Is He listening to me?

[the_raven_1313]

I was in the seekers area and read a topic called "God hears and answers prayers, What if the answer is "no"? and it got me to thinking. To be honest this is something that has been on my mind for a little while now. If you haven't read my predicament then please go here:

http://www.worthyboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26247

It has now been a little over seven and a half months and I am still no further on and no better off. I pray every single day about this matter and for to be delivered from this, or to be even strong enough to conquer this and nothing has changed. Numerous people have even told me that they are praying for me, and nothing has changed. Is God telling me that His answer is "No". Sometimes it has even crossed my mind that maybe He isn't listening to me.

People say that God has plans for each of us. With what I have been going through, that has really lost me because I just don't understand what His plan for me could be if I am to be locked away from the world and not even able to go anywhere to do anything. Not even to church. All of these things going on in my head has me confused. Is God listening to me when I pray for this to be taken from me? If He is listening, then why am I still here seven months later? If God has a plan for me then I don't see it. How can I accomplish any plan if I am almost unable to go out past my front gate? I just don't understand.

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

I was in the seekers area and read a topic called "God hears and answers prayers, What if the answer is "no"? and it got me to thinking. To be honest this is something that has been on my mind for a little while now. If you haven't read my predicament then please go here:

http://www.worthyboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26247

It has now been a little over seven and a half months and I am still no further on and no better off. I pray every single day about this matter and for to be delivered from this, or to be even strong enough to conquer this and nothing has changed. Numerous people have even told me that they are praying for me, and nothing has changed. Is God telling me that His answer is "No". Sometimes it has even crossed my mind that maybe He isn't listening to me.

People say that God has plans for each of us. With what I have been going through, that has really lost me because I just don't understand what His plan for me could be if I am to be locked away from the world and not even able to go anywhere to do anything. Not even to church. All of these things going on in my head has me confused. Is God listening to me when I pray for this to be taken from me? If He is listening, then why am I still here seven months later? If God has a plan for me then I don't see it. How can I accomplish any plan if I am almost unable to go out past my front gate? I just don't understand.

Read psalm 13

[InternalFlame]

Don't lose hope. I read your post, and let me tell you that I had a simmaler problem, although a bit different. I had major problems with getting panic attacks at night about "what if when you die you cease to exist" the very idea made me so scared and paniced I would lose sleep. This was when I wasn't as strong in my faith, and looking back on it now, it has helped to strengthen my faith. Now I know there is no reason to be afraid because God is there, and I won't dissapear when I die.

As far as to what may be going on, I can only propose a few things:

It might be that the Lord is trying to have you learn through your struggles...for example, perhaps he wants you to know what this is like because he may bring someone to you later going through the same thing that you could help with, because you have been there.

He might bringing fear to you so you can learn to conquer it - and to in turn help others to conquer fear. Kind of like getting a vaccine of a weakened virus...your body is able to attack and defeat it so when it encounters it again at no matter what force it is at your body can defeat it. So it could be to strengthen your defenses.

Or perhaps He is trying to tell you something about those churches? Is it just those two churches that you have that happen to you, or all churches? Because if it is just those two, perhaps there is something going on there that is not right with God....that needs attention to be fixed. Or maybe even that you are not meant to go there.

lastly, perhaps it is interference from the enemy. Fear is a powerful weapon, but do not let it controll your life. It controlled my life at one time...I was in constant fear of everything...but now I am confident because I KNOW God is at my back, and that if he is with me, then I can not fail. Remeber that God is with you, and because he is with you there is no reason to fear.

I will pray for you, and if you want to talk I'm always willing to listen I want to be able to help in any way I can

[Keith]

raven,

I just wanted to let you know that I read your post and am sorry for the pain you're in. I trust you believe that God cares about you and everything that concerns you. It's not easy to cast your care upon Him. We try and try only to end up taking that care back in our own hands again. But I can assure you that God hears the prayers of His people.

I wouldn't dare compare any of my worries to what you're experiencing, but I do know what it's like to worry. It's about the closest thing I can think of to what you're going through. (I'm sure there's an element of worry in your situation, right?) The Bible does tell us how we can overcome our worries and I speak from experience when I say that it works. Maybe this will help you.

As I said above, the Bible instructs us to cast our cares upon Him. "cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you," 1 Peter 5:7. Doing this means giving the worry/situation to Jesus, laying it at His feet in prayer. The "trick" is, not taking it back. We need to leave it with Him, in full, and trust that He is working on it. When we feel ourselves beginning to worry about that issue again, we should stop in mid-thought and give it back. "No. I laid this at your feet Jesus, and I trust You with it. I refuse to take it back. I've already proven that worrying doesn't work so I'm determined to leave this with You for Your care. Please give me the strength to leave it right where it is and trust You completely with it. I thank You for Your Word and for caring about everything that concerns me, which includes this situation. Your will be done, Lord, not mine."

Philippians 4:6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Here's another verse you can quote when you find yourself beginning to worry about it again. Quoting scripture out loud is a great way to help release the worry. It's our weapon, hope and strength! I find it gives me more strength in leaving things with Him. He doesn't want us to carry around the weight of all our burdens because He does care about us.

There is a reason for going through this. God does have a purpose for you. Good can come out of this! His Word says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) Do you love Him? Are you called according to His purpose? Then this includes you! Quote this one, too! Even if you don't feel like it, quote scriptures out loud. Doing this will help you not to be ruled by your feelings and will strengthen your relationship with Him.

Aaron, know that this isn't too big for God to handle. In the same respect, neither is anything too small for Him. Worry is a way of saying, "God, I have to worry about this because it's too big/small for You to become involved in." When we give our worries over to Him, He promises to give us His peace. Remember the verse in Philippians I gave two paragraphs up? Well, this is how it continues in verse seven: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." God is a God who keeps His promises. I have experienced this first-hand. God's promises include you, too.

The great thing is, it doesn't stop there! Continue reading verses eight and nine! "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

[other one]

raven, he does listen. I missed your first post. I was having a bit of problem with knee surgery and couldn't keep up for a time.

I spent some time in prayer this evening asking for help for your problem.

I might add that sometimes he lets us struggle through things so as to streingthen us for something later in life. Don't give up and keep praying and let each day make you stronger.

Sam

[the_raven_1313]

Thanks to everybody that has replied, for your prayers and words of encouragement. Internalflame, you made some really good points. It could one of those reasons that you mentioned, but if it is, I don

[Keith]

One of the problems that I have Keith is that I pray for this burden to be taken from me every day. But a little later on something happens, sometimes its just a small thing, and I know that the anxiety is going to kick in and then there it is. It is still there and it still gnaws away at me.

You're welcome, Raven. I hope you'll stick around. There are good people here who are willing to encourage you and pray for you. That level of anxiety can't be easy to live with and I won't pretend to have the answers. But, I can be your friend!

If I can be so bold as to offer one more suggestion based on your post above? As much as I know you would give anything to have this burden taken away, perhaps a different way to view it might help. Instead of praying that God take away this burden from you, maybe try asking Him to help you deal with it. Let me give an example as to why I'm thinking this way.

There is a movie based on the life of Scottish minister Peter Marshall. It's called A Man Called Peter. In the movie his wife, Catherine, is afflicted with tuberculosis and is confined to bed rest for a long time. She kept praying that God would take it away from her. Nothing. The following is what happened in the movie... (yes, it's a movie, but it's based on a true story.)

Catherine is lying in bed, listening to Peter's Sunday service on the radio. He's teaching on the woman from Galilee who had a blood disorder. She had no doubt that if she could only touch the hem of Jesus's garment, she would be cured. As this thought cemented itself in her mind, her faith was stirred into resolve. It was daring and fantastic but it was worth trying. What's the worst that could happen? It could only fail. She was no stranger to failure. The crowd started to pass so she pushed her way through the people that were in her way. She was getting desperate now. He must not pass so near and yet so far away. She had to touch Him. As Jesus passed near she reached out and her fingertips just touch the hem of His robe. It was enough.

Catherine then turns off the radio and prays, "God, I've tried. I can't touch You. My faith's worn out. I can't beg or beseech or demand anymore. I haven't the strength of that woman in Galilee. I can't fight my way through whatever wall there is between us. I've done everything I've known how to do. If You want me to spend the rest of my life as an invalid... here I am. Do whatever You want with me."

Catherine was healed. Here's how Catherine described it. "It worked backwards. I told Him He didn't have to do anything." Peter said to her, "That's what He was waiting for. He just wanted the gift of every bit of you!"

Now, again, yes it's "just a movie," but it's a true story and the principle stands. I'm not promising that God will take away your anxiety, but I am asking this: What have you got to lose? If you can honestly just surrender to Him completely, letting Him have His way in this - whether you're healed or not - God will move. He will use you. It may be in the midst of your affliction or take it away. Either way, isn't being used by Him and surrendering fully to Him more important?

As Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

On a personal note, I took Catherine's example and Paul's words to heart and apply them to every trial I go through. I haven't had a physical/emotional trial to use it on, but I have used it in so many. When I was able to do more than just say the words, but truly mean them, the results have been a blessing. I keep my peace and I still have joy, even through the trial and regardless of it's outcome. It's given me such strength and hope! It makes me think, "What could possibly happen that can take me away from His care?! Nothing, except that I leave it on my own! The world can't touch it!"

I'm sorry my posts to you have been so long, but you're situation is really on my heart and I want you to blessed.

[yomotalking]

Sometimes it's hard to know if God is saying no.