If God doesn't care what I want, why should I care what he wants?

NothingIsImpossible said:

So you essentially want what Adam and Eve had before the fall? That sort of lie is impossible.

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This comment is very surprising...given your username. And Happy bday to you!

Cyprezz said:

I know it probably doesn't feel like it helps at all, but I used to be in a similar position where I thought nothing was going my way. I ended up moving states (in AUS, so a VERY far way away from home) and got a job; experienced new things and new people. And with those new people came problems and issues I've never had to deal with.

Earlier in the year I was sick for about a month and a half, straight, where I couldn't work (lest I take the whole office down with me, haha) and I thought that the world must hate me because I was out of action for a bit. At the same time, a coworker's 8 year old nephew was stuck in a remote village in the Phillipines with a rare form of cancer and the family had no money for treatments. What was happening to me was absolutely NOTHING in comparison to that poor child and the family.

You never know what worse luck your "bad luck" could have been.

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Yes you are correct.....Telling someone "I know you are going through something, but look at someone who is going through something worse to feel better about yourself" Doesnt help...especially when the advice comes from without and not within.

RaymondG said:

Yes you are correct.....Telling someone "I know you are going through something, but look at someone who is going through something worse to feel better about yourself" Doesnt help...especially when the advice comes from without and not within.

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Doesn't mean it's not true; reality bites.`
Bad things happen; you can either wallow in pity; or stand up and shout at the world "IS THAT ALL YOU GOT. IM BETTER THAN THIS!"

You're right that just because someone has it worse doesn't mean your problems don't matter. They do; but getting to a point where you think yours are so terrible and it's the last straw calls for gratification intervention aha.

Grass is always greener..

@OP, bad things are going to happen in this life, that's just a fact.
If you want to break past that fact and start enjoying life as it is, try recognising even the small things that you think are nice. Be aware that you like the way the moon looks tonight; or how the stars are brighter than usual. Acknowledge the slight breeze wafting through the trees on a hot day.

The one thing I'll always be greatful for is the airconditioning at work

Cyprezz said:

Doesn't mean it's not true; reality bites.

Bad things happen; you can either wallow in pity; or stand up and shout at the world "IS THAT ALL YOU GOT. IM BETTER THAN THIS!"

Grass is always greener..

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It isnt true, for me. I am never lead to look at the misfortunes of others to make myself feel better. But if that works for you, I see no fault in your continuing this practice. I would advise others, however, to find your joy and source of happiness from within......the temple in which God dwells.

Cyprezz said:

I know it probably doesn't feel like it helps at all, but I used to be in a similar position where I thought nothing was going my way. I ended up moving states (in AUS, so a VERY far way away from home) and got a job; experienced new things and new people. And with those new people came problems and issues I've never had to deal with.

Earlier in the year I was sick for about a month and a half, straight, where I couldn't work (lest I take the whole office down with me, haha) and I thought that the world must hate me because I was out of action for a bit. At the same time, a coworker's 8 year old nephew was stuck in a remote village in the Phillipines with a rare form of cancer and the family had no money for treatments. What was happening to me was absolutely NOTHING in comparison to that poor child and the family.

You never know what worse luck your "bad luck" could have been.

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Your post reminds me of this old Hee Haw clip.

RaymondG said:

It isnt true, for me. I am never lead to look at the misfortunes of others to make myself feel better.

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If that's how you want to understand the post, that's fine.

RaymondG said:

This comment is very surprising...given your username. And Happy bday to you!

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Oops. I meant to say life, not lie.

NothingIsImpossible said:

Oops. I meant to say life, not lie.

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If was the stating that :something was impossible, when your name is "NothingIsImpossible" that surprised me.

bekkilyn said:

Your post reminds me of this old Hee Haw clip.

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That was awesome! Use to watch that with my grandma, brought back good memories.

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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Oh, I know, I go through it every day. Its difficult, but that you come this far is a blessing. That you express this. Honest with yourself and know yourself better, releasing your feelings.
I have struggled with this many times also, it is difficult to become clear why he would even let his Saints be killed. They were so kind and Holy, always caring for the souls of others.

The most difficult one I found to overcome was when others said to me "if God was so....then why does he let...."

It became clear when I found this writing by a Saint. It was wonderful.
Here it is. Why Do Good People Suffer & Why Does God Let His Prophets Suffer.

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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God the Father is molding us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. In the process, we have to learn self denial because Jesus taught us to take up our cross and follow Him, daily. Satan also comes into the mix to turn us against God. We have to learn to discern his lies by studying the word of God. There are also many trials and tests. Jesus promised that in this world we would have tribulation, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. The promise isn't the avoidance of suffering but the presence of Emmanuel, God with us, in our lives to lead us through the trial and be healed of what is holding us back.

Might it be that Questioning Brother is baiting those replying?

the old scribe said:

Might it be that Questioning Brother is baiting those replying?

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He sure is being vague and not making it about any one thing, just a general "God gives me nothing I want".

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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It's a good point. He's selfish and doesn't really care about us. Don't know if he's all good, because if he was then evil couldn't exist, nor would he allow any evil or harm to come to us. Even if he doesn't send all bad things our way, he allows them to happen so that we will come to him. Well, not me. Heaven and hell are the same places as far as I'm concerned, and life is only meaningless because he doesn't care about our happiness.

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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I don't know about you, but hell for eternity would seems to me like a pretty good reason to care what G-d wants. But if pain and suffering for eternity is worth ignoring G-d now.... ok knock yourself out. Wouldn't suggest that, but your choice.

As for this idea that he's holding back what you want, and shoving what you don't want down your throat....

G-d does not shove stuff down your throat. I don't know who told you that, but here's the truth. This world is screwed up. Bad stuff happens. That's life. Bad stuff happens to people all over this messed up world.

Lastly, as for G-d not giving you what you want... maybe you missed the entire point of the Christian life. The whole point is, we owe G-d for our lives. He's doesn't owe us anything. So if you somehow got this idea that being a Christian means you go around asking for stuff, and G-d is going to grant your wishes like this is Aladdin, sorry to say but that isn't how it works.

You are owed nothing. Nothing. No one owes you anything.

Deven Powers said:

It's a good point. He's selfish and doesn't really care about us. Don't know if he's all good, because if he was then evil couldn't exist, nor would he allow any evil or harm to come to us. Even if he doesn't send all bad things our way, he allows them to happen so that we will come to him. Well, not me. Heaven and hell are the same places as far as I'm concerned, and life is only meaningless because he doesn't care about our happiness.

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Have you ever heard of a false idol? An idol is an imaginary God that we put in place of the true God. This God that we create in our own minds is tailored to what we feel or understand God should be. The hard truth is, God is who He is and your belief in your idol isn't going to change that.

I'll give you an example from your post. You have stated that God doesn't really care about us but the scripture teaches us that God is love (1 John 4:8). God is not required to prove His love but He did by sending His only begotten Son to pay the penalty for our sins, which He paid in full on the cross. (John 3:16) So you are saying God doesn't care when the truth is that God is love and He proved it by sending His Son to die for us on the cross. This is the difference between a false idol and the true God. Your trouble isn't finding God, it is believing in a false idol that has no reality and can't save you. In the day of your trouble when you call out to this idol it won't answer you. If you call upon the name of Jesus Christ to save you, God will save you. (Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21) Believe that He died for your sins, and was resurrected to life on the third day after He was crucified. Pray and ask Him to forgive your sins and give you eternal life. Receive Him as the risen Lord of all creation and live to bring Him glory. He will bring you revelation when you honestly seek His face.

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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Same here. But I come to think that the greatest virtue God expectes from us is submission to Him. And this was what God's people have done.
If it were for what they asked, God was not good for Abraham, Jacob or other God's men and women (because they were struggling to get what is normal for other men, like son...).
May be God does not think "small" like us, and His main plan is making us ready for the spiritual world.

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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God does care about what you want. That doesn't necessarily mean God's going to give it to you. It could be that you're asking for things God knows would harm your pilgrim journey.

God does give you God's Spirit, God's best gift, the gift which includes other spiritual gifts. God wants you to pray, and God intends to give you the spiritual gifts which you've need of without condition.

God insists upon being asked, lest the gifts lose their value in your eyes, and lest you become careless about working out your salvation with fear. God doesn't force God's gifts upon you.

Job 13:15 Though He slay me, yet I will wait for and trust Him

Questioning Brother said:

Seriously, if he is going to hold back everything I ask him for, and shove down my throat EVERY SINGLE THING I beg him to keep out of my life, why should I care what he wants?

I don't care what the pain is for anymore. If it is for his glory, can't he take care of that himself without hurting me in the process? If it is to reach others, I don't care. If it is to show his power, again can't he do that without hurting me? He is omnipotent.

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God cares more than we'll over know. It just seems like he doesn't because he wants faith. He wants us to choose to believe and act in his ways. We all have different kinds of pain but this life is temporary and life with him is forever. Hang onto that.