Novum said:
So, while I can understand what you are asking me to do (and why you ask me to do it), I can't help but think that you are doing the same thing my friend did - setting me up to fail. What am I to do, then?
I can see your friend had good intentions but he certainly has no patience for God's timing. :wink:
I've been with my husband for over eight years (not married all that time) and it's only been recently that he's opening his eyes to the real God. I've prompted him often to pray if he has any confusion in his life, but like a true survivalist he never thought he needed God's help. I don't know what really changed in him recently to seek the God I have come to know and love, but its' taken him eight years to understand God is accessible and does reply.
I'm sorry I wasn't more clear in my post about timing. When you put the request out there, God will answer it when he knows you stand the best chance of hearing his reply. Does that sounds like a cop-out? Right now it may not give you any comfort but when God's timing is right you'll appreciate exactly why he made you wait.
For example, when I was angry with God all those years ago, I wasn't ready to hear anything from Him. I was so angry, angry, angry, and anything he sent my way would have been met with anger. It wasnt' until I was so exhausted from all my upset and I'd reached rock bottom in my life that he sent me an answer. How did he reply to me? Let's just say he opened another doorway and said; "let's try this again shall we, but only without the anger this time."
When I dealt with him after that, I did it with humility instead of anger. When I prayed it was knowing that I hated him so aggressively, and yet when I hit rock bottom he still came back to help me. Now I was ready to appreciate what he had to offer in my life.
So while I urge you to confront the Big Guy, I'm not implying for one second that his response will be anything you expect or when you expect it. I said that you'll be amazed at how clearly he can respond, but to get to that point other things will have to pass by first. I don't know what those other things are and you won't either - only in hindsight will you see where things started to change for you.
I know that it all sounds so unrealistic, so magical and mysterious, why would any intelligent person want to go down that path? When you challenge God though it is in His nature to reply. You've no doubt heard the parable involving giving a child a stone when they asked for bread? God isn't in the business of giving out stones when his children ask for bread. If you've asked for bread and you haven't received it yet, then you WILL SEE God's plan in hindsight. For he will reply. Whether you were sincere in your prayers or not - God is designing the right time to reply when he knows you will best see it came from him.
He knows how intelligent you are, so independent and so capable of looking after yourself. Now is not the right time to reply. When you need him most though, then he will come to you. I had to want to end my life before God came to me. My will was too great before then to make room for another's.
I'm sorry your friend's advice merely set you up for disappointment. I can see they meant well but they were trying to do God's job by telling you when He would respond. God decides the time and place.
I hope this fact doesn't leave you filled with more disappointment? All I know from my experience however is when you need him the most, he will come. If you have asked God to reveal himself to you in this lifetime, He will do it before you die. That's the only time schedule I can offer on behalf of God. Sincere or not, you've asked God for bread and he won't deliever a stone. You won't die before you've tasted of that bread and then you'll have a choice to make.
While God doesn't always answer when we want him to, He always keeps His Word. :D
