It has been going on for two years. This problem my husband and I have. It is a problem that affects both of us and yet was caused by neither one of us.
We have spent plenty of time and money trying to solve this problem, but the thing we have done most is pray. And yet, nothing has changed. At least not yet.
I have prayed countless prayers asking God to make this problem go away and yet in his great sovereignty God is keeping silent on the issue. At this point, I have no inclination from Him that anything is going to change. But, I keep believing .
My faith ebbs and flows, though mostly flows because I have come to realize two major truths during this season of tears, frustration, hope and disappointment. The first is that as I look back over the course of my life, God has always come through for me. I don’t mean that things have always turned out the way I wanted or thought I needed them to. I mean, God has always been there for me no matter what happened in my life and I know he always will be.
In Hebrews 13:5 God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Second, I have decided that when “life happens” to me—the bad parts—I am going to try and first decide who I want to be and then act. What I mean is this. When the situation is over, I want to look back and feel good about who I was during the process. Because that is what really counts, right? How we act when things don’t go our way. That is our opportunity to prove to ourselves and others how great our love and trust in God really are. These are the moments that shape our character, build our trust and make us more like Jesus.
Isaiah 53:3 says, “He (Jesus) was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering.”
During this season, as I remember God’s faithfulness and am mindful of my response, there are a few other practices that help me—things that may benefit you when faced with a difficult life season.
Keep praying. Pray often. If you are married, pray with your husband. And, ask a few people you are close to and trust to pray for you.
Quote scripture. Find scriptures that relate to your issue and write them on index cards. Then place them around the house so you can read them throughout the day.
Have a team mindset. Whether your problem is personal, your husband’s, both of yours equally or perhaps a problem between you and a child, it can be easy to forget that you are on the same team. Stress can cause people to isolate themselves, argue or even lash out. Remember that you are on the same team fighting for the same thing—each others’ physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. It is also helpful to remember that God is on your team. He is for you and not against you.
Count your blessings. My great grandmother did this to alleviate worry. Think about the most difficult seasons of your life and how God brought you through. This reminds you of his faithfulness and builds your trust.
Ask for help. If you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed or anxious and prayer does not seem to be enough, seek professional help. Speak with a counselor or doctor to see what treatment options may assist you.
How about you? Have you been praying for something and nothing seems to change? How are you responding to the silence? What are you doing to remain hopeful? Will you one day look back and be pleased with your response to this season of your life?
Hi Jenevieve, thanks a lot for your words. May God bless you and keep you and make His Face shine upon you!
After reading the comments made after your post I thought it would be a great idea to share something I found from another source and I hope you and all the people in need may find it usefull.
I hereby ask your permission to quote this text that I found very helpfull and would love if you kept it posted in order to help other fellow brothers as well.
The text in question is Copyright (C) 1997 – 2013 by Ariel Bar Tzadok and this quote has no intention to brake any rights reserved solely to the author.
I hope it can be a source of light for all our brothers and sisters in our Holy Chist and God.
Getting Prayers Answered
by Ariel Bar Tzadok
Copyright © 2013 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. All rights reserved.
Some prayers are answered, and some are not. Here’s why.
Most people do not understand how to pray properly. It is easy to ask for what we want. It is another thing entirely to receive that which we wish. Optimism is fine, but it does not answer prayers. Also, there is no way to bribe God. Indeed, all that we do to solicit Divine favor may in fact do just the opposite. We cannot expect God to do as we ask, nor can we expect to bend the world to our wishes.
There is, however, a secret to prayer, and those who know this secret, and practice it, are in a much better position to have their prayers answered, than those who know it not. Before, we learn the secret, let us first dispel some fallacies about prayer.
First, God hear the intent (kavanah) within prayer, He does not listen to the words of prayer. Prayer is a matter of the heart. It has nothing to do with eloquent speaking or poetic language. It does not matter what language one prays in. God listens to one’s heart. Only prayers spoken in the language of the heart are heard by God. One can speak whatever words one feels, in whatever language, in whatever way. Sometimes a moan or a cry is all it takes. Prayer is of the heart, and God listens to the heart. So, there is no one language better than another, or one form of ritual prayer better than another.
Second, there is no guarantee that even if God hears one’s prayers that said prayers will be answered the way that one wants. God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways. God knows and decides with a wisdom far beyond human comprehension what to do and how to do it. We may pray with the greatest of devotion and sincerity, and still God may decide to answer only part of a prayer, or none of it at all. We never receive denial letters from the “heavenly post office,” so we never know for sure whether or not our prayers have been heard, or not, or whether they will be answered, or not. All we can do is have faith.
Third, prayer is not fantasy. Prayer is not one’s imagination. Prayer is an actual communication from the inner-most essence of one’s humanity, which is one’s soul and the Source of All, the Universal Mind, which we call God. Prayer is essentially a mind-to-mind communication. Essentially, this makes prayer an actual telepathic form of communication.
When we give up the juvenile image of prayer being some kind of a person-to-person chat between us, here on Earth, and a “friendly God/Father in Heaven,” we can finally come to a more mature and proper understanding of not only what prayer is, but also how it works. With proper insight into how prayer actually works, we significantly increase the chances of our prayers being answered.
We have been taught that at the unconscious level, all humanity shares something like a “hive-mind.” In Kabbalah, this is referred to as all human souls being bound up within the greater “super-soul” of Adam. Essentially, what this means is that at some deep unconscious level, we are all connected with one another. This concept is also reflected in the Talmud.
Being that we are all interconnected at this deep level, each of us have the ability to influence the entire collective. Not only can we project thoughts into the collective hive-mind of greater humanity, we are also subject to projections received from within the greater collective. This is how prayer works.
When we pray, we are asking God for His blessings. Essentially what this means is that we are acting as mental magnets to draw down from “Heaven” positive, Divine energies, and to channel them into the hive-mind human collective.
Once the Divine input has been received into the collective, it is then divided up, and portioned out to wherever it is needed. Essentially, when we pray, and when prayers are answered, it is not at the individual level, but rather at the collective level.
This concept of collective prayer has long been understood within Judaism. This is the underlying reason why public prayers require a quorum (minyan) of ten men. The original intent of this was so that there would be gathered a collective of mental magnets, serving as a singular, greater attractor for the Divine energies. Prayers were formalized into a liturgy so that everyone would be praying for the same things. Essentially, this brings focus of the individual mental magnets onto a greater collective mental image, one that can be more easily focused on, and brought to fruition.
Judaism recognizes the power of collective prayer, even when an individual is by oneself. The ritual prayers are still recited, even in the plural tense. Even an individual, physically separate from others, is nevertheless still part of the greater hive-mind, and is thus connected, regardless of one’s physical location in space.
When one prays, be it with a minyan or alone, either way one is to concentrate on soliciting Divine blessings for the collective as a whole, and not just on oneself individually. This is probably one of the most important rules (and secrets) about prayer.
When one is in need of something, rather than pray for oneself to receive one’s personal portion, one should instead pray that God provide this specific need (whatever that may be) to the collective of all humanity, and then specifically to each and every individual who has that specific need. Rather than pray for one’s own health, one should pray that all be made healthy, and then that one’s self should be included within the general, greater request.
When one projects mental imagery and heart-felt passion into the collective hive-mind, through whatever form of verbal communication that one chooses, one is projecting one’s prayers both out into the collective, and up to the Source of collective humanity, which is God. This is how prayer works. The force of heart, one’s passion, is the force that gives prayer its power to both project and ascend.
Prayer is called a matter of the heart. It is not a function of the mind, nor of speech. Both mind and speech are tools for the heart, not the other way around. Mental imagery becomes real when one’s passion make it real. One’s words become words of power when they are filled with true, heart-felt passion, and intent (kavanah). When the heart projects the imagery above to Heaven, the word (in whatever form) projects the force into the collective hive-mind. Both work in conjunction with the other.
Prayer, essentially is a mechanical process that operates in accordance to its own laws of physics, yet these laws include not only space and time, but human consciousness, as well. When we understand the proper procedures of what to do, and how to do it, then we can rest assured that we are, in actuality, accomplishing something real and tangible. Yet, even with this said, even with our proper projections and intentions of channeling heavenly energies, from above and out into the collective hive-mind, does not mean that each and every prayer that we pray will be answered that the way we want it to be.
Prayers expose and express needs. Needs are, more often than not, fulfilled. Desires, however are not needs. Desires may or may not be fulfilled, and usually not. There is a big difference between the needs of the many, and the needs of the few, or the one. Needs cry out from the heart, and are thus heard in Heaven. As for mere desires, even the desires of the many, all the more so of the few, or even the one, usually arise from a place of self-interest, as opposed to a place of heart-felt need.
Heaven hears the prayers of the heart, and not necessarily the wants of those crying “gimme-gimme.” There is a big difference between prayers of need, and prayers of “gimme-gimme.” Heaven clearly recognizes the difference between the two. The two are as different as opposite colors. While we fool ourselves, and lie to ourselves all the time, Heaven sees the truth.
Let’s sum up. Prayer is a telepathic projection of heart-felt thought from the mind of the individual into the collective hive-mind of humanity. From here, these powerful projections rise to the top of the hive-mind, and from there ascend through various different realms until that energy reaches what we call God.
God, in turn, responds and inject a new infusion of energy into collective humanity, which is then broken down into individual pieces, with individual bits of energy going to those places that called for it the strongest, are the most open to receive it, and who have the greatest need for it.
Prayer is energy. It is the energy of the human heart, projected through the human mind (imagery) and the human word (sound/voice projections). When we understand this actual nature of prayer, maybe it will help us to focus in on it all the better.
Having prayers answered is not a game of chance. Having prayers answered can be as basic a need as is food, water, and air. When we eat right we maintain health. When we pray properly we maintain spiritual/mental/psychological health. With this internal balance, one can discover all the doorways that one needs to pass through in order to achieve all the other needs that one sincerely prays for. This is the secret of prayer.
Surrender to the whole, and give all over to God. Cry out with true anguish and sincere desire, and God will not withhold good from those who walk before Him in this simplicity.
Im have a lot of problem im need miracle in my life
Fuck your interpretation of his word.He knows what I do before me yet judges me? If God exists then he’s a fucking asshole who could give 2 shits about us. Sounds more like a kid with pet he torments. He will NOT do a fucking thing for you, lf its not in his agenda. Been praying over 20 years and yet to be heard. Say its my choices? But those choices were pre determined so I don’t have a choice. Still think it’s me? Read the bible you fucking ass hat. He knows me and my choices millions of years before I’m here so how is it free will when the programs been written. Let’s face it. Some of us are fucked because the”man” upstairs is notching more than a little fucking bitch who fuckd with us from day 1 until death. I never asked to be born, yet he can’t stop having a blast fucking me over. So, if you’re a “believer”, good luck. The only prayer you’ll get answered is if you ask him to say or do nothing. God is no better than a black father. Abandons you from the get go then might poke his head in to give you hope, then bend you over with no lube and definitely not a reach around. Keep believing, fucking idiots. What proof do you have he does a fucking thing? Coincidence is more likely. To ask a people to have faith in something that shows not a damn thing in proof is like asking to ask someone to believe in the US government. The bible was written by man, which we all know are full of shit. So, if God is what you put your faith in, then I’ve got some muffler bearings and a left handed pair of scissors for you. Fucking idiots and religion. Nothing happens when you die and if it does and God exists, then you’re better off giving Satan a holla.at least he doesn’t lie about how he’s going to fuck you
Wow! Sending you a BIG virtual hug. Im not even bringing up religion or GOD here, to each their own. It is definitely our mind set that drives our life. People always ask me why Im so happy, its a choice. My life is far from perfect (open heart surgery at 5, a scar down my sexy chest since then (and Im a girl), lots of loss in life and now “unexplained” infertility for almost 5 years), yet I choose to be happy and look at the good things in life. You can choose to not be full of hate. Love truly does conquer all, the most important love is self love. Once you truly love yourself, your life will change. I promise.
I hate to break it to you but my black parents were married for over 50 yrs and my father was extremely involved in our lives and his grand children’s lives. His passing has been a great loss to our entire family. We’re all still heartbroken.
I enjoyed reading this even though I kind of already figured what you were going to say . It’s hard to keep Faith at times when you are constantly praying and crying out asking God for the answers and directions on where he wants you to go its very frustrating and overwhelming constantly trying to figure out God’s will for your life when nothing seems to go right and you get no answers.I’m still praying and hoping that God speaks to me soon I’ve done all I can to draw near to him hope rescues me one day my life is a mess
Ive had to learn that when we feel like we arent getting answers, its usually because God said no. His “no” tends not to be an obvious one..He doesnt speak it out loud to us. But after a very long time, you have to assume it and accept it. In the case of the blogger, she can keep praying but God may have said NO long ago.
The issue you’re having / praying for is your husband’s dick isn’t working right?
Great post Vieve! Practical yet packed with wisdom. Walking through a difficult season can be so frustrating. I’m praying for you!
Kristy, thanks for reading. And thanks for praying. I so appreciate it!
You gave out fantastic points but one thing we sometimes forget is that prayer is a dialogue not a monologue. We must come to the point of conversing with our Father which is a two-way conservation. We must learn to hear HIm speak back to us.I believe He always answers and also He will let us know why sometimes He delays in answering our prayers and later on gives us a better understanding of the situation. God Bless.
Blessed Beyond Description, yes, I agree with you that sometimes we find out later why our life went a certain way. I also believe there are some reasons for our life paths that God will not reveal until we meet him. I also agree that prayer is a conversation. I love the sweet revelations my Father gives me during prayer and through reading the Bible. Thanks for reading and responding.
Yes, Blessed Beyond Description. I learned that the hard way after two miscarriages when I asked God honestly, why do I even pray? His answer took me on a beautiful journey of realizing what prayer is meant to be….communion with him. But I love these thoughts from Jenevieve on how to handle the wait when you don’t hear him or feel he has yet answered a request. Great post!
Jessica W, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am always inspired by people like you who keep pressing into God even when things go wrong (two miscarriages). In the Bible, David often questioned God and asked God to come quickly to his rescue, but he also always deeply trusted the Lord. Waiting for an answer can be hard, but God is always with us–even in the silence. Remembering this helps me to trust him.
I loved reading this thanks Vieve for the post, this definately ministers to me and a situation that I sometimes feel is hopeless! But my trust is not in my feelings, my trust is in God. And I completely trust Him, but honestly I do not think I have been a very good witness in this time of my life. But reading this has inspired me.
Cinnamon, thank you for reading. It is hard to trust God during difficult seasons, but when we do so it pleases him (Hebrews 11:6) and can witness/minister to those around us. I am glad you are inspired. His mercies are new every morning.