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Original poster

Has God ever just answered a prayer that you needed so badly?

214 replies

whenthedreamhappens · 19/12/2022 20:33

Dh a do have been going through a terrible time with an incident that happened in work 5 years ago. It was a horrendous, difficult time. My husband was basically suicidal. Although this was such a time of trial, Gods hand was always upon us, guiding us even tho we didn't see it, and to us the days still seemed dark. After lots of prayer and years worth of worry we got a solicitor letter (out if the blue) basically withdrawing any wrong doing ir any allegations , on the same day that DH received a job offer from a dream job opportunity. We have received multiple, countless blessing that have come at EXACTLY the right time. It has been incredibly difficult yet incredibly comforting that God has always guided us through our trials and made things possible that just wouldn't have been so without intervention. Today we have received another wonderful blessing.

OP posts:
Whatafielddayfortheheat · 01/01/2023 12:13

If there is a god, he can't be all the things Christians say: omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful and benevolent. It just doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

If he's omnipresent and omniscient, and all-poweful, that means he sees everything and has absolute power. So then he can't be benevolent can he, because he allows so much suffering.

Furthermore the argument that 'we have to suffer so we can appreciate happiness/the afterlife' doesn't wash either, if he is all the things above. He could male it so we all enjoy the after life without the need for all the suffering. So why doesn't he?

Finally, if it's about balance then why do some people live first-world lives with mostly happiness, albeit with some inevitable sorrow, whilst others have to watch their children die of thirst? Does that mean those who suffer less on earth, will have a less good time in heaven? Or what? Where is the balance and why is this necessary?!

It makes no sense.

Parky04 · 01/01/2023 12:15

Never prayed, as in my opinion, it's all a load of bollocks. Each to their own though.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 01/01/2023 12:35

@Whatafielddayfortheheat also, why is God responsible for all the good things that happen but not for all the bad things? I went to the funeral of a 61 year old man last week who’d had a terrible battle with MND and the new vicar literally said “it’s not God’s fault” in his sermon 😵. The reason it was a new vicar? Because the old one also died a few weeks ago from cancer in his 60s. Yeah God is great…

Parker231 · 01/01/2023 13:21

LittleDisaster · 30/12/2022 14:58

It sounds ridiculous now, but I was really worried as DS started secondary. He was going to a different school to all his friends, he'd been happy with the school choice, but didn't realise no one else was going. He needed to get a bus, but had no one to go with and was really upset/ worried.

I prayed that both he and I would get through it! Next day a neighbour from a few streets away who I only knew by sight was in my Zumba class (I'd never seen her there before) and mentioned her DS was in the same boat. The boys were bus buddies for years.

That’s called coincidence and part of normal life. Many children travel to new schools on their own and make friends along the way.

greenwal · 02/01/2023 23:29

Yes He has so many times (and some were amazing answers to prayer that showed His power and glory) - and He has also not answered some heartfelt prayers that I have cried out for for years. Sometimes I have seen later why unanswered prayers were not answered and some I just won't know this side of Heaven why.
To those that are hurting through unanswered prayer, I've found comfort in seeing how many of the great Bible heroes had unanswered prayers - David's son died, Moses never entered the promised land, God never removed the thorn in Paul's side and he went to prison and got shipwrecked and Jesus did not have the cup taken from Him and had to die. The bible is full of unanswered prayers - and yet we know God loved these people, and us, so much as the Bible is also full of God's loving, faithful character. Unanswered prayer doesn't mean God doesn't love or is uncaring. I'm looking forward to Heaven, where there are no more tears or suffering and it is perfect, not this broken world with so much injustice and tragedy. Thank God Jesus came to make things right and one day it will be.

chillibop · 03/01/2023 19:27

Radio silence in response to people questions the bad things then. Not one of the devout god lover on here explaining why he answers some specific prayers but chooses not to answer:

Childhood cancer
Sexual assault victims
People who have been murdered
Milllions of children in poverty
Child rape
Sex trafficking
Burying a child

(I'll await the typical response of 'free will'..)

But he absolutely did answer someone's prayer of someone's senile relative surviving a little longer than she should've done and it absolutely wasn't down to the doctors and nurses. Aye okay then.

lifeinthehills · 03/01/2023 21:08

chillibop · 03/01/2023 19:27

Radio silence in response to people questions the bad things then. Not one of the devout god lover on here explaining why he answers some specific prayers but chooses not to answer:

Childhood cancer
Sexual assault victims
People who have been murdered
Milllions of children in poverty
Child rape
Sex trafficking
Burying a child

(I'll await the typical response of 'free will'..)

But he absolutely did answer someone's prayer of someone's senile relative surviving a little longer than she should've done and it absolutely wasn't down to the doctors and nurses. Aye okay then.

Absolutely spot on.

MrsSkylerWhite · 03/01/2023 21:11

No because God is a man-made concept.

BlueHorse88 · 03/01/2023 21:12

Absolutely 💯

HermioneWeasley · 03/01/2023 21:17

Extraordinary that god is answering these privileged prayers, but it letting Iranian protestors be executed, children sold into slavery, babies die of malaria etc.

Holihobbies · 03/01/2023 21:36

Tim Minchin had the perfect response

Thank You God g.co/kgs/hiQ1Td

chillibop · 03/01/2023 22:42

Well come on Agnostics, what's the answer?

Maximinimalist · 03/01/2023 23:03

So you only want God to be an instrument of your will. You should go about doing whatever you want and when you want his help, you’ll pull him out of the genie lamp and he must comply?

Have you ever looked not who God is and what he wants from us?

The Bible is full of the suffering of those who believed in God. God is good but it does not mean he erases all the bad in this world. There is a reason good and bad exists and it was because of how we decided to exercise our free will.

chillibop · 04/01/2023 00:02

Maximinimalist · 03/01/2023 23:03

So you only want God to be an instrument of your will. You should go about doing whatever you want and when you want his help, you’ll pull him out of the genie lamp and he must comply?

Have you ever looked not who God is and what he wants from us?

The Bible is full of the suffering of those who believed in God. God is good but it does not mean he erases all the bad in this world. There is a reason good and bad exists and it was because of how we decided to exercise our free will.

Okay so.. so far we have.

Pulled a friend out of his arse for a kid on their first day of secondary school

Saved a 91 year old gran with his amazing powers, not the doctors and nurses working tirelessly to help this person

Giving someone the strength to cope with a family tragedy... can you explain to me how you give someone strength? I'd like to give some to the poor children in poverty.

He's given someone a promotion. Nah, that's done with hard work and determination. But let's not give the guy credit for it and blame it on god.

God apparently 'spared' someone from covid death.. like millions of us who have had covid, so he spared us all? So he's got time to spare all of us from covid death, but not childhood cancer?

But you're telling me, I only want god to be an instrument of my will?

I could want for nothing from the bloke.

There are millions of gods. Why does your god have to be the one to exist? Surely if you only believe one out of the millions, you're nearly as atheist as me?

M340 · 04/01/2023 00:05

Maximinimalist · 03/01/2023 23:03

So you only want God to be an instrument of your will. You should go about doing whatever you want and when you want his help, you’ll pull him out of the genie lamp and he must comply?

Have you ever looked not who God is and what he wants from us?

The Bible is full of the suffering of those who believed in God. God is good but it does not mean he erases all the bad in this world. There is a reason good and bad exists and it was because of how we decided to exercise our free will.

Well, according to someone on this thread, they know someone who prays for an available parking space.

If that's not rubbing the genie then I have no idea what is.

Dryandirriatble · 04/01/2023 00:19

M340 · 04/01/2023 00:05

Well, according to someone on this thread, they know someone who prays for an available parking space.

If that's not rubbing the genie then I have no idea what is.

Show quote history

A Salvation Army minister once told me she does this.

eveoha · 04/01/2023 00:56

Yes 👍🏿☘️

M340 · 04/01/2023 01:15

@Dryandirriatble

I mean if it keeps people happy then fair play, whatever floats their boat I guess! Im too busy keeping an eye out on who's walking towards their cars and nabbing a space to be having conversations with a geezer in the sky Grin

Twiggywinkle13 · 04/01/2023 01:21

Yes, many, many times!

BIahBIahBIah · 04/01/2023 01:24

Of course not. Don't be silly.

Thereyougo10 · 04/01/2023 01:31

Yes numerous times. I always use novena prayers though.

mathanxiety · 04/01/2023 01:33

Numerous prayers have been answered, one in particular that was huge.

God calls us all to be salt for the earth, a light in the darkness. This means we are all responsible for each other; whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters we do unto him. If there's suffering in the world, it behoves us to work to end it.

Pinkbonbon · 04/01/2023 01:45

Generally I would say prayers don't really work like that. They are more for giving you strength and comfort by bringing you closer to God.

However, I did pray hard not to have some family visit me the next day, one evening. As I wasnt in the best of mental status abs really just wanted a few days peace. The next day they all had the stomach flu and couldn't visit. I was like 'harsh big man, harsh. But thank you!"

I think its important to pray in good times on occasion too. You know, just to check in and say hello. Nothing worse than those people who are like 'I don't believe in God because he's never done anything for me' And you're like 'well when did you last do anything for him? Heck, when did you last even say hello when you didn't want anything in return?'. And they seem shocked and appalled as if they didn't think it worked both ways and he was just some magic wish-granting fairy out for a using.

Pinkbonbon · 04/01/2023 01:52

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 01/01/2023 12:35

@Whatafielddayfortheheat also, why is God responsible for all the good things that happen but not for all the bad things? I went to the funeral of a 61 year old man last week who’d had a terrible battle with MND and the new vicar literally said “it’s not God’s fault” in his sermon 😵. The reason it was a new vicar? Because the old one also died a few weeks ago from cancer in his 60s. Yeah God is great…

Well what would be the alternative to that? Just living forever?

Plus he's supposed to get eternal life in heaven anyway if he believed...

ApplesinmyPocket · 04/01/2023 01:58

Well I'm so glad god came through with job offers, bus buddies and so on, but for some reason he decided against rewarding my family's prayers that their little girl wouldn't suffer from her leukaemia and die alone in hospital, and that all of us wouldn't be tormented for the rest of our lives thinking about that innocent little one's pain and our own grief at her dying.

Of course I'm being sarcastic. I'm glad good things happened to people who needed them to happen that way, but god? oh come on.