Where is God when I need Him?

[PaintMySpiritGold]

I've been begging and praying for some answers from God. And just asking Him to listen to me. I've been patient, I've been a (somewhat) good Christian. But I cannot hear Him. I don't feel Him. Where was He when I was on the floor crying and praying my heart out? Where was He when I was thanking Him for all the beauty He created and loving Him and appreciating Him? Where was He when I had the rope around me neck? I'm just so lost. I'm not losing faith, just losing hope. I don't think He cares. He seems to be ignoring my calls.

And don't give me that "you just have to look for Him and listen" crap because I've been doing that my whole life.
sorry, I'm just really tired and frustrated

thanks.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

There never are any good answers when people feel that way. All I can says this:

You are not alone in feeling that way
I will pray.

1 To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.

 

[smata]

Hello Paintmyspiritgold
I pray the spirit of the Lord guides you through all your endeavors and at His time his comes through. You seem like a very nice person who is really passionate about your faith and that is great. Your problem is one every person encounter in their journey through Christianity. Our faith is sometimes tested and when this happens it is easy to feel as though no matter how many times you pray and ask God for an answer he is not there to help you. However, scripture says in Hebrew 13:5 that that he will never leave you nor forsake you and since the bible never lies than the problem is not God being there but is coming from somewhere else. Maybe you are letting the problems you are facing get the best of you and it is destroying your relationship with God. You said that you have been somewhat of a good Christian and basically do all what is required of you as a Christian. Interesting, because God does not need your good works to be God; He gives his love willingly and that’s why we have Grace. You know Grace is undeserving love but he gives it to us abundantly. Also knowing God has your best interest at heart, you should trust his will no matter what you feeling at the moment. I know it is one of the hardest thing to do but it will help you overcome your problem and also mature as a Christian. You said at the end that you are feeling lost at the moment and that may be because you have a strained relationship with God. So I suggest you spend more time in your bible learning the word of God because that is the only way you can overcome your problems and the devil. Right now being frustrated and sad, the devil is rejoicing because you are doing everything he wants you to do. Remember, there have been people like Job who went through a lot of obstacles as a Christian, however not letting his faith waver he was able to overcome. Have a wonderful day and say blessed.

 

[blue_ladybug]

I've been begging and praying for some answers from God. And just asking Him to listen to me. I've been patient, I've been a (somewhat) good Christian. But I cannot hear Him. I don't feel Him. Where was He when I was on the floor crying and praying my heart out? Where was He when I was thanking Him for all the beauty He created and loving Him and appreciating Him? Where was He when I had the rope around me neck? I'm just so lost. I'm not losing faith, just losing hope. I don't think He cares. He seems to be ignoring my calls.

And don't give me that "you just have to look for Him and listen" crap because I've been doing that my whole life.
sorry, I'm just really tired and frustrated

thanks.

Paint, it is always when we are at our lowest and need God the most, that he seems the farthest away from us!! The truth is, that he is ALWAYS with us, always listening, ready to reach out and take our hand and lift us up out of the dark pits we find ourselves in. I dont know what your situation is, but God does, but you cant hear him because your too caught up in your troubles. You cant expect an instantaneous answer--God rarely gives instant answers to prayer. Be assured that he is with you all the time. Please go read two of my threads in the Miscellaneous forum. One is on my battle with life-long depression and the other is on my battle with suicide/suicidal thoughts. The titles are "Depression: A Ladybug's True Story of Dark vs Light" and "Suicidal Thoughts/Attempts and Loss of Loved Ones". I go into detail about how I coped, how I made my way through the darkness and back to God's light, and I even give suggestions as to what I do (and others can do) to try and keep a positive outlook on life and God. I really believe it would help you if you read them. Feel free to message me anytime to talk, ask questions, or vent.

 

[PaintMySpiritGold]

Thank you guys so much. Your answers really helped me. I'm really glad I joined this site

 

[PinkFlowers]

I've been begging and praying for some answers from God. And just asking Him to listen to me. I've been patient, I've been a (somewhat) good Christian. But I cannot hear Him. I don't feel Him. Where was He when I was on the floor crying and praying my heart out? Where was He when I was thanking Him for all the beauty He created and loving Him and appreciating Him? Where was He when I had the rope around me neck? I'm just so lost. I'm not losing faith, just losing hope. I don't think He cares. He seems to be ignoring my calls.

And don't give me that "you just have to look for Him and listen" crap because I've been doing that my whole life.
sorry, I'm just really tired and frustrated

thanks.

You aren't alone. I think every Christian would agree that it's hard to feel God sometimes. I am going through that as well. Don't give up though. I know it's hard to wait for answers... I know! I am waiting for answers currently, too. It's hard. Waiting to hear is really, really hard. But when I think about the how hard it is for me to wait for an answer and how hard what I am going through is... I can't help but think about how Jesus died on the cross for us, and how He was beaten, and how he went up with nails in His hands and feet and then I think...how hard was that? Then I think about what I'm going through...and I think...first of all. I would rather be going through what I am going through than have to be going through what Jesus went through on the cross. He sweat blood... He cried out to His Father... He was in agony. Second of all. Because Jesus went up on the cross. He knows suffering. He understands suffering. He has been through it and He sees what your going through and He understands it. You aren't alone. Another thing I like to think about when I feel like God's not giving me answers is that He is our Father. Think about times that you have gone to your father (or a parent/guardian) and you asked for something. Sometimes you are given a yes answer. Sometimes you are given a no answer. And sometimes you are given no answer, except for being told to wait for an answer. So God is like this. He is our Father who we come to with our questions. Sometimes He gives us a solid yes answer, sometimes a solid no answer, and sometimes He just tells us to be patient and wait for an answer. Not even like we have to be looking for an answer. God knows us, He is smart enough to show us something if He wants to. We don't have to look. He will show us the answer when He wants to. All we have to do is been open to receiving that answer when it does come around, and we have to be patient and understand that God doesn't go by our clock. I will keep you in my prayers. You are not alone!

 

[JesusLives]

I talk to God all the time about how frustrated I am with this invisibility thing. I so just want to talk to Him face to face and have that real two way conversation. The silence is deafening at times. I know God is there though. This morning I had to take my daughter's cat Baby to the vet to be put to sleep he had been sick for a while and it was time. As I walked out of the vets it was raining a little and I took it as a sign that God was crying with me because He knows how heart broken I am about that little cat. That little bit of rain actually comforted me as I felt God was near.

God knows all about us and He draws near when we are in need just don't let go of your hope and continue to trust in Him as He is right there with you.

 

[biscuit]

[h=2]Why Prayers Go Unanswered?[/h]1. SinSin is what separates God and men. Even though a believer does not lose his status of being God's child when he sins; the sin he commits is an obstacle to prayer. As long as there is unconfessed sin in a believer's life his prayers are not going to be answered. Without confessing their sins many pray. Those prayers cannot be answered.
The Bible makes this principle very clear: ``If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened'' (Psalm 66:18 NIV). Also, ``But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear'' (Isaiah 59:2 NIV)
So when you are faced with the problem of unanswered prayer check whether you are cherishing sin in your heart. The word ``cherish'' is to be noted. That word tells us what kind of sin prevents prayer from being answered. It is not talking about sinning accidentally. Instead it talks about harboring sin in the heart; playing with it and holding on to it dearly. Such sin has to be confessed and parted away with. Only then will God be able to answer your prayers.
2. UnforgivenessThere is lot of hatred among believers. This is a sad reality. It is also true that many exploit others in many unjust ways. These kind of wrongs hurt people. They find it difficult to forgive. You may find yourself in such a position as this. If you have unforgiveness in your heart then God cannot answer your prayers.
Jesus made this principle very clear in the Sermon on the Mount: ``Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors'' (Matthew 6:12 NIV). And, ``If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift'' (Matthew 5:23,24 NIV).
But it has to be said that forgiveness does not come naturally to us. We need God's grace in a BIG way to be able to forgive others. Even after you forgive someone, for many more months you may feel the hurt of the wrong done to you. That is quite natural. But if you have forgiven from your heart God would heal the hurt too.
Forgiving others is one of the toughest battles that you can face. But without forgiving others your prayers will not be answered. It is like that simply because God has shown you mercy. He expects you to show others the same mercy He has shown you. The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant found in Matthew 18:21 to 35 makes this very clear. Jesus told about an unmerciful man being put in prison. He further added: ``This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.''
So check whether there is unforgiveness in your heart when you are faced with the problem of unanswered prayer. If it is there confess it and be free so as to receive answers to your prayer.
3. Lack of PersistenceJesus said, ``Knock and the door will be opened to you[SUP]1[/SUP].'' Many follow this principle but do not find doors opening. That does not mean that what Jesus said will not work. But it means that one knock is not enough. If you are really in earnest or badly in need of something you will keep knocking till the door is opened. That means you are desperate about your need. God honors such desperateness in His children. It is then that He answers their prayers.
In other words God does not answer wishful thinking. He only honors persistent knocking. Those who are in real need keep on knocking. Others knock a few times and go around telling that God did not answer their prayer. But the problem is not with God; but with them. They gave up too easily.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 about a Persistent Widow. The purpose was to teach the disciples that ``they should always pray and not give up.''
The best gifts of heaven are reserved for those who persist in prayer. That is the only way in which you can tell God that you badly need that particular answer to prayer. Persistence also tells God that you have full confidence in Him even though He has not answered your prayer so far. It tells God that you are not like a child who quarrels with his parents for not fulfilling his desires as soon as he says it out loud.
Therefore keep on praying. Do not give up. Your answer is already on the way.
4. DoubtThis is a difficulty that many face. They pray with their mouths. But in their hearts they are sure that their prayers will not be answered. God never answers such kind of prayers. God only honors a person who prays in faith.
Jesus had made this very clear: ``If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer'' (Matthew 21:22 NIV). Many pray with many words hoping to be heard. Great speeches in prayer never impress God. Many others ask but doubt while asking. Such doubts destroy your ability to receive answers to prayer.
James has further amplified this principle: ``But when he asks [you ask], he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does'' (James 1:6--8 NIV).
So when you ask, ask in faith. Faith is being sure of the answer even before it comes: ``Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see'' (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). So when you ask thank God for the answer. You can thank God for the answer only if you have faith in your heart. Do not doubt when you pray. Then God will answer.
5. Wrong MotivesGod searches the heart[SUP]2[/SUP]. He understands every motive behind our thoughts. Therefore He refuses to answer prayers that have wrong motives.
But for us understanding motives is not easy. We get it confused easily. It is therefore very difficult for us to distinguish between pure motives and wrong motives. That is why David prayed: ``Search me, O God, and know my heart'' (Psalm 139:23a).
When it comes to prayer, wrong motives can easily dominate our praying. Wrong motives usually come as a result of selfishness. This truth is recorded thus: ``When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures'' (James 4:3 NIV).
So when you are confronted with unanswered prayer ask God to search your heart. And when His searchlight reveals some hidden motive which is wrong, confess it to Him and pray with pure motives. Then God will answer your prayer.
6. Not Praying According to God's WillThis is a very difficult area. It takes years for Christians to learn to discern God's will in their life-circumstances. It takes years of reading and meditating on the Bible to be able to hear God's counsel clearly. Therefore the difficulty in praying according to God's will.
The Bible talks about this difficulty. It also tells us that the Holy Spirit within us helps us to pray according to God's will. This can happen because the Spirit of God knows what God's will is:
``In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance to God's will''[SUP]3[/SUP] (Romans 8:26,27 NIV).
The greatest struggle that Christians face in prayer is praying according to God's will. Jesus had to go through this same struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed in his agony: ``Not as I will, but as you will.'' Yielding to God's will at times can be a big struggle. That is a reality.
But once you start praying according to God's will the answer is bound to come: ``This is the confidence that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will[SUP]3[/SUP], he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.'' (1 John 5:14,15 NIV).
Therefore seek to pray according to God's will. If there comes a struggle between your desires and God's will ask God to give you grace to accept His will. Then pray for His will to be done. Then God shall answer your prayer!
7. Not Listening to Godly CounselGod speaks to us many times through godly people. But their advice is often ignored. (Here a word of caution is required. You need obey what they say only if it is according to what God has said in the Bible. Any thing that they say that is against what is said in the Bible you need not obey). Then we run into difficulties and we start to pray. But God's Word makes it clear that God will not listen to people who had rejected His counsel.
Read Proverbs 1:20--33 to understand this principle better. In verse 28 (NIV), it is said: ``They will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.'' When we refuse to listen to God's wisdom and counsel, He also refuses to listen to us when we pray. In another passage of the Scripture, this truth is again highlighted: `` `When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the Lord Almighty'' (Zechariah 7:13 NIV).
You also need to note that disobedience to God is a direct result of not listening to Him. Therefore check your life to find out if there is any disobedience in your life. If you find it, confess it and come back to the path of obedience. Thus when you listen and obey, God will answer your prayer!
[HR][/HR]1. Matthew 7:7
2. Ref. Luke 16:15, Psalm 7:9, Romans 8:27, 1 Chronicles 28:9 and 1 Samuel 16:7
3. Emphasis added by author

Recommended article for futher reading: If This is Prayer, I will Pray​

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[Bushido8000]

Tenth Avenue North - Times (Lyrics) - YouTube

 

[djness]

I've been begging and praying for some answers from God. And just asking Him to listen to me. I've been patient, I've been a (somewhat) good Christian. But I cannot hear Him. I don't feel Him. Where was He when I was on the floor crying and praying my heart out? Where was He when I was thanking Him for all the beauty He created and loving Him and appreciating Him? Where was He when I had the rope around me neck? I'm just so lost. I'm not losing faith, just losing hope. I don't think He cares. He seems to be ignoring my calls.

And don't give me that "you just have to look for Him and listen" crap because I've been doing that my whole life.
sorry, I'm just really tired and frustrated

thanks.

Most of my answers from God came from reading the bible. God speaks most through scripture. I don't know how often you read the bible but the people I know who get the most responses from Him are reading their bibles a lot. Come near to God and he will come near to you.-james.

 

[Witness45]

I've been begging and praying for some answers from God. And just asking Him to listen to me. I've been patient, I've been a (somewhat) good Christian. But I cannot hear Him. I don't feel Him. Where was He when I was on the floor crying and praying my heart out? Where was He when I was thanking Him for all the beauty He created and loving Him and appreciating Him? Where was He when I had the rope around me neck? I'm just so lost. I'm not losing faith, just losing hope. I don't think He cares. He seems to be ignoring my calls.

And don't give me that "you just have to look for Him and listen" crap because I've been doing that my whole life.
sorry, I'm just really tired and frustrated

thanks.

People are always complaining and asking for God to speak to them in an audible voice, but never prayerfully open God's Word to listen. He does speak, rather, he has spoken in his Word. There isn't one single issue that can't be solved by God's Word so long as one is willing to search for it. If you want God to speak to you, you have to read his Word. (and ask him for understanding as well, I guarantee through experience you'll get it)

 

[pastac]

Sometimes God non reply is his reply. Sometimes God will not answer a prayer the word is clear on that, and that is ok because God knows best.God is God not a genie imagine the things people ask God for. If he answered every prayer of ever person all the time the world would be in chaos or worse than it is now due to the greed, arrogance, disrespect, pollution of sin. Don't you think for one minute sinners don't ask God for stuff too! I try to be accurate in my post just don't give up hope. Press on stay strong be persistent but be reminded God is God. His timing for us is perfect. The word endure comes to mind often we grow impatient and then our mind plays tricks because it is not renewed and or focused on what his word says. Reading his word will give you all you can ever hope for until he speaks audibly to you. Grow in grace learn in love live in peace hope always pray without ceasing forgive walk in obedience he will speak he promised!