Why does God answer some prayers and not others?

[locationforna]

Just this really.

If you are a Christian, please can you tell me why God answers some peoples prayers and not others?

For example, one woman could be praying her baby survives. Baby dies. Another woman with the exact same situation of an unwell baby - Baby lives. Both prayed, they prayed a lot

Why is it you say 'God is good' and 'God does answer, this is a miracle' and 'we are praying for you'

Do you really think that if the first person prayed hard enough, her baby would've survived? Or if not, and it's just chance, why pray?

I believe in God by the way. I have been studying for a while and seem to lean towards Judaism but notice a lot of 'God is good, he answered my prayers. It's a miracle'

Why some prayers and not others? Why do people think He's helped you get a job offer you really wanted but not answered a woman across the road's prayer not to be raped?

There is suffering throughout the Bible. Jesus himself suffered according to the Bible. That's not what I mean - I mean specially, why some prayers can be answered and not others that are equally in need?

If I started banging on about my faith in Satan or something, people would think I had a mental illness.

She had so many opportunities to step in and change the course of government for example, but didn't because she was sovereign.

Bad analogy since the queen meddled in government all the time to her own advantage. See for example her inheritance arrangements.

Or that you were being honest about your faith? Or that people just don’t talk about faith openly anymore?

I have noticed people fear openly talking about their faith or questions about faith because they are afraid of what others might think. Silencing valid discussion about faith is not healthy or helpful.

I think it's because having a belief in a fictional character is actually really unhealthy.

Two-thirds of US believers see Covid-19 as message from God, poll finds

People, worldwide, have asked if God is behind the corona pandemic. The fact it is an open question shows it is not that niche.

I am questioning if the word corona (which is Latin for crown and symbolises justice) could be part of that message. God is aware of the power of language to get a message across.

“Language is one way through which God reveals himself to us in a form that allows for us, the created, to be known and to know him, the transcendent Creator. The gift of language is not just God giving us words that make sense; it is God giving himself through The Word.”

If the corona virus was sent from God, was corona beer? Or is it only relevant something is called corona if it fits?

Do we also worship corona, the 1980s Spanish football player was he also sent by God?

Coronavirus infected many people but one of the groups it was most detrimental to was disabled people, 69% of those who died were disabled.

If your god sent a virus to punish us by killing disabled people then:

A: God is a right wing nutter
B: He can fuck right off

This has nothing to do with my views of God or Christianity and everything to do with your warped interpretation of it

Surely disabled people dying is just a natural consequence though? Since they're more vulnerable

Not saying at all I agree it was 'sent by God'. But just an answer I'd assume people would give

Vulnerable people dying is a natural consequence of any hardships such as plagued, viruses, famines etc

I am a Christian but have struggled with this the most out of any of the big questions. My best friend died of cancer aged 39 after me (and lots of other people) had prayed a lot. She left 2 children aged 6 and 1. I lost a lot of my faith at that time but I slowly came back to it.

I can't explain why those prayers were not answered. My husband also pointed out the lady in the next bed also had small children - would it have been better if she'd died because she didn't have friends who were praying and my friend had survived because she did. Of course not. So what is the point of praying then?

In the end I can't answer it but I do believe that one day I'll have the answer and it'll make sense. How many times do we say 'yes' or 'no' to our children's requests - we can see the bigger picture and understand why but to the children it seems arbitrary and 'not fair'. This is the closest I can get to an answer that makes sense to me.

I know lots of people will pile on and say this is 'fairy thinking' and I'm stupid and tricking myself but I guess nobody knows and we just find an answer that gives us peace.

@Inspecto

The most common usage of 'corona' in English is as gases surrounding a celestial body. I suppose you can work that into your conspiracy.

@Inspecto Agnostics are not "fence sitters", it's a popular misconception. Agnostics believe the answer is unknown and unknowable therefore all beliefs, including atheism who believe there is no God, are wrong. We're not saying, "you might be right" to anyone, we're saying "you don't know that for a fact".

Logic dictates that there is an answer for the existence of life as we know it. There's a reason the Science exists. The Big Bang did not come from nothing, elements needed to be there for it to occur. Where did those elements come from? We don't know, no-one knows, how anyone know?

Absolutely a natural consequence of a natural disaster/happening

The poster I am replying to though is saying that it wasn't a natural happening it was deliberately sent by God to punish us for non-believing and thereby (apparently) messing up the British justice system

And I think it's pretty fucked up that God deliberately kills disabled people, regardless of their faith, to make a point

Yea but according to the bible, God was a bit of a dick. So, who's surprised?

I was responding to the original op question.

When Christians pray to God, God knows what is best for us.

The Bible verse is "All things work together for good, for those that love God".

Seems a trifle sociopathic.

Well exactly, even if I did believe in God as per the Christian bible why would anyone want to worship him?

That definition of Agnostics is helpful.

A prayer is a hope in my head. As an atheist, I can hope for something to happen, but it really is a 50/50 thing. I don't believe in God or any supernatural power., nor do I believe I am deserving of my hopes and wants coming true. It really is pot luck.

My perception as a Christian is that the world is fallen therefore the bad things happening to us is unavoidable and inevitable. Jesus himself said that we will face tribulation in this life, that is a certainty. However, God is in control of the bigger picture of which we are not always privy to and may not even find out until we reach Heaven.

@Letitrainletitrainletitrain ”British justice system“

Justice system is also worldwide, not just British; other countries have justice systems too. When it comes to God I assume all the world’s justice systems all come under his one umbrella.

There was a meme going round in 2020 that put the Pope on the spot in a Who Wants to be a Millionaire style question. It makes you think.

Question: “What is God’s role in the COVID-19 outbreak?”

A: Unaware it is happening

B: Aware, but, unwilling to stop it

C: Aware, but, unable to stop it

D: Deliberately caused it

knowyourmeme.com/photos/1816316-covid-19-pandemic

Why is killing disabled people more ‘fucked up’ than just killing people full stop? Technically, god kills everybody, if you believe in that sort of thing. But of course, he doesn’t kill anyone, because life on earth is only supposed to be one part of ‘life’. It’s probably the worst part too, so surely ending it early so people can move on is actually a good thing? I’m an atheist, and even I can understand the basic concept, even if I don’t agree with it. What elements about it are you finding difficult?

I'm not finding any elements difficult, or finding 'basic concepts' difficult to understand but thanks for asking

But your whole argument is wrapped up in Cornavirus = Corona =Crown =Crown Court eke the British justice system amd potentially some other countries

But it it's due to the whole justice system around the whole world then your conspiracy theory around the naming of the virus is irrelrvant anyway