God is Sleeping

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Posted by George Wilder Jr. on September 27, 2007 at 4:08pm in General Discussion

Someone told me recently that he in all his 45 years, he had never had a prayer answered, at least at this point. He is very successful. And he figured that he did it without the help of God. And let say that this person is not me. He was born in poverty and prayed every night for a better life for him and his family. In fact, praying had made their lives more empty. He said that praying was almost like a waste of time. I have to concur, that I was constantly prayer, down on my knees every night asking God for a better life and it never came. Instead, I found myself homeless for a short while. During that time no one wanted to talk to me, including God. Go Figure

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Permalink Reply by Shelagh Watkins on September 27, 2007 at 8:39pm: Hi George,

God is quite astute. Answering people's prayers and giving them what they want makes them lazy. If you want answers to your prayers, you have to meet God halfway. God treats everyone the same: believers and non-believers, and doesn't mind if you take all the credit for your own success -- and all the blame for your own failures. LOL!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wesley Allen Mack on October 2, 2007 at 9:43pm: George,
"To have faith is to see the unseen,
and believe in a life,
that was only meant for a dream."
Aja Sherri Mack
This quote is from my daughter, everytime I read it I have hope and inspiration.

You have to have faith, God does answer prayers, God won't answer what your wants, but will answer your needs, it may have been needed to be homeless, or to be at rock bottom to appreciated being above ground.
And that person who is successful, you stated prayed everynight for his family, I beleive his prayers were answered, now he should share that success with his family, which he prayed for. George are you still homeless or has that situation changed for you?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by George Wilder Jr. on October 2, 2007 at 11:04pm: No, I have never been homeless. However, no one really knows what is in their future. There are so many good people losing their apartments and homes each and everyday. And some of these people are or were God fearing people. Frastration can turn the mind into mush. Therefore people will just about say anyting. That quote from your daughter is very beautiful. Individuals will lost faith. I've seen it. It doesn't matter that they are good people. Most people that I know have never hit rock bottom and some of them have loss that needed faith. Is there anyting out there will take the place of prayer? I so no.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wesley Allen Mack on October 3, 2007 at 5:26pm: George

I apologize I mistook the second from last line as if you were speaking in 1st person.
God Bless; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Charlotte McPherson on October 7, 2007 at 6:03pm: Sometimes our prayers are answered but we do not recognize it because it is not answered the way we wanted it answered.

Sometimes we do not recognize His voice or understand His leading--we may miss it.

I have a deep faith and have maintained a prayer life for 32 years. I do not get everything I ask for but I do get answers to my prayer.

Timing - is also a factor. His timing is different from ours-sometimes. I believe I have achieved and been successful because as we learn to hear God's voice and know His direction He opens and closes doors for us. Blessings to you!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Holloway on October 7, 2007 at 9:21pm: Yes, I agree with Charlotte that God's time and ours is not always the same.

But he does see the big picture, while I only see the little bit that's right in front of me. I have known a couple who had marital problems, looked for a quick fix from God, didn't get it, and so concluded there was nothing to it. Then many years later, things had gotten so bad that they each went down their own dark road and eventually split up off and on for several more years. Finally, when things got so bad the split was permanent and irredeemable from a human point of view, they each turned back to God in their separate ways and He moved in their lives, transforming them each to the point that they could forgive virtually a lifetime of hurt and forgive the unforgivable. They finally heard God's voice in their lives, and it changed them. But it did not come in the way and time that they expected.

On my own side, I know that in spite of a family friend's assertion that he calls and calls God, but God never picks up, He has spoken to me before, sometimes through other faulty humans, sometimes directly into my heart. I have felt Him lift me up and carry me, felt the joy He gave me through times so heavy and convoluted that all I should have felt was despair. My situation didn't immediately change; in fact, I'm still in it. But I do feel His comfort when I stop trying to do it all myself. In my case, I feel that because I'm so stubborn and independent, it took a deep well of problems to get me to reach for Him and lean on Him---but that I will be the better for it, no matter how this all turns out. I feel He is using these experiences and the faith I gain from it to shape me for a particular purpose. (Guess some people need a little more polishing than others. :) )

Hope that answer helps, even though it's long.

God bless,
Lisa; ▶ Reply to This