Does God Really Protect His Innocent Sheep?

JerushaC said:

I didn't know exactly where to post this because there are so many topics, so I'm sorry if this is the wrong place. It's also been awhile since I have been here.

Really need some help right now... My friend has gone through some serious sexual abuse for a couple years. She was young and innocent. She said she trusted God fully before then, but when she asked God to help her, he didn't. No one entered the room to stop what was happening. She says she felt like "God just sat by while she was pinned to her bed.. almost everyday." I have no idea what to tell her. Why would God let this happen?

I've been through some similar things as well (but not near as serious as her situation). Been totally broken, but I firmly believe God healed me. But I can't show her that hope. She says she is tired of hearing people say just trust God, because she feels like God left her. As much as I hate it.. I see some truth in what she is saying.

Also.. This verse is thrown around so much.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

People translate temptation to mean trails as well. But why do some kids get terribly abused as a child and then they grow up into twisted people. There problems are obviously far too much too much for them. That's why people kill themselves, and lose all sense of morality.

My friend likes to talk about how she's heard all these stories about people who were rescued because they prayed, and she wonders why that didn't happen to her. I really want to give this friend hope, but I am currently struggling to find that very hope myself.
Thank you for reading.

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Everything happens for a reason, and a purpose. Even the terrible things have a purpose. We are not living this life to feel constant joy, we are living this life to experience terrible things, to suffer, to know sorrow and loss. We are being exercised: Ecclesiastes 1:13. The working of God are so intricate and sublime that we cannot yet understand what He is doing. But everything that happens to one, happens to all: everyone around us is impacted by what happens to us, and what happens to each other: it ripples outward through us, changing us, in ways we do not even begin to fathom. But both the good and the bad, the joy and the pain, the peace and the calamity, are being created by God: Isaiah 45:7, and it is no one's fault; it is the will of God: Daniel 4:35

All of this is being done to bring the creation into perfect love and harmony among all the members. The story you tell is hard to hear (as are any terrible stories) but they must be heard so that they affect us. It causes compassion to be exercised, without suffering, where would we acquire compassion? It strengthens, and builds, and forms. We must know loss so that we will fully value the things we are to be given: how can we value anything without first not having that thing? We must know these griefs in order to understand our joy when it is given; in order to truly value the good we are to be given, we must first know the sorrow we are given.

It does seem grievous (and it is for the present) but our lives are quick, and vanish before we know it, as James wrote: James 4:14. In the end, when all is brought into the age to come; all of what transpired here will be like a dream. When you're having a bad dream, it is bad; but when you wake from that dream, it quickly fades away, and is perceived but yet, not given proper remembrance: Revelation 21:4, Job 20:8, Isaiah 29:7. So it will be with this life. It will not be until the end that we fully understand how important every person was, and how important every event was in bringing the whole of creation into a state of eternal perfection in love; then we will enjoy the things we are to be given; and value them - but first we are given to trial and tribulation through which God will bring us all into refinement. Psalms 37:11

JerushaC said:

Why would God let this happen?

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I'm not sure if you have read the bible, but if you have you would know it took 400 years to send Moses to liberate the Jews.

If God should intervene all the time, then no war would happen, then we wouldn't need police or hospitals.

What you think of God, that he is a slave that should attend our minute needs all the time, 24/7.

You know.. this is something that haunts so many. I just heard on a Christian radio station how they were talking about how its ok to be mad at God. One said..for taking his mom. I understand this but its not God or His word. One time I asked Him.. why dont you just make all people saved? WOW.. HE did not like that. He said.. and small note.. I DONT hear like this from Him.. I PRAY WISH HOPE I did. This one thought ..I spoke really got His focus.

He said "dont ever say that again". I dont know how to explain it ..but some know.. when He talks..you just KNOW things. Well I knew it was going against their free will and He will never do say thing this. Nor should His children.

See God in the OT was about to judge a nation. Yet He looked for just one to stand in the gab so He would not have to. There are SO many ..tons of reasons why we PRAY. God can not will not go against mans free will. If we PRAY and have the right.. in so many things..He can. Take Peter in Jail. Did GOD just come down and (with a angel) and set him free? No.. they were? PRAYING for him. And not just one prayer and move on. They stayed in prayer for as long as it takes. WE do not.. we dont pay the price. Our family our jobs our friends come 1st. Hey.. I am in that also.

I know of what I speak. See I heard how God has called you before you were born. Awesome right? In the word. But what about me? Well my mom as not married when she got pregnant, and that man? He was already married. So GOD called me? So God let this happen? One can really get lost here. Then.. my step dad.. and just one tiny part.. didnt just spank me.. no.. He used a board. So.. GOD didnt care one could ask? Strange.. I never got stuck there..I dont know why. There is so much more to this..

See my mom.. my dad (step dad) were free. They had the right to do to say anything. And God can not will not interfere. He cant unless we PRAY. It has to be.. well to make this simple.. has to be legal. It has to be in the right. Each one of us are free.. to a degree. IN this world this bubble of time.. we are free yet not. There are laws in effect.. sorry.. going to deep

Some of us know the pain so well. I see I truly with all my heart understand..yet GOD did not just stand back and do nothing.

So dont wait till you hear about something. This happens every moment... are you praying NOW for those in prison in chains.. in places we wont think of speak of? Are we praying for those children being treated like..words we can not speak of? Or the mother being treated by her husband or wife treating her kids..or for our new Prez for wisdom and protection as is written?

SOOOOO MANY do not understand just WHO they are and WHOS they are nor WHO there FATHER IS! PRAYER.. WHY do you think its written to pray ALL TIMES in ALL THINGS? God sent the angel to Daniel? The moment he prayed.. YOUR PRAYER really starts something does something. Pray the WORD.. KNOW He hears you..dont go by what people man says but what is WRITTEN!

And the WORD of GOD can not return to GOD void. When we pray what GOD says.. IT HAS TO HAPPEN. What you think John 3:16 is one of the only few that are true?

After this life...everything that is was done of evil is NOT ever remembered or in them. Meaning.. He makes it as if it never ever happen to them. No evil no sin can enter heaven. So loved ones.. Children.. haha are so blessed so happy.. But.. man PRAY in this life...you have a FATHER that is GOD..and dont believe me.. ask HIM read HIS word. HE IS REAL. If I offeneded. Please forgive me. I am not right only HE is. I am 55.. I still wish pray the thoughts the memories ...were washed vanished to many times it seems like it just happen yesterday. But my GOD is faithful.. HE has never forgotten nor forsaken His.. So no matter what it looks like feels think seems like hears like.. I will not bow.. I stand on HIS word.. FAITH

JerushaC said:

Never did I say God is my slave. Also I have read through my Bible a number of times, I recall verses referring God to a "heavenly father" and so much more. In my friends prays she was not screaming for new toys, She was praying for deliverance from this really bad situation. I think that is fair to ask. The Bible says to call upon the Lord. You are saying that it is wrong to do so by that last statement.

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No, of course you didn't say that, no sane person would ever say any such thing. But indirectly our behaviour and attitude may reduce God to a slave, that many expect instant intervention or least a direct measure of help for loyalty and faith, but that's not how it works.

I'm not saying it's wrong to call upon the Lord, but don't expect the Lord to sit idle and wait to help when people ask.