently applied to, and yet, here my husband, a decent, moral man, sits. He would have made a fine officer. He mournes it still. It doesn't help that in his job now, he works very close with the police. But, I have to know that God has a bigger plan. We can't see what it is yet, but He must, because he has tried and tried and come so very, very close, only to be disappointed at the last step so many times.

[puddles]

Amen Toni!

Just this morning as I drove to work, I told the Lord that even if Ron couldn't get one of the 2 jobs, could he at least get an interview? Sigh...again, not my will but His will...I don't want to be a stumbling block but I guess I just want too much sometimes!

Blessings!

[Clio]

It all concerns my dear daughter and her 6-month old baby boy, ....

SherryLee

Ahhhh... A child centered question. How incredibly difficult those are. I find it so much easier to leave myself and my issues in Abba's hands and trust Him for the outcome, than to leave my child in Abba's Hands.

I want their lives to be perfect, I want them to experience only the best, and I want it to be the way I want it to be! After all, who could love them as much as I do, or know what is best for them more than I?

Who indeed?

Abba Bless you and your daughter, SherryLee. He loves her and your grandson even more than you do... and desires their best, and knows more. Claim His promise to save your children, and appeal to His Papa's heart. He had to watch His Son die for us... He knows your heart.

Clio