I got beaten down in prayer

[_Jersey Girl]

As a teen, I had much hope in prayer. I believed it worked and I used it often and with gusto. I often prayed for:
1. Help to know the Book of Mormon was true
2. Some giant altruistic cause
3. Help to stop looking at "porn" i.e. Mervyns and Lands End catalogs
4. Forgiveness

I got beat on all these fronts.

My most memorable experience was when I noticed my Earth Science teacher (9th grade) was really having a hard time. I could by tell by her voice, mannerisms, and general demeanor that her life was not going well. One week was particularly hard for her. Some students made fun of her in class and I could tell, it upset her. I decided I would pray for her. I felt this was definitely a prayer worth praying. I prayed one night that her day would go better tomorrow, she would feel peace, and i would see her smile. I believed it would come true. It had all the right ingredients:

- a good cause
- something HF would also want
- I believed
- I was fairly worthy-feeling that week

I went to school feeling excited to see my teacher happy and smiling. I went to class and found my hopes were dashed. Not only was she in a horrible mood but she also had her shirt on backwards and kids were snickering about it. I felt confused and discouraged. It was a pretty big blow to my faith in prayer.

As an adult and looking back, I realize I started changing my prayers. My prayers changed from the glamorous to the watered down. It's like starting out Elijah and ending Gordon Hinckley. After a while, you realize the best thing to pray for is motivation to work harder so you can solve problems yourself.

Thoughts?

Hey Zee...did you ever tell the other kids to stop?

[_Jersey Girl]

Quasi

I've wondered for most of my life what the use of prayer was. If God is omnipotent, omnipresent and all knowing, what could we suggest to God that he/ she doesn't already know?

The Bible says "yes" to that.

When bad things happen to people we often hear that it's God's plan... all will become apparent in the end.

Yes, we do hear that.

If we pray hard enough, will God change his/ her mind?

I don't know.

I think prayer is about faith. I don't think God is a vending machine.

[_zeezrom]

Jersey Girl,

No. Another lesson to me. I need to take things into my own hands if I can. Later, while studying at the University of Utah, I was met with a similar situation. I was a freshman. There was an older woman in my class and she always looked worn out. One night (it was a night class), this woman looked particularly down and I think I even noticed tears towards the end of class. I felt impressed that I should do something. No more of this praying business. Praying for her wouldn't do anything and I knew it. I had learned my lesson by that point.

I am a shy person but after class something made me introduce myself to her. Who did that? God? Anyway, we chatted and I told her I noticed she looked sad/troubled but admitted I had no idea what I could do to help but just that I noticed and I hoped things might improve. I asked her if she believes in God (the missionary in me). She lit up at that and said she did. We chatted about how believing in God brings hope, peace, etc.

Anyway... Why did I share that? Shrug. All this talk of God not answering prayers while talking about God all along.

[_Jersey Girl]

Jersey Girl,

No. Another lesson to me. I need to take things into my own hands if I can.

Yup. So often we know what the right thing to do is, we lack the courage to do it.

Later, while studying at the University of Utah, I was met with a similar situation. I was a freshman. There was an older woman in my class and she always looked worn out. One night (it was a night class), this woman looked particularly down and I think I even noticed tears towards the end of class. I felt impressed that I should do something.

Maybe the first time prepared you for the second time. :-)

No more of this praying business. Praying for her wouldn't do anything and I knew it. I had learned my lesson by that point.

You didn't need to pray for her. You were right there.

I am a shy person but after class something made me introduce myself to her. Who did that? God?

Maybe. Time and experience are great teachers.

Anyway, we chatted and I told her I noticed she looked sad/troubled but admitted I had no idea what I could do to help but just that I noticed and I hoped things might improve. I asked her if she believes in God (the missionary in me). She lit up at that and said she did. We chatted about how believing in God brings hope, peace, etc.

You didn't need to pray for her. You already had what she needed. Did God give you to her? I don't know...

Anyway... Why did I share that? Shrug. All this talk of God not answering prayers while talking about God all along.

Maybe you shared it because the first time, you were too shy to do what was needed and the second time, you learned to do what was needed in spite of your shyness.

:-)

[_Jersey Girl]

I have learned that God is not Santa Clause. He's not there to fill our wish list. The purpose of prayer is to humble ourselves, learn the will of God so that we can accomplish the work God has for us to do.

Zee, your prayer should have been something more like; Dear God, my teacher is appears to be having a rough time. What can I do to help her?

Why not cut out the middle man and ask his teacher what he could do to help her?

From just what I read, I think Zee knew what he could do to help her, but he lacked the courage. Standing up to one's peer group is a pretty intimidating challenge!

[_Nightlion]

What is wrong with my avatar? Do you even know who that is? or, are you just being a crazy loon that judges people based on the clothes they wear?

I have to imagine that you want whomever that really is to represent you. He might be a fine fellow but given the words coming out of his mouth against The Supreme Being of the Universe who upholds by the Word of his power every element you and I and every living being utilize to live move and have our being....he's looks like a dick.

[_Nightlion]

A little bit of...God is real and true...

LLOL (Loud Laughter Out Loud)!!!

For me, if I had had one shred, one speck, one iota, one sliver of a little bit of "God is real and true" in my life instead of a crapload of experiences to the contrary, I'd still be giving my money to the church. After 40 years though it was time to get real...and grow up.

You followed pretense with pretense and got squat. HELLOOOO! And worse now you validate THEM, those stupid pretenders, as if they knew anything right from wrong in their gross incompetence, to judge now from their and your abominations, with all your gumption, that God is a lie? You and they are the lie. Grow up.

Has anyone here the least idea how strong the enemy of all righteousness has bound this planet in his deceptions and blinded the entire world? Of course not. You think everything is random.