It’s been a long time since I last wrote on my blog. But here I am again.
I was watching a program last Sunday morning on the ABC that’s our government backed TV station. It’s like the BBC in England. Anyway I was watching this program all about the Mormon Church when I heard an interesting story. It was the account of two devout Mormons, I say devout because they allowed God into their decision making at all times. It appeared, from what they were saying that they didn’t make any decisions with in their lives without asking God first.
They were the parents of seven children and they cherished each one of them. Then one day they felt that there was one child that hadn’t arrived yet. Apparently they both felt it very strongly, that they had room for just one more child.
Well they didn’t want to make this decision on their own and so they asked God if they should have an eighth child. They prayed for quite some time about this and finally they got their answer. I’m not sure how they got their answer but they were quite certain that God had said yes. So they planned for their new addition to the family and soon his wife was pregnant again. Then came the day when she went into the hospital to deliver the child and shortly after that a healthy boy was born. Unfortunately the mother developed a blood clot on the brain and was dead within minutes of the birth.
The program went on to tell how the husband felt about what had happened and I couldn’t help feeling for his loss, for not only the loss of his wife but also his loss of confidence in his God. He was still grieving for his wife and he was grieving over his God as well.
When the interviewer asked him if he would do the same thing again, that is, ask God for directions. He was visibly shaken, as if he hadn’t considered the question before, His answer caused him a problem too because he said. “Some days I would but then on others I wouldn’t”
That is a true account. No doubt some readers of this blog might be saying “Mormons aren’t Christians “. I’m not going to get into theological arguments right now but I’m sure you can relate that account to something that has happened in your life. Maybe not as dramatic, maybe not has harrowing but I’m sure you have seen people who have prayed for things or for illnesses and you believe God has answered their prayer but then it seems He hasn’t answered it.
The account of this Mormon family got me thinking about when we pray. How do we know God has answered the prayer and it isn’t just our minds wanting it?
Actually I’d like you to answer my question by using my comment box at the end of this article.
I would also appreciate it if you would consider the following:
Did God know that the woman was going to die if she had the child? If He did why didn’t He warn them? Why wasn't His answer NO don’t have a child because it will kill you?
Was it the fault of the couple? Did they misunderstand the answer? If that is the case then why didn’t God make it clearer?
One thing I would ask you not to do. Please don’t fob me off with answers that don’t answer the question. An example of this is “We need faith”. That is not an answer. It is the lazy persons way of saying “I can’t be bothered finding the answer”. Why don’t you read the last prophet in the Old Testament “Malachi” and see what God things of that answer
I’m not a person who hasn’t read his bible. I have read the New Testament from cover to cover over 100 times in the last few years. That’s not boasting, it is my way of letting you know not take these questions lightly.
Ok I’ll leave it there
Hope to hear from you soon
1 comment:
So, Terry, I don't actually know the answer to your specific question "How do we we know if and how God answers our prayers?" However, I do know that we often fall into the mistake of thinking that because what we consider to be "bad things" happen, God didn't anwser the prayer. Who are we to say that God didn't tell this couple to have the 8th child? Who are we to say the outcome was "bad"?
"But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have you made me like this?' Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honour and another for dishonour?" Romans 9:20-21.
Furthermore, God constantly uses tribulation throughout the scriptures to get his people to draw closer to Him, we cannot judge these things with our perception of what is good and bad.
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