Standing Strong |
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Why do I get no answer when I pray? |
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Received Feb 28, 2009 Hi, _______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXX,
Do you have a local Rabbi or Pastor to whom you have directed these questions? I would be interested in what you have been told. This will allow me a foundation of knowledge from whence you are asking your questions. I will provide the following as a first level of answer to your questions.
You do need to realize that some answers do not come to us in the way we might expect. Some answers come from lessons given to us as we live through life, after asking for answers. Lessons learned through living tend to stick more than those just told to us. Continue to read Scriptures and do your most to follow all His commandments.
You say you have asked for some kind of assurance that you are truly His? Do you ask this question of your earthly father? Would he be offended if you asked, “Hey Dad, am I really your child?” Think about it. He has told you that you are a child of His. G-d, the creator of Heaven and Earth, The G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the only G-d through whom comes our salvation, has written in scripture that He cares for all of His creation. And you keep asking Him if he cares for you. He demonstrates His love for you by providing you with foods that have wonderful tastes yet still meet your biological needs. He could have made all food bland and tasteless, but He loves you enough to do otherwise. He has made you to enjoy the feel of the sun on your face, the wind, the rain, and lets you relish in the physical touch of what is needed to survive, yet you question His caring for you?
All sin and fall short of the Glory of G-d. So you backslid. If we make an error are we damned for all time; do we lose our salvation, as you put it? If that were the case, none of us have any hope for eternal life with Him. The most holy rabbi I know of spent Yom Kippur crying for his shortcomings. Were they for stealing, lying, coveting? He wept for the times he had opportunity to do good and didn’t always do so. He wept for the sins of others around him. He as a rabbi missed chances to teach others and help them avoid sinful actions. The sins he wept for were his sins of omission. Does that make his sin any less than the sin of a thief? Sin is sin, and the most holy of man still falls short as he continues to improve his walk in the L-rd G-d’s commandments. Did you lose your salvation? Salvation belongs to the L-rd. Your salvation is still in Him.
There are times we feel as if G-d has turned his back on us. Did He turn His back on Israel as they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness? It would seem many of His chosen people thought so, yet he was providing for them while pruning the branches and preparing them for entry into the land of promise. We do suffer consequences for our actions. G-d is a judge of righteousness and truth. He is also a G-d of mercy. At this time when you are questioning if He has turned His back on you, you must look for all of the little things you have and thank Him for them. Thank Him for the breath you take, Praise Him for the ability to see a sunrise,…. He is always there and he gives us what we need. Only He knows what we need and what we must go through to equip us for tomorrow and to be an instrument to those around us of how a righteous person lives in difficult times.
Can all followers of G-d lay hands on people and heal them, cast out demons, raise the dead and speak in tongues? Let’s look to scripture. Read 1 Corinthians 12:27-30. Obviously all do not have the same gifts. Do not be jealous of others’ gifts. Follow Him as revealed in all scripture. Keep His commandments, walk in righteousness, and KNOW THAT HE IS G-D.
Watch for the daily miracles and enjoy the wonder and love of He who created you.
Shalom,
Richard E. Bristol, PhD Standing Strong
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |