Hey everyone! I truly pray that all is well and all will be well in your lives. And I say truly, because I read some of the Christian forums on Reddit every once in a while, and there are quite a few people where things aren’t going so well. I see many people are struggling with various issues, and others wanting a sign from God for direction. Per their own words, they feel abandoned and question their faith because they haven’t heard back. While I would love to comfort you and say don’t worry, hang on, everything will be OK, it would be a disservice to you and your growth with God if I did.
I specifically titled the post “How to get an answer from God” rather than “How to get God to answer you”. There is a difference in the mindsets with those two sentences. The former puts God in control while the later attempts to put you in control (making God do something). This is the most important thing and understanding you need to take away from this post: you have to let God be in control of all of your life; not just some, but ALL. If not, you are going to bang your head against a wall and have a bad time living the Christian life.
In general people don’t get answers from God for three main reasons. And, the first reason listed here pulls away by miles over the others.
1) God already gave the answer, but it’s either something they don’t want to hear or it’s not the way they want to hear it.
The “parable of the drowning man” is not a biblical story, but it’s definitely on point. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the story of a man who prays to God to be saved from a flood that’s rising. A boat comes by, but he refuses it saying he’s waiting on God. Meanwhile the flood waters rise even more. Another boat comes by, and he refuses that one too saying he’s still waiting on God. At this point the flood is so high he has to get up on his roof. A helicopter comes by, but still, he refuses saying he’s waiting on God. Finally, the flood overtakes him and he drowns. In heaven, he says to God, I believed you would save me, but was my faith not enough? God says: I sent you two boats and a helicopter. You had faith in Me, but you wanted things done your way and not My way.
Many of the answers we seek for the issues, questions and directions we need in our lives are right in front of us. However, we want to complicate things and/or have it in the way that we expect. Start by checking the Bible for examples and answers to your issues.
2) They are not living right with God. I don’t think I need to write much here? If you haven’t fully given your life to God, or if you are still willfully involved with sin, then except for salvation, his promises aren’t for you… People are perplexed and confused by that, but there is no sugarcoating it. While God is merciful, he’s unlikely to help you out if you’ve deliberately been negligent of him. There is a saying “The time to pray is before the storm, not when the storm hits”.
3) They are too self-centered. I’m sure this will make a lot of people tilted, but if the majority of your prayers are focused on yourself with I and me, then you are a self-centered person. When a self-centered person prays to God, I picture Him sighing and rolling His eyes, as their prayers start to annoy him over time. If you ever watched The Muppets Show, Beaker was a Muppet that ran around and only said “Mee-mee-mee-mee” in a high-pitched squeak. I think that’s what a self-centered person sounds like to God. Yes, everyone absolutely has issues, questions, pain, etc. in this life, and there are times when those things hit us very hard where we do need some extra comfort from God. It’s fine to come to him and pray in those times, but pray and leave it with Him; don’t dwell on them/pick them back up.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
Instead, your prayers should be focused on praising and thanking God for all that you do have to be thankful for, starting with salvation. Then praying for others, starting with people who might have similar issues, questions, pain, etc. as you can relate to them. When your sincere desire is to help others, and are happier for others than yourself that moves God. If you want a miracle from God, ask one for your brother or sister in Christ first.
In all three of these reasons, it is ego that gets in the way of receiving/accepting answers. Check over these reasons and see if any of them apply to you. If they do, change and stop banging your head into walls, having pity parties and/or being ready to give up your faith. However, if none of them apply to you (it’s a tall thing to say there are no examples or answers in the Bible for your issue) then consider going on a major fast to get enlightenment for your issue.
Also, while this post focused on getting answers, if asking God for something else the same applies, and a fourth would be added:
4) Is it in the will of God?
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. — John 14:13-14 (NIV)
The key part here that gets over looked is “in my name”. That doesn’t just mean saying His name when you pray, it also means in His will or character: is it something that reflects and glorifies Him. This goes hand-in-hand with the third commandment:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. — Exodus 20:7 (KJV)
Additionally, it goes hand-in-hand with the part of our prayer that says:
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. — Matthew 6:13 (NIV)
So, if what you’re asking for is not in the will of God, do not expect to get it. And, if you somehow do get it, be very concerned and cautious about what you just received.
If you are not saved/redeemed please do so today.
Come to God open, empty and without statements.
Ask him to be real to you and believe in Him.
Humble yourself before Him, confess who you are, and your sins.
Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life and start a personal relationship.
Believe this and be born again!
May God bless and keep all who read this.
May God bless and keep all brothers and sisters, new and old, in the faith in his name.
With his love and mine,
Chrom