When you pray for protection but others die around you...

[Roughsoul1991]

I prayed with my wife and kids through the bad weather we had and God completely protected us and our property. But just a few miles south a tornado ripped through our city leaving houses destroyed, people dead,flooding, and cars looking like wrinkled balled up pieces of paper.

But I get to thinking what makes me any better than the people who didn't make it? I pray for God's protection but what if them people prayed also? It's a sour feeling when your glad the tornado missed us but in order to miss us, it had to harm others.

 

[Miri]

Strange post - instead why not be thankful to God for answering your prayer.


Maybe the following link will help to answer your question. I had a friend who was in
Phuket when the tsunami struck, she was a doctor on a medical exchange so
got to see first hand the tragedy.

There were many answered prayers that day. I remember there was one testimony about
a man looking after some children who pleaded with God for their lives. Miraculously
the wave hit the shore but the full force of it seemed to go around them, it hit them but
without the force that it hit others. They were all saved.

But others lost their lives and homes. The result of the outpouring of love and
provision by the local church in these circumstances has seen the whole village
turn to Christ!

What was intended for harm has led to people being saved and eternal life.
Praise God for answered prayers, use it as a testimony to others of the greatness
of God in the life of a believer, use your blessing to bless others.

After the Tsunami

 

[Depleted]

I prayed with my wife and kids through the bad weather we had and God completely protected us and our property. But just a few miles south a tornado ripped through our city leaving houses destroyed, people dead,flooding, and cars looking like wrinkled balled up pieces of paper.

But I get to thinking what makes me any better than the people who didn't make it? I pray for God's protection but what if them people prayed also? It's a sour feeling when your glad the tornado missed us but in order to miss us, it had to harm others.

God's will was done. It would have been done whether you prayed or not. BUT that you prayed, pleased him. And, if the others who were killed prayed too, it pleased God. If those others sincerely prayed too, they got God's protection for all of eternity with no more tears or sorrow. If they did not seek God, they got God's permanent wrath.

Why is that a sour feeling? The sourness comes from knowing we could do more to tell others about this great gospel we have in God. Or it's coming because you forgot the goal is eternity with the God we pray to. Death is but a moment for believers.

I've been taking to heart, "not my will, but thine be done" much lately.

 

[Willie-T]

I prayed with my wife and kids through the bad weather we had and God completely protected us and our property. But just a few miles south a tornado ripped through our city leaving houses destroyed, people dead,flooding, and cars looking like wrinkled balled up pieces of paper.

But I get to thinking what makes me any better than the people who didn't make it? I pray for God's protection but what if them people prayed also? It's a sour feeling when your glad the tornado missed us but in order to miss us, it had to harm others.

Have you thought of this? You're still going to die anyway.... and so is your wife, and so are your kids. Those people, if they knew God, just got to go live in glory long before you will make it. You are still stuck here on Earth with the rest of us.

 

[JosephsDreams]

Strange post - instead why not be thankful to God for answering your prayer.


Maybe the following link will help to answer your question. I had a friend who was in
Phuket when the tsunami struck, she was a doctor on a medical exchange so
got to see first hand the tragedy.

There were many answered prayers that day. I remember there was one testimony about
a man looking after some children who pleaded with God for their lives. Miraculously
the wave hit the shore but the full force of it seemed to go around them, it hit them but
without the force that it hit others. They were all saved.

But others lost their lives and homes. The result of the outpouring of love and
provision by the local church in these circumstances has seen the whole village
turn to Christ!

What was intended for harm has led to people being saved and eternal life.
Praise God for answered prayers, use it as a testimony to others of the greatness
of God in the life of a believer, use your blessing to bless others.

After the Tsunami

I don't think it's a strange post. I think it is natural for people to wonder about these things. While I am thankful for Gods grace and provision, I have sometimes wondered why God did not take me instead of some other family members.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

Sometimes compassion is better than saying God's will, will be done. Last night a couple died trying to save their infant from this tornado. The infant lived because the parents stuck him in a washing machine. But the parents died. I'm no new follower of Christ so I know what y'all mean but we humans also deal with emotions that disrupt every logical thing we have. It's normal when faced with these crazy moments in life to ask these questions. When I was in my car wreck I still can not forget that if I was only a foot further in the road I would of been slammed into by the suv on my driverside door. But instead we both swirved and she hit further toward the left side of the engine. These moments are reminders that death can come so easily. I read people's comments to people's struggles and some people are very blunt and almost forget while their unemotionally attached the OP is dealing with all sorts of emotions. I'm okay though just holding my children closer today.

 

[Depleted]

Have you thought of this? You're still going to die anyway.... and so is your wife, and so are your kids. Those people, if they knew God, just got to go live in glory long before you will make it. You are still stuck here on Earth with the rest of us.

I felt guilty for about 9 months, after God gave me John back. I truly knew if God took him that was nothing but good news for John for all of eternity. But I wasn't (am not) ready to lose him. Last fall I asked John if he'd rather be in heaven or here. He burst out laughing and crying. Then he told me that as far back as he could remember what happened, (and he remembers nothing of the four-day heart attack or the two months after that), all he wanted was to come home. "Come home" is here. "Go home" is with God. He doesn't feel done here yet either. We've got family and friends who still need to get it. Get God! And, he absolutely knows, he has so much he has to teach me still.

How do I record with a DVD player? How do I fix the humidifier? (Although, we just figured out, it wasn't me. It's the filters are cheaply made. lol) How do I unclog drains? Am I using this snake right?

He's already taught me how to add oil to the car. (I haven't done that in 36 years.) How to add windshield washer fluid. How to make bolognese.

We've been given a reprieve. But NOW we know it's just a reprieve.

 

[Miri]

]I don't think it's a strange post.[/B] I think it is natural for people to wonder about these things. While I am thankful for Gods grace and provision, I have sometimes wondered why God did not take me instead of some other family members.

Maybe it's just me then, because I've seen too much and experienced too much
to wonder why any more.

Now I just thank God for his blessings and look to Him in faith when things go wrong.
I've experienced Gods protection, answers to prayers and I've seen many times
how God has worked out the impossible all in His good time.

When things don't work out how or when I want them to be sorted, I suppose
I've just reached a point where I know God knows what He is doing, even if I disagree
and feel pain etc. I might rant a bit at God, even get angry at Him at times, but I know he
sees the beginning from the end and that I can trust Him.

One thing that bothered me a bit about the original post, was no thanks to God were
indicated or given.

I've learnt to be thankful and to give God the honour He deserves. Ten lepers were
healed but only one returned to say thank you. We can't expect God to bless us if
we are not thankful for what he does. I always make a point of returning to the
prayer forum with a testimony. But not many others do, they ask for prayer but never
come back to let everyone know how things worked out. (Sorry my big bear for the
day is over now ).

Even today I've been tested yet again in this. I was out at the shops and my mobile rang.
it was the care line people. They called to say my elderly aunt who I live with and look after
had fallen she had pressed her alert button and they had called an ambulance.
I ran the rest of the way home and braced myself for what I would find but felt a sort of
acceptance that God was in control. The ambulance came, got her up of the floor and
checked her over. Thankfully there was no need to go to hospital.

 

[resurrection33]

I prayed with my wife and kids through the bad weather we had and God completely protected us and our property. But just a few miles south a tornado ripped through our city leaving houses destroyed, people dead,flooding, and cars looking like wrinkled balled up pieces of paper.

But I get to thinking what makes me any better than the people who didn't make it? I pray for God's protection but what if them people prayed also? It's a sour feeling when your glad the tornado missed us but in order to miss us, it had to harm others.

Perhaps you could help the people who lost their homes.

 

[Ariel82]

Sometimes compassion is better than saying God's will, will be done. Last night a couple died trying to save their infant from this tornado. The infant lived because the parents stuck him in a washing machine. But the parents died. I'm no new follower of Christ so I know what y'all mean but we humans also deal with emotions that disrupt every logical thing we have. It's normal when faced with these crazy moments in life to ask these questions. When I was in my car wreck I still can not forget that if I was only a foot further in the road I would of been slammed into by the suv on my driverside door. But instead we both swirved and she hit further toward the left side of the engine. These moments are reminders that death can come so easily. I read people's comments to people's struggles and some people are very blunt and almost forget while their unemotionally attached the OP is dealing with all sorts of emotions. I'm okay though just holding my children closer today.

Yeah it makes you hug your love ones closer. When we are all in heaven, maybe it will all make sense. For now, we just pray and thank God when He answers those prayers and keeps us safe.

I think the emotion is called survivors guilt. Not that a label helps much but it tells me that others felt it too, enough that there is a name for it.

 

[oldethennew]

we all must be on 'watch', for satan often tries to put un-necessary 'guilt' upon us,
in order to put a 'wall' up, to separate us from our Saviour...

DON'T take the 'bait'...

 

[JCinAZ]

I prayed with my wife and kids through the bad weather we had and God completely protected us and our property. But just a few miles south a tornado ripped through our city leaving houses destroyed, people dead,flooding, and cars looking like wrinkled balled up pieces of paper.

But I get to thinking what makes me any better than the people who didn't make it? I pray for God's protection but what if them people prayed also? It's a sour feeling when your glad the tornado missed us but in order to miss us, it had to harm others.

Hey Roughsoul1991,


The world is definitely full of things that don't make sense.


Counting our blessings and praising God for them is awesome.


I believe God's favor on you and your family is for His purpose.


I don't believe God finds pleasure in any perishing. I am learning to let God be God and for me to introduce others to Him. When I spend time trying to figure God out, I realize that I have wasted time and if I were able to figure God out He would not be much of a God.


Take your awesome testimony of how God protected you and your family and share it with others who need to know Him.


Blessings,


J

 

[Dan58]

I prayed with my wife and kids through the bad weather we had and God completely protected us and our property.....It's a sour feeling when your glad the tornado missed us but in order to miss us, it had to harm others.

Next time, pray for the other people too