I'm Frustrated - Prayers aren't being answered. I don't understand

[sk8brdkd]

Per my spiritual pilgrimage, there has been a lot that has happened that I don't understand and no matter how much I press in and try, things still never make sense.

For the past 4 years, I have been praying specifically for understanding in 2 areas and to me, it is Extremely vital that he provides me with this understanding, otherwise, I'll never pass. An analogy I've used to explain this to others is this: In school, I struggled with math. Without having a clear understanding of algebra or geometry, I would never pass those subjects. Same thing for me spiritually. If God never provides the understanding I so desperately need, I'm never going to be able to grasp the concept of faithfulness, so, why is he withholding that from me? I've been asking if I need to ask a different way or maybe I need to do or try something else, but, met with silence

I've also been praying continuously for friendships, for a good job or career that would suit me best. For an opportunity to move out, for a possible dating relationship too since I'm getting older and for help for 2 different things for my body. None of that is being answered. They say God is a good father. What am I supposed to think or do when nothing is being answered and I'm really struggling spiritually and God is just laying low. It's so difficult. I just don't know what to do anymore. I've put my best foot forward. I've pressed in, spent hours in prayer and yet receiving full silence in return. I'm at my wits end with all this. Idk what more to do.

 

[Saucy]

God works in His own ways at His own time. I once had a pastor say once (jokingly, but it was still true) that the one thing you should never ask God for is patience. In reality, part of the process is trusting God to know what is best for you. Many Christians treat God like He's a genie and expects answers to their prayers immediately. Instead, think of Him like a good Father who wants to provide for His kids at the right time when they're ready.

Sometimes His answer is yes.
Sometimes He says no and we must accept that.
Sometimes He says, "not right now."

When Paul asked God to help him with a throne in the flesh, God's response was, "My grace is sufficient for you." Learn to accept "no" for an answer and press forward.

 

[pdudgeon]

The concept of faithfulness is tied to three things:
1. Love for others ( or other things)
2. Self sacrifice.
3. Endurance.
In life you will always find things or people that will distract you from being faithful to what or to whom you have chosen. ("The grass is always greener, etc.")
And when that happens you must remember your original reasons for making the choice that you did.
If the reasons were good ones, all that is needed is clarity of thought, and confirmation that the path you have chosen will reep the expected rewards.
Self sacrifice comes into play when the rewards are delayed.
So again, focus on your choice.
And lastly comes endurance.
And guess what! Once again, focusing on the reward is what is necessary to succeed.

 

[Macchiato]

Per my spiritual pilgrimage, there has been a lot that has happened that I don't understand and no matter how much I press in and try, things still never make sense.

For the past 4 years, I have been praying specifically for understanding in 2 areas and to me, it is Extremely vital that he provides me with this understanding, otherwise, I'll never pass. An analogy I've used to explain this to others is this: In school, I struggled with math. Without having a clear understanding of algebra or geometry, I would never pass those subjects. Same thing for me spiritually. If God never provides the understanding I so desperately need, I'm never going to be able to grasp the concept of faithfulness, so, why is he withholding that from me? I've been asking if I need to ask a different way or maybe I need to do or try something else, but, met with silence

I've also been praying continuously for friendships, for a good job or career that would suit me best. For an opportunity to move out, for a possible dating relationship too since I'm getting older and for help for 2 different things for my body. None of that is being answered. They say God is a good father. What am I supposed to think or do when nothing is being answered and I'm really struggling spiritually and God is just laying low. It's so difficult. I just don't know what to do anymore. I've put my best foot forward. I've pressed in, spent hours in prayer and yet receiving full silence in return. I'm at my wits end with all this. Idk what more to do.

I've prayed for similar I'm in the same boat with you. I have no idea.

 

[Macchiato]

God works in His own ways at His own time. I once had a pastor say once (jokingly, but it was still true) that the one thing you should never ask God for is patience. In reality, part of the process is trusting God to know what is best for you. Many Christians treat God like He's a genie and expects answers to their prayers immediately. Instead, think of Him like a good Father who wants to provide for His kids at the right time when they're ready.

Sometimes His answer is yes.
Sometimes He says no and we must accept that.
Sometimes He says, "not right now."

When Paul asked God to help him with a throne in the flesh, God's response was, "My grace is sufficient for you." Learn to accept "no" for an answer and press forward.

This is a great answer.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

When I read the subject line before clicking, the following passage came back to remembrance.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3)

Hope that helps.

God bless.

 

[Brad D.]

Christ had but one prayer for His own life. " Not my will Father, but yours be done." His Father then filled Him with that He really ought to pray and the things He really ought to do. " I do nothing, nothing out of my own initiative." I think when we come to Him with an attitude like that everything begins to change within.

 

[sk8brdkd]

When I read the subject line before clicking, the following passage came back to remembrance.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3)

Hope that helps.

God bless.

Hmm. Very interesting. However.. I don't feel like I have wrong motives. For the past 4 years, I completely avoided movies and videogames bc I felt that those would be my downfall, so, in order to stay on the straight and narrow, I didn't do those things. But, continued praying in the same way. I'm not sure of how to ask in any other way. I've even repented for some stuff. Trying to figure out what I can do to obtain a true understanding

 

[sk8brdkd]

When I read the subject line before clicking, the following passage came back to remembrance.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3)

Hope that helps.

God bless.

1 other thing. This is part of my prayers each morning. I always pray, please give me the strength to go on, the power to go on, the perseverance, discipline, motivation, determination, encouragement and please give me the understanding of how to do this.

 

[InThePottersChamber]

I believe you should live each day joyfully, and with trust and faith in God. That you're so worried about this shows that you are under spiritual attack. If you aren't under spiritual attack you wouldn't obsess over this. God will provide, your job is to live each day believing he will. Secondly, I'd also like to add, you say you can't find good friends, what are you doing or not doing that is driving people away from you?

If you can't attract friends I'd recommend putting yourself out there. Join a club or a class, and talk to people there. You should read books on how to make friends and win people over, life isn't about 'being yourself'. If you being yourself is 100% only talking about yourself and trying to impress people, no one will want to be your friend. You're not a celebrity who needs to be warm and take reign of the situation. A lot of normal people like you and me, we have to shut up and listen to others, and talk about what they are interested in, before the opposite happens. That's how you win friends. I used to be in a similar boat with you, then when I changed myself and improved my social skills I automatically had many friends. And let me tell you, it's not all sunshine and roses. Some people pretend to be your friend but are secretly jealous or vindictive, some people can be downright evil. Almost every crime of murder, rape, theft, happened to people by people who were close to them, who were supposedly their friends. Think about that. God may be protecting you.

The same should be applied to other areas of your life. Don't pray and expect something to happen. Do things, learn things, take steps that will help you get what you want in life. God is not a genie, He will lead you to what you need to do, I believe he wanted me to write this post for you, but you have to take actions. If you just pray and do nothing to help yourself, it's like a schizophrenic who does everything the voices in their head tells them to, believing without questioning that it is God who speaks to them.

Good luck and God bless, I really hope you will ask God to take away this spiritual oppression you are facing

 

[turkle]

God never provides the understanding I so desperately need, I'm never going to be able to grasp the concept of faithfulness, so, why is he withholding that from me?

I think you are putting the cart before the horse. You don't need understanding to have faithfulness. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Jesus called it childlike faith. Instead of seeking understanding, you need to trust and obey. Faith grows when you put feet to your faith. Trust that He's got your best interests at heart, even though you don't understand. Obey what He tells you. Surrender your will to His (which is the opposite of demanding some kind of understanding or revelation) and trust that He will reveal what you need when the time is right.

It's natural to want to beg and plead for what we specifically want. But as long as you continue to make demands of Him, you can't hear Him when He's actually saying something. Real maturity in the faith comes when you lay down your demands and just trust Him. That brings peace (not for a moment or a week, but REAL peace), and then you are ready to hear what He has to say.

 

[eleos1954]

Per my spiritual pilgrimage, there has been a lot that has happened that I don't understand and no matter how much I press in and try, things still never make sense.

For the past 4 years, I have been praying specifically for understanding in 2 areas and to me, it is Extremely vital that he provides me with this understanding, otherwise, I'll never pass. An analogy I've used to explain this to others is this: In school, I struggled with math. Without having a clear understanding of algebra or geometry, I would never pass those subjects. Same thing for me spiritually. If God never provides the understanding I so desperately need, I'm never going to be able to grasp the concept of faithfulness, so, why is he withholding that from me? I've been asking if I need to ask a different way or maybe I need to do or try something else, but, met with silence

I've also been praying continuously for friendships, for a good job or career that would suit me best. For an opportunity to move out, for a possible dating relationship too since I'm getting older and for help for 2 different things for my body. None of that is being answered. They say God is a good father. What am I supposed to think or do when nothing is being answered and I'm really struggling spiritually and God is just laying low. It's so difficult. I just don't know what to do anymore. I've put my best foot forward. I've pressed in, spent hours in prayer and yet receiving full silence in return. I'm at my wits end with all this. Idk what more to do.

In school, I struggled with math. Without having a clear understanding of algebra or geometry,

Find somebody that can help you with this.

for a good job or career that would suit me best.

What do you enjoy doing? Do have knowledge and strength in whatever that is?

God actually leaves a lot of decisions of how we pursue life here on earth up to us .... what we decide is to be honorable in His sight.

A life time partner may or may not be in your future .... don't dwell on it.

Maybe concentrate on the blessings you do have instead of the ones you don't have.

Spend time daily with the Lord through His Word.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Hmm. Very interesting. However.. I don't feel like I have wrong motives. For the past 4 years, I completely avoided movies and videogames bc I felt that those would be my downfall, so, in order to stay on the straight and narrow, I didn't do those things. But, continued praying in the same way. I'm not sure of how to ask in any other way. I've even repented for some stuff. Trying to figure out what I can do to obtain a true understanding

Sometimes helping others is a good way of asking God without using words.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

1 other thing. This is part of my prayers each morning. I always pray, please give me the strength to go on, the power to go on, the perseverance, discipline, motivation, determination, encouragement and please give me the understanding of how to do this.

I get that you have a routine down, that's good. Sometimes a routine can become suffocating to a spiritual life when the routine becomes a law unto itself. Remember that the spiritual life in Christ begins with faith and continues with faith. Trust in Him is key, sometimes trust in following a process eclipses this.

hope that helps.

God bless.

 

[Gentle Lamb]

A post above said, you don't know what God may be protecting you from, and talked about what "friends" can do. It's absolutely true, I know it firsthand. I just had an experience with someone who seemed so good and friendly to others, yet my spirit was not at all comfortable with that person. I prayed about it and in time, the person's evil actions began to show up as sabotage, and manipulation, among other awful things. God indeed uses seasons of friendlessness to prepare us. Focus on praying the will of God. Draw near to God by reading His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of what you read. God has heard your prayers. Now, focus on getting to know Him as your friend and Father. Doing so helped transform my life and will help yours too.

 

[Macchiato]

I think you are putting the cart before the horse. You don't need understanding to have faithfulness. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Jesus called it childlike faith. Instead of seeking understanding, you need to trust and obey. Faith grows when you put feet to your faith. Trust that He's got your best interests at heart, even though you don't understand. Obey what He tells you. Surrender your will to His (which is the opposite of demanding some kind of understanding or revelation) and trust that He will reveal what you need when the time is right.

It's natural to want to beg and plead for what we specifically want. But as long as you continue to make demands of Him, you can't hear Him when He's actually saying something. Real maturity in the faith comes when you lay down your demands and just trust Him. That brings peace (not for a moment or a week, but REAL peace), and then you are ready to hear what He has to say.

This makes alot of sense.this helped me.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Per my spiritual pilgrimage, there has been a lot that has happened that I don't understand and no matter how much I press in and try, things still never make sense.

For the past 4 years, I have been praying specifically for understanding in 2 areas and to me, it is Extremely vital that he provides me with this understanding, otherwise, I'll never pass. An analogy I've used to explain this to others is this: In school, I struggled with math. Without having a clear understanding of algebra or geometry, I would never pass those subjects. Same thing for me spiritually. If God never provides the understanding I so desperately need, I'm never going to be able to grasp the concept of faithfulness, so, why is he withholding that from me? I've been asking if I need to ask a different way or maybe I need to do or try something else, but, met with silence

I've also been praying continuously for friendships, for a good job or career that would suit me best. For an opportunity to move out, for a possible dating relationship too since I'm getting older and for help for 2 different things for my body. None of that is being answered. They say God is a good father. What am I supposed to think or do when nothing is being answered and I'm really struggling spiritually and God is just laying low. It's so difficult. I just don't know what to do anymore. I've put my best foot forward. I've pressed in, spent hours in prayer and yet receiving full silence in return. I'm at my wits end with all this. Idk what more to do.

Sometimes we have to go through tough times emotionally. I was single in my early adult life, and felt I had committed sins that were separating me from God. Everything was very hard, none of the prayers that I wanted answering seemed to be. I remember wanting to be married, but I could just not seem to connect with anyone. Although looking back there were probably opportunities that I did not see right in front of me. Life was very hard, I remember having to wrestle with sin, I would sin, then feel bad, and beg for forgiveness. At one point I was going to commit suicide for I saw no hope. But now moving forward 10 years, I am now happily married, have a great job, and life is good. God has answered my prayers, but there were 30 years of struggle before my prayers became reality. We have to hang onto God even through the trials, but in the end, things will be ok.

 

[Macchiato]

Sometimes we have to go through tough times emotionally. I was single in my early adult life, and felt I had committed sins that were separating me from God. Everything was very hard, none of the prayers that I wanted answering seemed to be. I remember wanting to be married, but I could just not seem to connect with anyone. Although looking back there were probably opportunities that I did not see right in front of me. Life was very hard, I remember having to wrestle with sin, I would sin, then feel bad, and beg for forgiveness. At one point I was going to commit suicide for I saw no hope. But now moving forward 10 years, I am now happily married, have a great job, and life is good. God has answered my prayers, but there were 30 years of struggle before my prayers became reality. We have to hang onto God even through the trials, but in the end, things will be ok.

How did you get through?

 

[FutureAndAHope]

How did you get through?

God would continually drop small seeds of hope. It was by hanging on to the thread of hope, that I was able to come out of the difficulties. There were times however that I just gave up. But God remained faithful to His Word and forgave me for those times.

 

[Macchiato]

God would continually drop small seeds of hope. It was by hanging on to the thread of hope, that I was able to come out of the difficulties. There were times however that I just gave up. But God remained faithful to His Word and forgave me for those times.

What seeds of hope? I kinds wish God would do the same for me. I do the same with me. I feel alone in my walk.