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Original poster

Praying for a change

10 replies

jaide · 05/02/2015 21:04

Hi, I am a Christian but have become disillusioned with the power of prayer.
I have been actively seeking a career change and have been working for 16 months towards this. After a failed interview I've started college and continue to work to achieve which I think will be a change in my family's best interest and also mine. It's something I enjoy and feel I am more than capable at. However I feel God may have other plans!
Does anyone else have any similar experiences? I feel iam constantly asking God for guidance, for a sign and it's really getting me down as I strongly believe this change would be good.

OP posts:

bigbluestars · 05/02/2015 22:02

If christian prayer worked then christians would live longer, more chance of recovering from cancer, have less poverty, better lives, better careers.

But they don't.

QofF · 05/02/2015 22:16

Jaide been there! I found Philip Yanceys book on prayer interesting.

BlackeyedSusan · 06/02/2015 22:29

ds wants to have a third biscuit...but it is not right for him. he wants to play at the park in the cold, he wants to run ahead on the way to school, and altough these things seem rifght and good to him I have to pull rank as a parent.

I have been extrememly disappointed that I have not had answers to prayer, many a time... sometimes I can look back and say it was good that x did not happen, other times I still think god is a bloody great big spoil sport or worse.

sometimes the answer to prayers is no, or wait... sometimes something seemsright and you try but can not get what you want at all...it is extremely frustrating.

zulubump · 07/02/2015 20:57

I share your frustration and am often sending up a prayer of "God tell me what to do with my life!". I was thinking of Moses when I read your post, how he was quite an old man, I think, when he got a clear mission from God. I expect his life seemed fairly meaningless and messy up until then. I guess we can't know in advance how the messy meaningless bits of our lives can come together into something God can use.

Original poster

jaide · 07/02/2015 21:08

Thanks for your responses. I've heard many times, what's for you won't go past you, god has something better planned and simply it's just not meant to be.
My faith and church family have helped me many times in the past so I suppose I will have to ride this one out. Maybe I should let it go, and continue to live my life the best I can and count my blessings. I have my health and a job that pays the bills, that should be enough.

OP posts:

IndigoBarbie · 05/03/2015 23:25

Dear Jaide,

Imagine for a moment that your prayers ARE heard, and answered. Except, those days the answers came, you were too busy praying more and more and more, and you were not listening. Listening can come in the feeling shape too....so, perhaps (and the optimistic part of me says..) the reason you failed an interview is because this failure is THE answer to your prayers.

Prayer change - Dear god, I give this to you. The end. Thanks for guiding me and allowing me to FEEL your guidance, so when I get that thought in my mind that I will phone that person for no particular reason, or I will see something that catches my interest, I will follow that in that moment, and I will trust, that you god, YOU have my best interests at heart. Even when I cannot see them. SO, I am giving it over and I will not ask you again. Until I am sure that what I am receiving is the answer I asked for. I know you might not give out signs the way I expect, so I will be open. My mind is open for you to guide me. Annnnnnndddd relax.

Jaide, do you ever get any downtime to empty your mind and just stare up at the clouds, and let ideas form?

Do you ever meet people and think, Dont I know you from somewhere? God sends us people to support and change us, but we must listen to our bodies and heart based feelings to feel more connected. In my experience.

State your connection to your god every day, and place your trust there if that's what you feel. Let it go, to god, and pay attention, to everything that sparks a knowing in you. God uses visions and feelings, he doesn't always boom the big voice into your head.

Much love, IB x

Original poster

jaide · 08/03/2015 10:13

Thank you IB for your thoughtful reply. Good advice to listen more-take time out.

OP posts:

BsshBosh · 29/03/2015 08:54

What a wonderful post IndigoBarbie.

Vivacia · 29/03/2015 13:03

Some people believe that prayer has no power beyond that of any other mediation. Perhaps by worrying about the lack of power your prayers have, you are taking your focus away from more productive activities?

LifeOfBriony · 29/03/2015 13:19

Jaide I was applying for jobs last year but wasn't offered the one I was keen on. I was offered another which didn't seem right for me so I turned it down. I felt very disillusioned for a while, but during this period of time some members of my family became ill and H and I had some issues; all these things took a great deal of my energy and learning a new job would have been very difficult with so much else going on.

More recently I have had the opportunity to do different things in my current job; I have had the opportunity to let my colleagues know there is something I would quite like to do in the future; I have had a few more hours added to my contract (I work part-time) so things at work are changing for me but not in the way I had planned or expected or could have foreseen. Perhaps it will be the same for you.

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