Providence or What do you do when everything goes against you?

[blugill]

Hello all, I'm new here.

I've been studying Providence lately and I have to wonder exactly how
far does Providence extend? I believe with the Doctrines of Grace and
the Sovereignty of God but I have to wonder lately about a lot of things.

I've prayed for many things over the past decade, things like my
parents being happy (they divorced), like a special person in my life
(more than five different women, they have all gone different ways), Like my Dad and Brother working out their differences and just talking again, They are more distant than ever.
Right now every single prayer turned out the exact opposite and
90% of them weren't for me personally at all but for other people.

It really makes me question my faith.

I take a lot of comfort from Romans 8:28 however I've never been more
lonely or miserable.

Due to the anonymity of the web I can relate to you that I do random
acts of kindness and secrecy is the main thing. That no one ever know
what I do for others. I always try to do the right thing especially
when I'm by myself. I take no pride in any of this and it turns my
stomach to even relate it to the web.

Honestly I am questioning my faith.
Really, I mean why AM I here?

Don't think that I haven't prayed about that either and I am still stuck in the exact same job with no clue what so ever what I am supposed to be doing, why, or even where.

[Gear853]

i think we all question why we are here, even i did - everything happen for reason. is what i always say. have patience and trust in god ^_^
Matthew 6:29-34
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

maybe your parent are happy, now that they are divorced.

maybe all the failed relationship teach you something, so when you do meet that special person. you will know exactly what to do.

continue your prayer, my friend. the lord work is mysterious. all we can do is trust him with our whole heart =)

[mlqurgw]

Hello all, I'm new here.

I've been studying Providence lately and I have to wonder exactly how
far does Providence extend? I believe with the Doctrines of Grace and
the Sovereignty of God but I have to wonder lately about a lot of things.

I've prayed for many things over the past decade, things like my
parents being happy (they divorced), like a special person in my life
(more than five different women, they have all gone different ways), Like my Dad and Brother working out their differences and just talking again, They are more distant than ever.
Right now every single prayer turned out the exact opposite and
90% of them weren't for me personally at all but for other people.

It really makes me question my faith.

I take a lot of comfort from Romans 8:28 however I've never been more
lonely or miserable.

Due to the anonymity of the web I can relate to you that I do random
acts of kindness and secrecy is the main thing. That no one ever know
what I do for others. I always try to do the right thing especially
when I'm by myself. I take no pride in any of this and it turns my
stomach to even relate it to the web.

Honestly I am questioning my faith.
Really, I mean why AM I here?

Don't think that I haven't prayed about that either and I am still stuck in the exact same job with no clue what so ever what I am supposed to be doing, why, or even where.Providence extends to everything that happens in time. God is working in this world for the glory of His name and the good of His people.
I wonder how Joseph felt when he was thrown in the pit to die? I wonder what was going through his mind when he was put in the prison for honoring God? What was his answer to his brothers? You meant it for evil but God meant it for good. I wonder what Paul thought when he was pursued at every turn in order that he might be silenced and put to death. David tells us what he was thinking when Saul continually chased after him to kill him in the Psalms. You have no idea how you influence others by how you react to the providence of God. Be content to serve Him where he has put you and in whatever circumstances He has placed you trusting that you are doing exactly what God has determined for you and it will bring glory to His name and good to His people.

[RED that's ME]

Even when we don't understand the reason or rhyme of things, we are to still trust God.
Bad things that do happen to good people. I've seen things many times that I didn't understand why but then I saw how God worked through them. :)
We should also do a self-examination of our spiritual lives when we are going through problems. Hebrews 12 talks about how God uses things in our life to correct us when we're not living as we should.
Life lessons are not always for our benefit either. You never know who else God might be speaking to, through your life and circumstances.
Pray for wisdom & discernment & strength to get through whatever God sends your way. :)
Memorize & claim God's promises in scripture.

[aReformedPatriot]

Hello all, I'm new here.

I've been studying Providence lately and I have to wonder exactly how
far does Providence extend? I believe with the Doctrines of Grace and
the Sovereignty of God but I have to wonder lately about a lot of things.

I've prayed for many things over the past decade, things like my
parents being happy (they divorced), like a special person in my life
(more than five different women, they have all gone different ways), Like my Dad and Brother working out their differences and just talking again, They are more distant than ever.
Right now every single prayer turned out the exact opposite and
90% of them weren't for me personally at all but for other people.

It really makes me question my faith.

I take a lot of comfort from Romans 8:28 however I've never been more
lonely or miserable.

Due to the anonymity of the web I can relate to you that I do random
acts of kindness and secrecy is the main thing. That no one ever know
what I do for others. I always try to do the right thing especially
when I'm by myself. I take no pride in any of this and it turns my
stomach to even relate it to the web.

Honestly I am questioning my faith.
Really, I mean why AM I here?

Don't think that I haven't prayed about that either and I am still stuck in the exact same job with no clue what so ever what I am supposed to be doing, why, or even where.

The doctrine of providence extends to every facet of life no matter how small. I have been having some trust issues in the Lord lately due to a great plenty of things. It has led to a bitter spirit, an angry spirit. I was meeting with my Pastor about this on Thursday and he said to me that no matter my trial or tribulation, though they be great, one should act retrospectively and consider the greatest injustice of them all, and that is the Gospel and all it's aspects. And when the heart crys out, "I believe, but help my disbelief" take heart in knowing that suffering is not gratuitious as the scriptures say, "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom 5:3-5).

Take it to heart that you still have the faith to believe even though that you struggle with disbelief right in the middle of it all. For this is a fruit in you; the work of God. Be very patient and be ready to recognize that all sin on some level contains an aspect of disbelief in the Lord. "for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity" (Pro 24:16).

[blugill]

That is all pretty good advice.

[Jim1927]

Sometimes the providence of God leads us to failure. Jonah disobeyed God's command, and the providence of God led him to exactly where God wanted him to be, despite the fact he wanted different results. He hated the Ninevites. Also, in the Old Testament there are a few examples of where God led His servant into failure because that is what God wanted for the nation being led.

We do not always understand the why's and wherefore's of life. Job was "complete and upright, and one that revered God and shunned evil..." (Job 1:1). Study his life. Now God gives us understanding in the Bible, but imagine yourself in Job's shoes. He didn't know what was going on except the ills that poured upon his life.

All we are to know is that God is sovereign and He is in complete control of all things, in heaven, and on the earth, and in our lives, as we walk with Him.

Cheers,

Jim

[Matthan]

Your primary question seems to essentially be, 'Why doesn't God answer my prayers'? I would suggest that you do not really know that He doesn't. His wisdom and purpose go so far beyond our simple reasoning that it is simply not possible for us to comprehend it.

Just remember that God did not answer His own Son's prayer, at least not in the way we might consider a prayer to be "answered."

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39.

Matthan

[Jim1927]

On another board, I wrote this, regarding prayer as my signature:

The most important part of any prayer is not what we say to God. It is what God says to us. We are most likely to pray and then rush off before God speaks.

Prayer is not so much asking for things as it is listening to what God is saying.

When we are in consort with God, He answers every single prayer.

Cheers,

Jim