Stress Center Peer Support

Interested in some feedback on this one.

Shall we put unrealistic expectations on God? We know he is all-powerful and all-knowing and omnipotent, no believer in Him could deny that.

But shall we be unrealistic about our expectations of Him? Shall we think that just because we 'believe enough' or we are close to him 'enough' that anything we want, so long as we believe 'in our hearts', our every prayer will be granted?

My personal experience on this one: I have 2 very big thorns in my life, which I've asked for supernatural healing with sincere belief that it would happen. I've had others pray for me in church about these challenges, I've had friends pray for me about these challenges, and of course I've prayed about these challenges, believing 'with all my heart' that something miraculous *will* happen.

Well, the supernatural healing did not happen. These are things I have to work on that might be helped, but not without hard work and discipline ON MY PART.

Let me say that this doesn't discourage me from God's great and glorious power. I've been blessed beyond measure in my lifetime and I owe all the praise on this to the Mighty One.

However, to put false or unrealistic expectations on Him and trying to convince others to do so, I feel might borderline on blasphemy.

To tell others that all they need to do is to 'believe with all their hearts', that the Lord will instantaneously resolve their dilemma, and not encourage a person to lean on the Lord through their problems, is the wrong kind of teaching.

I've had people tell me, even, that my issues will be healed. That because "they" believed, this would happen. But it did not happen. In fact, the outcome of my issues were even worse than I anticipated.

Lucinda talks about unrealistic expectations being a huge issue with us. That we have that kind of 'magical thinking' that we deserve something, or that our situation will improve either because we 'earned it' or maybe for the believer, just because we 'have a relationship with God'.

If this was the case, millions of innocent Jews and other Holocaust victims who cried out to God would not have perished.

People enslaved and beaten for years and years would have not suffered what they did.

Millions of Africans would not be orphaned and dying of AIDS.

So, so many faithful Christians would not ever get sick - or get imprisoned and tortured for sharing their faith.

We need God for our comfort when the going gets rough. He is our staff - He holds us up in times of need. We also have personal responsibility in our lives, and if there is something we can control by personal responsibility, should we be putting expectations on an Omnipotent Being to always bail us out?

I think the danger in unrealistic expectations on God, with the young believer, is that they may quickly lose faith, if they've never learned the nature of our Lord. Just as when we have unrealistic and false expectations on people, friends and family and/or situations, we tend to give up on people and situations, and even ourselves.

That said I do believe that realistic hope and faith are important and an essential part of a Christian's life.

Hey, Shif

Here is what wandered through my little mind after I read your post. I, too, am guitly of thinking that if I "pray had enough" or "deserve" something, then, well by gum! I should get it, right? Nope... First,and He is forced to teach me this particular lesson over and over cuz I just can't seem to learn it, is that things happen (or not) in HIS time. Not mine. And that is so tuff... especially when I'm in pain or whatever it is I want rectified seems so injust and wrong. His purpose is not for me to know...

The other thing is that I had a Christian friend just the other day tell me that "God is a just God, not necessarily a fair God" This was quite a revelation to me and, of course, the first thing I said to her was, "But justice and fairness are synonomous, are they not?" Well, they are not. And, she is right. God is always just but not always what we would call fair.

Okay, there are my ruminations.

Happy Sunday and may the Lord bring you the answers you seek.

Great point Hot Rod. You hit it!

Hello I am new to this chat room.
I was soooo encouraged when I read the posts today. I am a believer and I have allowed anxiety and depression to be such a hinderance in my relationship with God. I always feel defeated as a believer and I have cried out to God in prayer so many times about this battle and I too have put expectations on God that he has already equip me to handle. I really feel encouraged to see that as a believer I am not alone. I been battling this all my life and when I became a believer I thought it would go away. I decided to order the program today. I cannot continue in this cycle ..I WANT TO LIVE.. keep me in prayer..

Welcome Clay!!
You will be glad that you did order the program. It is really a remarkable help.

And so glad to see you on here. Keep coming back and posting. I have been helped so much by just reading the posts here. And you will be helped as well.
And you'll help others.

Be good to yourself. Take it one day at a time, one step at a time.
God bless!
SR

I will keep you in prayer Clay. You did the right thing. I know God led me here as well, and I'm a work in progress.

Bless you!

Thank you Slender and Shifrah!! BTW I actually had ordered the program about two years ago and then sent it back because I figured all I have to do is think positive..I dont need it. I have tasted how sweet it is before of not being afraid of being afraid, but I havent been able to maintain it and I always would think well it's because I'm not praying enough and I would put all this pressure on myself to seek God at a certain time for a certain length of time etc. I am really passionate for Christ and I always have this fear of bringing SHAME to his name because who wants to be a Christian that is full of fear.. The world needs to see me STRONG..but as I am typing this I realize our strength is not a worldly strength.. I am just determine to stay commited for LIFE to facing these giants. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND LET'S STAY WITH IT ..WE HAVE PURPOSE. One thing I have discovered is we are so strong and when these irrational fears are flipped we are unstoppable.. I just want to be in that place again.. kinda feel myself getting back as I type. Another thing.. not allowing how I feel to control me.. BLESSINGS! ..later

Hi Everyone
I have enjoyed reading throughout these postings!!! I must say that when I have felt His peace in my heart while praying, then, whatever it was that I prayed about did come to pass in His time!!!

He has never failed to answer a "Yes" to those prayers, which I have prayed and felt that great peace which surpasses all understanding in my heart!!!

I call this the "perfect faith" which, He gives to each of us, when we fall upon our knees as humble as a little child and cry out to Him!!!

Never, once in all of these years has He ever failed to answer these type of prayers for me!!!

He has been soooooo faithful to me and I can never begin to thank Him enough for hearing and answering me, when, I thought all hope was gone!!!

I love each and every single one of you and I pray God blesses each of you with a beautiful day filled with much sunshine, joy and peace!!!

Wow, sorry you feel that there's only one way to pray and that prayers will only be answered (and answered the way you want) that way.

The bible describes many ways to pray. http://www.answers2prayer.org/...per_way_to_pray.html

This is a great article about prayers answered.

A miracle is simply positively answered prayer. In fact, God answers ALL prayer, but sometimes the answer is "no", sometimes it is "not yet", and other times the answer is "yes".

I have no idea why God answers different prayers in different ways except that He, being all all-wise and all-knowing, is aware of what is the best for us – and sometimes that is to answer a prayer in the negative.

Think of a small child who wants an ice cream just before his dinner. If his parents are wise they will say "no" because they know that granting this request at that time is inappropriate. God is also a wise parent and many times our prayer requests are not in our best interest, irrespective of what we may think.

Imagine a man who has trouble handling money – every time he earns some money he spends it unwisely. He goes before God and asks for a windfall – to win a lottery, or to receive a large inheritance "to solve his financial problems". God would most likely say "no" to that prayer request because giving that person what he wants would not be in his best interests until he can learn to handle the money he has now.

I know a lovely lady who was in a motor vehicle accident and is now a wheelchair-bound paraplegic. This happened in 1982 and she has been praying for a restoration of her movement ever since. Many prophets have told her that she will be healed, but she is still waiting in her wheelchair. Her unfailing faith has been a beacon to many people with lesser problems.

Her faith has directly and indirectly led many people to the Lord, including my family and I. Because I was saved I have posted information about Christianity on the Internet and these articles have impacted on thousands of people (my Christian articles are read about 3,000 times every week) so the effect is like a stone thrown into a still pond – the ripples go out further and further.

Would you be content being wheelchair-bound if that meant saving souls for Christ? Would those saved souls be more important to you than your own mobility?

Romans 5:3-4 says:

“...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” [NIV]

I would add that our faith grows by being exercised, and faith is not exercised when we receive everything we want (or think we need). What faith is required when God becomes a Santa Claus – giving presents to all? It takes no faith to simply receive presents (“miracles”) but it takes great faith to believe when you don’t get everything you want, when you trust God completely knowing He is doing the very best for you in all areas of your life. That is what strengthen’s faith.

Ultimately, we are here on this Earth to exercise, and therefore strengthen, our faith.

Let me leave you with a little poem that was written by the mother of a severely disabled child. I pray it helps.

And God Said No
I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said "No".
He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No".
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No".
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No".
He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No".
He said I must grow on my own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No".
He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me.
And God said "Ah, finally you have the idea!"


http://www.anointedlinks.com/miracle_answer.html

Dear Sister,
I am talking about that "perfect faith" which He places within my heart whenever it is His perfect will to do so!!!

I pray you have a beautiful night all wrapped up in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!! God Bless you tonight and always...Much Love in Christ Jesus!!!