Am I praying wrong

[CactusFlr]

I feel quite selfish writing this. I live with my parents, I have mental health problems and so does my mum. We've always lived in council/social housing. The house is old and has lots of things wrong with it but we've avoided having cosmetic stuff done because of MH issues. Completely unexpectedly my mum has inherited money. My parents have decided to buy a home for us. We have been searching for over a year and it feels like we're never going to find anything suitable. There is just nothing coming on the market in the right place/right price. I pray (I'm a catholic) for the right house to come up. Its so frustrating, I find it mentally draining searching the housing websites day after day. We are so fortunate to have this opportunity. What's making it worse is a year ago a house came up one month after the money came through. But we discounted because it wasn't quite right. Now a year later I wish we'd taken it. I truly thought God would send me a sign if it was the right house and I just didn't feel it. I know there are a lot more serious issues going on in the world but this house would make such a difference to our lives, my parents aren't getting any younger (both is 70s). I feel like with every day passing we're running out of time. I was hoping we'd find somewhere before winter. I've prayed to St Jude, St Joseph, St Rita. I wonder is it because I don't pray enough, is it because I don't go to church now (I regularly went before the pandemic but never got back into it because of my anxiety). Is it because I question my faith/God when I see the starvation in Gaza? I feel like having a faith and mental health issues don't go together. I pray the rosary, I pray for other people. I feel it's selfish to pray for myself for 'worldy' things.

How much faith do you have that God will provide or assist you in some way? I find it useful to “let go and let God” and to trust God’s will, the faith part is really important x

If you 'let go and let God' does that mean you don't actively seek to improve something yourself. For example we need to search for a house to find one. The problem I have is I think the search is becoming a bit obsessive, the checking of Rightmove and agents socials etc. Then I get downhearted when there's nothing there.

Quite a few things to address here OP. Firstly, it's wonderful your mum inherited some money so you can move to a better house, so I think your first prayer should always be to thank God for His provision, for He has indeed provided. Next, you don't need to keep repeatedly praying for a new house. God heard you the very first time. It will be in His timing not yours, and very often it can feel like a long wait. Don't try to go looking for a 'sign' that it's the right house. God gave you a brain to figure out whether a house will fit your needs, no house will ever be perfect, so perhaps lower your expectations a little.

You don't need a certain amount of faith, or to go to church a certain number of times, or pray more in order to get a house - that would be works-based faith. God will provide in His time, but don't be too fussy! Remember the story of a man on a rooftop amidst a flood, praying for God to save him. A small boat comes by and offers him a ride to safety but he refuses because he says God will save him. Then a helicopter flies over and offers to rescue the man but again he refuses because he says he is waiting for God to save him. Eventually he drowns, and asks God, why didn't you save me? God replies, I sent a boat and a helicopter and you didn't take the help I sent!

Finally always thank God when you pray for His gracious provision. You can always use the psalms as well to remind God of his steadfast love. I will pray that you find a home soon!

Thank you so much for replying, it's helped a lot and has given me food for thought. I appreciate you taking the time. I've been so wrapped up in the future that I'm not appreciating what I have today.

Op, it's because there is no god. You have to make these things happen yourself.

This! All day long. I find it interesting that God not finding a lovely little house for you is the bigger concern here?

I find this an interesting concept. For every house you view, there are other people also wanting or needing that house. Why would god prioritise you over someone else. There’s a church right next to a football ground in my city. Before a big match once the press asked the vicar if he’d prayed for a win. He said no, because god doesn’t show favouritism. You need to pray for him to give you ongoing strength and motivation, not to intercede on your behalf

You need to change maybe what you’re looking for. Look for a cheaper area.

God doesn't operate with a 'priority' system, He is not like us. It is quite possible to pray for both a house and children in Gaza, if you feel so led to do so, and any number of other things.

Pray for whatever you like. I doubt it will have any influence on what God does.

What a joke!

You're an adult - find your own house!

There's no such thing as god and praying has zero effect on anything in life.

If you really thought there was though, do you think that he and all his little saint mates would prioritise your house over the atrocities going on in the world?!

Jesus wept! 😁

Ha, ha! Very convenient!

Got to love Christian cherry picking. 😁

Here's a thought , stay in your current house and give the money to help Gaza , I'm sure God would be happy you've helped .

Truthfully , I can see why people pray and you by your own omission have said you do but why do people pray for what they want ?

Surely you should be praying to end wars , help the sick & needy , those in desperation etc . Praying for a lovely home for yourself is selfish and I'm sure God has other people to hear first .

How is that 'cherry picking'?

Well he isn’t operating at all is he. If he had an annual appraisal, he’d be on an improvement plan by now.

@Jennalong The Bible tells us to pray for what we need because God is our Father who will help us if we ask. God wants a relationship with his children, and by praying we are communicating with Him, even though He already knows what we want and need.

As I said to a PP, God does not have a priority system, He is not like a call centre where you must wait for others to be heard first. Praying for a home is not selfish.

He is absolutely working at all times.

So what has he done then? Let’s have a decent list.

How on earth is praying for a house for yourself not selfish?

He's doing a great job in Gaza.

If god responded to prayer in some way there would be measurable differences between groups of people who pray and groups who don't. Or between followers of different religions. It would be clear which was the 'true' god as his followers would be the 'luckiest'.

Because it's something you need.

... for yourself, when you've already got a home. And when there are thousands of people without a home at all.

They have a home , they are not homeless .
All I'm saying is that we research and find our own home be it private or rental . A home becomes available , we see it , like it and it it all aligns it becomes ours . Nothing to do with God .
I'm not saying he does not exist , and I'm not saying praying is fruitless , I'm saying we need to do things for yourself by proactive don't leave ( or believe ) that saint whoever or God will provide you with something . Get it yourself .