Am i wasting my time believing in a benign God?

Question

I've been a Christian for over 20 years,I've had some really difficult times in that time,more recently I'd guess over the last 5 years have been extremely difficult and trying.
I'm really,REALLY struggling with whatever little faith i have.
I've prayed...and prayed...and prayed...and prayed...begged...pleaded...screamed...shouted...yelled and cursed at God.
Guess what ? It all stays the same.
I hate the "It's Gods plan" that people say,it's c.rap.
I have an analogy i have been using for that.I suggest that if someone was critically ill or dying and through medical science and treatment they are cured or healed...then it's Gods miracle.If they die then it's Gods plan.What if it was neither.And it was just fate.
Anyway,i digress,i am really struggling.There are no answer to my prayers.Nothing.
So,to my original question,am i wasting my time on a benign God ?

Answer 1

Benign, yes. (Indeed far more than that)

But also a God who suffers with the suffering of His children

There is pain in the heart of the Eternal.

You are in my prayers,,,,feel free to make contact, if it would help

Answer 2

The mystery's of faith an GOD are beyond human comprehension.

Faith concerns questions which cannot be settled by evidence.



How can the universe create itself out of nothingness? Given the fact that the universe began to exist, it must have had a “cause” that originated it.Doesn't it make more sense to assume the existence of a Creation. The question is tricky because it sneaks in the false assumption that GOD came from somewhere and then asks where that might be. The answer is that the question does not even make sense. It is like asking, “What does blue smell like?” Blue is not in the category of things that have a smell, so the question itself is flawed. In the same way, GOD is not in the category of things that are created or caused. GOD is uncaused and uncreated—He simply exists.

We know that from nothing, nothing comes. So, if there were ever a time when there was absolutely nothing in existence, then nothing would have ever come into existence. But things do exist. Therefore, since there could never have been absolutely nothing, something had to have always been in existence. That ever-existing being is what we call GOD ,GOD is the un-caused Being that caused everything else to come into existence. God is the uncreated Creator who created the universe and everything in it.



The universe requires a cause because it had a beginning, GOD unlike the universe, had no beginning, so he doesn’t need a cause. Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which has much experimental support, shows that time is linked to matter and space. So time itself would have begun along with matter and space. Since GOD is the creator of the whole universe, he is the creator of time. Therefore He is not limited by the time dimension He created..@





Life without GOD is like an un- sharpened pencil it has no point..

You can't see the wind, but you know it is there because you can see what the wind is doing. You can know that the wind is there because you can feel it.GOD is like the wind, you can't see him.

Answer 3

Yes. The Creator - who is neither "benign" nor "malignant" - MUST have formulated the Laws of Physics/Nature BEFORE the creation of the Universe, otherwise its components would not have behaved as they did, and continue to do. Now, ANY intervention in the actions and interactions of those Laws would cause chaos, and so the Creator CANNOT do this. Which means that prayers to him to do so are pointless - and there are NO "miracles". nor any "plan". the process has been set in motion under the Laws, and will continue according to them.

The undoubted existence of the Universe (perhaps just one of many ? ) is the "proof" of the existence of a Creator, just as the existence of a pot requires the existence of a potter, but beyond that fact of existence, nothing can be "known" about that Creator - all the attributes given to "God" by" Religion" are simple "wishful thinking" by Man, and there is no evidence to justify any of them.

However, the fact that Man is so infinitely different from, and superior to, all other life-forms, makes it reasonable to assume that we are a "special creation", and then that there must have been a reason for that creation. All the evidence suggests that we have been given the special abilities - Reason, Memory, Communication etc. and the necessary "Free Will" to use those abilities ( we can over-ride our "natural instincts") - so that we can discover, understand, and live within those Laws, so that we can "go it alone", without any further "Divine Guidance"or "Intervention". THAT, if anything, would appear to be "God's Plan", and one which has no pre-determined features, so we should just "get on with it" to the best of our VERY great abilities.

And forget about all the Man-made "religious" nonsense !

Answer 4

I wonder whether your struggles and emptiness are God's way of showing that you are not quiet on the right path yet? Is he keeping you dissatisfied so that you realise that there is something missing from your religion?



Although I do not know, I guess from what you have written that you probably belong to one of the Protestant churches. If so, then what you are missing is probably the eucharist (holy communion). Most Protestants overlook this, or seriously downplay it, not realising that it is a fundamental part of Christianity. If you do not partake in the Body and Blood of Christ (1 Cor 10:16), fulfilling the command 'Do this in remembrance of me' (Luke 22:19-20), then you will have 'no life within you' (John 6:53).



If you are not very familar with what the eucharist is, then I would suggest that you read a bit about it. And, even if it feels awkward, I would suggest that you try going into a Catholic church to sit and pray there. In every Catholic church, there is a tabernacle near the altar, where the eucharist - the Body of Christ himself - is reserved. For this reason every Church church is a dwelling place of God - a holy place where he may be met in prayer.

Answer 5

No, you are not wasting your time. God does not promise all roses and tells us we will have tribulation. And it is Christ's work and our faith in Him that carries us through no matter what. Love, faith and hope sees us through thick and thin, good and bad, sickness and health, etc. --- to the very end. World culture and watered down messages , and also incorrect prosperity and pre-tribulation rapture doctrines have blinded believers to the truth that bad things can happen and made them expect only good and be ill-prepared to handle adversity with our faith. Now is not the time to weaken your faith, but strengthen it with the patience, perseverance, character, and endurance it produces. Remember we often do not know who we are or what we are really made of until we are faced with issues. Please hold on and dig deep into your faith and Christ; you are being refined to reap the eternal promises.



Praying for you,

Berean

Answer 6

I agree, its improper to conclude that things we go through is in "God's plan". Why- because Ecclesiastes 9:11 tell us that unforeseen occurrences befall us all. Also, James 1:13 instructs us that we can't blame God for bad things that happen to us because God does not cause bad things in our life.

But to your question, keep in mind that prayer also requires faith and us working in harmony with our prayers. For ex, if we pray to keep us away from temptation, but we are still associating with people who influence us to do wrong, then we are not working in harmony with our prayer. And sometimes, we may find it hard to pray in the right way. Here is an article that may give you insight on how to pray so that you can be heard:

www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g200811/improve-my-prayers/

Answer 7

Jesus never promised his followers an easy life:



Jn 16:33 . . .In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. . .21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.



What he has promised is:

Romans 8:28, 31 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. . . If God be for us, who can be against us?. . .35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . .37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Like a loving parent, God sometimes lets us face obstacles and trials that he knows will build our character. He also sometimes lets us face the consequences of our actions. However, he never leaves us nor does he stop loving us.



If you want to have an easy life and get anything you ask for Christianity isn't the way. If you want to know the God of the universe on a personal level and become a stronger, healthier and happier person, Christianity is the way to go.

Answer 8

It's not about you! It's all about Christ. Answer this question and you'll have your answer: when is the last time you set time aside to just sit in his presence, not asking for anything? When have you last REALLY read your Bible and genuinely prayed just to talk to him? Lots of people create a god in their imaginations of how he "should" be, but due to ignorance and lack of Bible study they know nothing of the one True God's personality. The gospel: we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, who died for us, taking our punishment. All who believe IN THEIR HEARTS (it's a comittment) that God raised him from the dead and will confess with their mouths "Jesus is Lord" will we saved. All who call upon is name for salvation will be saved. He talks to you trough his word, some times using what is called the "illuminating work of the Holy Spirit". Read Romans and Paul's books. Surrender it all.

Answer 9

This isn't the site to get spiritual advice, let me assure you. You'll see what I mean shortly, based on the responses your going to receive. If you want to contact me, feel free. If your goal is to be led away from God by those who openly reject His very existence, you've come to the right place.

Answer 10

Walk the talk!!

Go for a charity or volunteer work and talk to poor people. You will see Christ in their faces.

Answer 11

No. God can seem next to impossible to find. But there is truth in seek and you will find. Perseverance

Answer 12

This is exactly why I am an atheist: praying to a god gives exactly the same results as praying to a brick wall. - What does that tell you?

Answer 13

Yes you're wasting your time.

Prayer also does not work.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/herbert-catherine-schaible_n_3138001.html

Answer 14

If you focus on this life and this life only. Yeah, you're wasting your time.



http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficacy_of_prayer

Answer 15

your pleading will do you no good with satan. he is the one troubling you not jesus. john 10.10. acts 10.38. sidroth.org