Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Why does God answer some prayers and not others?

566 replies

locationforna · 30/12/2022 20:59

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?

OP posts:
Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:30

Bluekerfuffle · 31/12/2022 20:54

Depends what brand of satanism. I also doubt if the OP had asked for views of Muslims/Hindus or any religion other than Christians there would be any of these pointless posts that only serve to be insulting and rude.

Show quote history

Within the last couple of weeks there has been a thread on women in Islam where the Muslim posters were asked to leave the thread because some posters didnt like their options on their own religion

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:36

Inspecto · 31/12/2022 20:44

The rest of the quote: “Be careful, the devil can hear your prayers too. He doesn’t always come with horns & a pitchfork, sometimes he comes dressed up like everything you ever wanted.”

The message is a caution about prayers.

There’s another saying that might help the OP question. “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”

Show quote history

The OPs question is based around prayers and babies dying. I think a response of “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” is probably not overly appropriate

Even if a baby dying means they don't live in horrendous pain for example, I think calling it a wonderful stroke of luck would be wholly inappropriate

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:44

The New Testament bans women from speaking in church, not men just women. So I think I will take my clues of right and wrong from my own moral compass, and from the ethics I have learnt from those around me rather than a book that forbids me to speak in specific buildings.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Philosophy & religion
DomesticShortHair · 01/01/2023 01:49

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:36

The OPs question is based around prayers and babies dying. I think a response of “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” is probably not overly appropriate

Even if a baby dying means they don't live in horrendous pain for example, I think calling it a wonderful stroke of luck would be wholly inappropriate

Show quote history

Ok, but if you replace the words dying with ‘entering the Kingdom of Heaven/God’, does that change how you feel?

Serious question.

Inspecto · 01/01/2023 01:49

Tuilpmouse · 01/01/2023 01:27

@Inspecto

Also, how do you know the difference between right and wrong? Have you mastered an age-old philosophical dilemma?

I don't need religion to instruct me on what's right and wrong... I have a conscience. It's dangerous and an major abdication of basic adult responsibility to set aside your conscience in preference to religious dogmas. That's a key way how abuse happens and becomes normalised!

You speak as if you are the only human who ever had a conscience. Conscience isn’t enough - that’s the point faith makes. The root for conscience means "to be aware of guilt” and humans have a tendency to bury their own guilt in favour of pointing fingers at others (‘three fingers pointing back at you’).

“major abdication of basic adult responsibility to set aside your conscience in preference to religious dogmas.”

That’s not how it works in my experience… that sounds more like your own warped ideas. Faith encourages greater moral and community responsibility, not abdication of it.

Why don’t you understand that religion offers guidance to help people know right from wrong in trying situations?

Guidance is not religious dogmas.

There are varying degrees on the religious spectrum between right and wrong. Example: the new defender of the faith King Charles III (and Queen consort) have famously already broken one of the Ten Commandments ‘thou shalt not commit adultery’. But that is not stopping the Church of England from crowning them, is it? Religion can’t be that dogmatic then, can it?

Religion also encourages repentance and forgiveness. Sin means to fall short - and faith recognises we are all sinners because we all fall short because no human is perfect.

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:54

DomesticShortHair · 01/01/2023 01:49

Ok, but if you replace the words dying with ‘entering the Kingdom of Heaven/God’, does that change how you feel?

Serious question.

Show quote history

Depends if you are Catholic or Protestant.

Because if you are Catholic then "I'm sorry your baby has died even though you prayed for them not to, but by a wonderful stroke of luck they also won't go to heaven because it happened before they were baptised" is probably not what you would choose to say to someone who has just lost their baby

And either way, as someone who miscarried, no I don't think losing my baby was a wonderful stroke of luck even if it does so happen that there is a heaven. I think life is a rich and vivid experience that I would have loved for them to have the opportunity to live through

Bluekerfuffle · 01/01/2023 02:16

Because if you are Catholic then "I'm sorry your baby has died even though you prayed for them not to, but by a wonderful stroke of luck they also won't go to heaven because it happened before they were baptised" is probably not what you would choose to say to someone who has just lost their baby

That used to be the Catholic view, but they have come to their senses about it and don’t think a baby is doomed if not baptised any more.

Bluekerfuffle · 01/01/2023 02:20

AllOfThemWitches · 31/12/2022 21:05

Why should people be respectful about religion though? Considering the many problems it's caused and continues to cause? I get that, once upon a time, people used 'gods' to explain what they didn't understand. We have science now though.

Show quote history

Why not? What’s the point of joining a thread just to say you sound like nutters and have low IQs? And no way would you be doing it on a thread about Islam.
Fine to say you don’t believe in it, by why be unnecessarily arseholish?

DomesticShortHair · 01/01/2023 02:22

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:54

Depends if you are Catholic or Protestant.

Because if you are Catholic then "I'm sorry your baby has died even though you prayed for them not to, but by a wonderful stroke of luck they also won't go to heaven because it happened before they were baptised" is probably not what you would choose to say to someone who has just lost their baby

And either way, as someone who miscarried, no I don't think losing my baby was a wonderful stroke of luck even if it does so happen that there is a heaven. I think life is a rich and vivid experience that I would have loved for them to have the opportunity to live through

Show quote history

Though I do have a response, posting it would likely only come across as being argumentative, and that’s not what I’m aiming to do. I must confess that, after reading this thread and considering some of the points and issues raised, to feeling much more pity for those who do believe or follow a religion than I ever before. That’s not meant to be patronising, I was genuinely mildly curious and amused at best until now (without investing much actual real thought). So this has been very worthwhile thread for me.

Bluekerfuffle · 01/01/2023 02:27

AllOfThemWitches · 31/12/2022 21:05

Why should people be respectful about religion though? Considering the many problems it's caused and continues to cause? I get that, once upon a time, people used 'gods' to explain what they didn't understand. We have science now though.

Show quote history

And we have always had science, but it doesn’t explain everything. Being religious and a scientist are not mutually exclusive.

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 02:36

I don’t believe in Hod. However a Christian friend says ‘God answers all prayers, sometimes the answer is no.’

Inspecto · 01/01/2023 02:38

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 02:36

I don’t believe in Hod. However a Christian friend says ‘God answers all prayers, sometimes the answer is no.’

Just like a parent, which is what God the father represents.

artishard · 01/01/2023 02:47

Tuilpmouse · 01/01/2023 01:27

@Inspecto

Also, how do you know the difference between right and wrong? Have you mastered an age-old philosophical dilemma?

I don't need religion to instruct me on what's right and wrong... I have a conscience. It's dangerous and an major abdication of basic adult responsibility to set aside your conscience in preference to religious dogmas. That's a key way how abuse happens and becomes normalised!

agreed. A lifetime of intuition, learnt wisdom, shared experience s and building genuine connections with people guides you towards the generally observed 'moral code'. It's both obtuse and patronising to dictate this would require some higher power or a copy of the 'A Dummy's Guide To Being A Decent Human Being' handbook.

First of the 10 commandments 'you shall have no other gods before me!' The creator coming in like a whiny mf straight off the bat.

WORST BOSS EVER

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 02:48

@Inspecto i dint believe in a god. I know a 7 week old diagnosed with cancer….what god who claims to love us would do that?

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 02:50

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 02:48

@Inspecto i dint believe in a god. I know a 7 week old diagnosed with cancer….what god who claims to love us would do that?

Apparently we are supposed to say its a wonderful stroke of luck they got cancer 🙄

Inspecto · 01/01/2023 03:10

@Letitrainletitrainletitrain Thank you for pointing out how that famous line (‘Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck’) can be viewed as inappropriate in certain situations. The key word there is ‘sometimes’, but I’ll be more mindful in future.

That quote is attributed to the Dalai Lama. Someone said them to me when I was going through a truly awful time and saw no way through. The words and idea offered me a different way of thinking about suffering - and that is what I believe the Dalai Lama means by those words. Sometimes we can’t do anything about a situation we wanted to be different, but we are forced to deal with what we get and the suffering too. Thinking of how things could be much worse was useful to me because it gave me some perspective- knowing things can be worse helped make what awful situation I was going through more tolerable.

Gremlinsateit · 01/01/2023 03:18

Inspecto · 01/01/2023 01:13

Divine law is defined as any body of law that is perceived as deriving from a transcendent source, such as the will of God or gods – in contrast to man-made law or to secular law.

Divine law means it’s the jurisdiction of God (or gods) and their business. But just as natural laws and man-made human laws overlap and coincide, same goes with divine laws.

Leviticus is a book in the Old Testament. There has been a New Testament since. Keep up.

Show quote history

The New Testament did not replace the Old Testament. See Matthew 5:17-20 and the references to Deuteronomy and Leviticus in Luke 10:25-37 - some verses which, I think, it would be nice if a few more Christians took to heart.

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 03:19

@Letitrainletitrainletitrain A friend was told her mother lost her leg due to ‘her sins’, she was 3 months old when they had to amputate. That was when she left the Christian faith.

Inspecto · 01/01/2023 03:33

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 03:19

@Letitrainletitrainletitrain A friend was told her mother lost her leg due to ‘her sins’, she was 3 months old when they had to amputate. That was when she left the Christian faith.

What you’re describing there is victim blaming - that is a human psychology problem (they’ve done studies) not a religion one.

On the contrary, Christians are not supposed to judge because we don’t know everything. Jesus: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

BashfulClam · 01/01/2023 03:54

Well @Inspecto it was a church member who told her that the reason her mother lost her leg was God’s decision due to ‘her sins’. So it was based on what they call religion. Believe what you like but there is no God.. hiding this thread now.

TomPinch · 01/01/2023 04:01

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 01/01/2023 01:44

The New Testament bans women from speaking in church, not men just women. So I think I will take my clues of right and wrong from my own moral compass, and from the ethics I have learnt from those around me rather than a book that forbids me to speak in specific buildings.

St Paul says so in one of his letters. Whether that equals what the New Testament says, or, what the church should believe now, are entirely different questions.

Pinkbonbon · 01/01/2023 04:05

He doesn't really 'answer prayers' in that sense. He's not genie lol. Whatever will be will be.

Praying is mainly to give moral comfort to the person praying in trying times. Or strength or...to make you feel less alone...or whatever.

It's about bringing you closer to God during trying times.

I mean I'm not saying mate he maybe doesn't sometimes work to odd miracle. But generally speaking - praying should not be treated as wish making.

honestlove · 01/01/2023 04:11

@artishard If a lifetime of learning will help you know. What to do before the lifetime of learning has happened? Because that takes many years for a lifetime of learning to happen.

Can you say that when driving? Why does everyone have to follow a set of instructions and not their intuition or learn as you go??

The road of life is the same.

Following a common set of instructions keeps peace.

TomPinch · 01/01/2023 04:18

Tuilpmouse · 01/01/2023 01:27

@Inspecto

Also, how do you know the difference between right and wrong? Have you mastered an age-old philosophical dilemma?

I don't need religion to instruct me on what's right and wrong... I have a conscience. It's dangerous and an major abdication of basic adult responsibility to set aside your conscience in preference to religious dogmas. That's a key way how abuse happens and becomes normalised!

Not many of us exercise our consciences in a vacuum. We inform them according to the beliefs and norms of society around us, and according to the beliefs and norms we hold as individuals. There will almost certainly be a big overlap between the two.

For some reason if those beliefs and norms come from religion it's believed that they must all be ossified dogmas of one sort or another and those who hold them aren't exercising their own judgement w. Well, that doesn't represent the majority of Christians I've known in my life, most of whom think very carefully about these things.

You mention abuse. Plenty of that has gone on outside the churches.

loveramadan · 01/01/2023 04:24

I am not a Christian but I believe in God and I hope you don't mind me answering

According to my faith God is All Knowing. He knows everything, absolutely everything

And therefore He knows what is good for you but you may perceive to be bad. He sees your future.

So he answers prayers in 3 ways according to His knowledge of the future and your well being

  1. yes now
  2. yes but later, not now
  3. no but something better at the right time

To all of you who do not believe in God, just take a moment and sincerely ask the below (in your mind or loudly)
"God if You are there, then guide me to You. I sincerely want to know the truth about You."

You will automatically see answers opening up in your life if you are a sincere seeker. Smile

I pray that every good and sincere person who reads this gets guided to the Truth.