When you are going through hard times, your prayers may seem to be a one way street - you pour out your heart to God but your prayers seem to be just bouncing off the ceiling. You ask why, why doesn't God respond? My heart goes out to you.
God does hear your prayers and He understands your burdens. The most difficult times for all Christians occur when they go through trials and God just doesn't seem to answer. The reality is that God does listen and that everything in your life has a purpose and is working together for a key purpose - to glorify God. Romans 8:28 says: "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." It is difficult to understand how the trials you are going through now can work for good. However, although we don't see these things as good, if you are a Christian and are "called according to His purpose," they are part of God's plan for you. Have you thought about how these things might be according to God's plans? Maybe He has allowed these things to occur because he wants you to draw closer to Him? Maybe He has allowed these things because it will put you in a position to have empathy with others in this position so that you can minister to them? But who am I to say what is behind God's plans?
Three things that I do know are that God loves us, He is in complete control and He does have plans. My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." There are many examples of God using suffering to bring about much good. I will just tell you my story though. When I was younger, I was a very angry hateful person. I took it far beyond the typical "rebellious teenager". I was completely disconnected from my family, barely finished high school (forget about college), ended up on the streets living the whole 'sex, drugs & rock n roll' lifestyle. My own actions brought me to rock bottom, nearly causing my death before I surrendered what was left of my pathetic life to God. Since then I have seen His hand continually. Coming from where I did has enabled me to empathize and lend support and comfort to those that find themselves in similar situations. Parents of particularly difficult teenagers look at me and have hope for their children's futures. In addition to that, because I had no interest in my family during that time, I missed a major falling out between my father and his siblings following my grandparents' deaths. Just recently, because I didn't have any hard feeling towards my aunt and uncle, I was instrumental in reconciliation of these siblings, of whom my father is the only Christian. A lost job during my rebellion resulted in a move that put me in a place to meet the person that would become my spouse. We now have a houseful of beautiful children that I can't imagine life without. Those are only a few examples of how God has used real struggles in my life for good later on down the road. As a result, when I am suffering, I now have complete trust that God knows what He is doing. I may not know why yet, but I do know that He is still in control.
My story isn't the only one though. Think of the story of Job in the bible! Job loved God but lost everything - wealth, family and he was afflicted with a very painful disease. Through all this, Job continued to have faith in God. He had three friends and a wife who all turned out to be losers - this is evident by their attempts to give him "counsel." They said that the reason that he had all these problems is that Job had done something wrong - it was all Job's fault! His wife even told him to "curse God and die!" Of course, their "counsel" was worthless - they had it all wrong. The problem wasn't Job's lack of faith or service to God; the reality was that Job's suffering brought glory to God and eventually, God blessed Job greatly. So, I'm not going to be like Job's "friends" and tell you that you have done something wrong and that God is punishing you. I believe that what you are going through now is part of God's plan for you. The problem is that you and I just can't see God's plan clearly.
So, what should your response be? Let's look at what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, 12:5b-10.
"Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands....
... I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Don't lose your faith. God is listening to your prayers and this trial can be a time when your faith can be strengthened. This time of turmoil will end with a new direction in your life. What will that direction be and how will it glorify God? These are the key questions. Accordingly, I suggest that you continue your conversational prayer with God by praying something like this, but in your own words, of course:
"Dear God, first I want to thank you. I thank you for loving me even when I was lost in sin and for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for me. I also want to thank You for the tough times I am going through right now. I have prayed to you many times about how much I need this to be turned around and it seems like You haven't answered me. I confess to you that my prayers have been driven by what I think I need and not about You and Your glory. God, what I really want is to glorify You. Lord, You promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 not to allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear. I can't see the good in my situation and Lord at this time I feel like it is almost more than I can bear, but I claim Your promise in Romans 8:28 that all things in my life are working together for good - to glorify You. So, although I can't see the good, I know that you have allowed these things in my life. Thank you for these difficulties. You have also said, God, that you will give us the desires of our hearts. My desire is for relief from these trials and I ask that You make that happen, but only in a way that brings glory to Yourself. Use me, God; I am Your servant; how do You want me to serve and glorify You today and for the rest of my life? God, I want to be close to you. Please use these tough times to bring me close to You and please give me a glimpse of Your plan for me. I commit to trust You in everything. In Jesus name, Amen."
I hope that this has provided a new perspective for you on your current problems. Here are some articles and resources which I think you will find beneficial. I encourage you to check them out.
Got Questions? - Does God promise to not give us more than we can handle?
Got Questions? - Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?
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