Re: God

[Guest guest]

I too have had these questions that you ask along with many other people in the

world. Below are some interesting points. I hope you find them of interest and

I hope it helps bring you peace. What I found most remarkable in my search was

this statement. It is what our group does everyday " But when we reach the

limits of our own strength and courage, something unexpected happens. We find

reinforcement coming from a source outside ourselves "

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

7. God can't do everything, but he can do some important things

" Praying for a person's health, for a favorable outcome of an operation, has

implications that ought to disturb a thoughtful person. If prayer worked the way

many people think it does, no one would ever die. . If we believe in God, but we

do not hold God responsible for life's tragedies, if we believe that God wants

justice and fairness but cannot always arrange for them, what are we doing when

we pray to God for a favorable outcome to a crisis in our life? "

Reasons people give (but Kushner rejects) for why you might not get what you

pray for:

You didn't deserve it.

You didn't pray hard enough.

God knows better than you do what is best for you.

Someone more worthy was praying for the opposite result.

God doesn't hear prayers.

There is no God.

Improper prayers, according to the Talmud:

That God change what already exists. (Example: the sex of a fetus.)

That God change the laws of nature.

That someone else be harmed.

That God do something within our power, so that we don't have to do it.

What's left to pray for?

Connection with other people. " One goes to a religious service, one recites the

traditional prayers, not in order to find God (there are plenty of other places

where He can be found), but to find a congregation, to find people with whom you

can share that which means the most to you. From that point of view, just being

able to pray helps, whether your prayer changes the world outside you or not. "

Strength of character, so that we can deal with adversity. " People who pray for

miracles usually don't get miracles. . But people who pray for courage, for

strength to bear the unbearable, for the grace to remember what they have left

instead of what they have lost, very often find their prayers answered. " " The

God I believe in doesn't send us the problem; He gives us the strength to cope

with the problem. " " The conventional explanation, that God sends us the burden

because He knows that we are strong enough to handle it, has it all wrong. Fate,

not God, sends us the problem. When we try to deal with it, we find out that we

are not strong. We are weak; we get tired, we get angry, overwhelmed. We begin

to wonder how we will ever make it through all the years. But when we reach the

limits of our own strength and courage, something unexpected happens. We find

reinforcement coming from a source outside ourselves. And in the knowledge that

we are not alone, that God is on our side, we manage to go on. "

Why would God allow me to suffer? Maybe so that I can increase my faith in Him,

increase my compassion for others, or be better able to encourage and help other

hurting people (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SUFFERING:

Romans 8:18: " For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not

worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us! "

Romans 8:17: " We must also share in his suffering, if we are to share in his

glory. "

16:33: " In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer,

for I have overcome the world. " (Or as another translations puts it: " Take

courage, I've deprived it of its power to harm and conquer you. " )

5:13: " Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. "

1 4:12: " Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes

upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.

But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing. "

And verse 19 says: " Let those who suffer ... entrust their souls to a faithful

Creator. . . "

I hope this finds you and yours well

Mark

God

> It seems that most messages talk about God, and some mentioned anger, which

> is what I feel I can relate to. I dont' feel him there like I used to. I

> feel like I could raise my fist, and ask WHY! And why don't you answer my

> prayers? I understand that I have received many blessings in my life. But

> when the pain is bad, I just wish he could help me, instead of having to

> turn to drugs for relief. How do I walk humbly with God in such times of

> distress?? Is this his plan for my life? I'm sorry, and I hope I don't

> offend anyone. I just had someone send me an e-mail that his prayer group

> lifted me up this morning. I'm grateful for that, but what is it doing? I

> want to believe, but I used to see God everywhere in my life, and now I

> don't know where he went...Thanks for listening. Robin

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

One thing that we don't realize sometimes is how much worse things

would be if God weren't answering our prayers. I know with this pain

is bad and I have even been diagnosed with CP and Panc Cancer but I

know that in my weaknesses He is made stronger. There are times when

I feel like why me God, I've been a youth leader and an assistant

youth pastor, I've given the largest majority of my life to the

ministry and now this???

I will tell you that there is nothing wrong with questioning God, and

asking Him why, even telling Him that you are angry with Him, those

are real emotions that He allows us to have, the bible doesn't say

not to be angry it says to be angry and sin not, well it's not a sin

to ask God why. Read the Psalms, they are full of asking God

why, and he was who God said was a man after His own heart, here

questioned God and God honors him by saying that he(david) was

after His (God's) heart.

I have felt like He's not there before also and I have felt like this

isn't right or fair. I usually call a friend, I have several that are

on speed dial for those times, and ask them to pray for me, during

those times I can't pray for myself even, I just don't know what to

pray sometimes or I'm hurting so badly that I just can't pray. I know

that I don't have any clue just how much worse this would be if I

didn't have people praying and interceeding for me before God.

If you ever need to just talk you can e-mail me at anytime and if you

do e-mail me and want to talk on the phone you can feel free to call

me anytime and I'll give you my number in the e-mail

Just keep strong in mind when you aren't strong in body and read the

Psalms, knowing that it's not wrong to question God, just don't give

up on Him though hon, He did create you and He does have a plan that

includes this right now, no this isn't His ONLY plan for your life

but through this some other things will be birthed. Keep your chin

up, and sometimes when I feel like He's not on my side I read the

Psalms they help me.

my email address is melissadawns@...