Can we really do that? Can we actually prove to someone through our own experiences that God exists?

This question was raised by an individual the other day in this forum. What followed was a bevy of answers (except for one that was pointed out, I believe) that didn’t even come close to what the poster was looking for. The topic got sidetracked to the point where the post had to be shut down and re-opened, but this time, with much more explicit directions as to what this person was looking for. When I saw this, I must admit, I was taken aback. (I’m always being “taken aback” it seems). I could hear right through the computer screen, the frustration over the fact that so many of us completely missed the point of the question. And it was a very simple question! It was a simple question the first time it was posted and it was a simple question the second time. I was rather amused at how utterly and completely I had missed the point, because I even had to reconfirm (for a third time) EXACTLY what this person was looking for.

Then it dawned on me. If I could not even discern the meaning of a simple question, then I must not be listening very well, or better put, not at all. I do at times, “flip” what is being said in my mind because of my illness, but I realized that, when it comes to faith and God and learning and believing, one must be able to, or at least, put some effort into LISTENING! I didn’t do that. My illness does not preclude my understanding of God’s word. If I am truly looking for Him and His guidance, no illness will stop that from happening. I had taken it upon myself to try to convince her to believe without even once asking for guidance from THE ONLY ONE who could possibly make this happen! How arrogant of me, really, to believe that I alone, could do this! (It never ceases to amaze me, the depths of my own ego).

What did end up happening for me (and I must thank this person for this), is the realization that for quite some time now, I have not been listening at all! Oh sure, I had been praying almost every day, thanking God for all the good things in my life and expressing to Him all the pain and anguish I am constantly in and, of course, asking that He provide me with relief from this all-consuming illness of mine. But what I realized, is that for all the talking and complaining, and even thanking, I was not listening for any answers. To tell you the truth, I don’t think I even wanted to hear an answer. For I know that when I do hear an answer, it puts the onus back on me to adjust my life - my thinking, doing, and being – in order for me to benefit. That’s how it works for me; for everyone.

My God does not take away my free will by forcing me to accept His guidance. I must act on that guidance if it is to make a difference in my life and/or situation, and I clearly was not doing that. Unfortunately, it was made very clear to me, oddly enough, through the frustration I was causing someone else! (Amazing! The realization, not the frustration I contributed to…) It was a humbling experience. One that I am grateful for, and ashamed of, as well; but I also know both feelings are a part of the learning process and which I am (now, once again) able to accept.

As I searched my past for a story to tell that would reflect what was being asked, there was really nothing incredulous or fantastically outstanding that happened to me, that would or even could move another to believe or make God more real. Indeed, I myself would find such incredulous stories to be just that – incredulous, highly suspect and almost impossible to believe – even though I am a believer! (oh, the irony of it all).

The only incredible or fantastic thing about my experiences, is that it happened to ME – at a time when I asked for it, needed it, and sincerely wanted it – and that I was able to discern without a doubt, who the source was that helped me to experience what I experienced!

As I look back at all these precious moments, they are, of course, incredible in my eyes, but to try to explain to someone else the deeply personal feelings of comfort and peace I received would simply come out flat and unremarkable in the telling. It would be the same as if hearing an incredulous story of say, how one experienced a “miracle of grand proportions,” except just on the opposite end of the scale, so to speak. (I am not stating that no one has ever experienced something that “miraculous” in their lives, for I believe even the simplest things that have been revealed to me are miraculous in themselves).

I find myself saddened at the fact that I could never explain to the extent I would like, the feelings, the knowing, even the moments of realization that there IS a power much, much greater than one could imagine out there, and on our side, too! It is an awesome and sometimes very scary insight to have, and at times, almost too much for me to accept, because my mind is so very closed and my heart so unwilling to open up.

What I do know is, when I am willing to accept God as He is – unconditionally - like He accepts me, then I am able to hear Him loud and clear!

How did I get to this stage? Knowledge. Knowledge about who exactly is this God that the Bible (in my case) says He is and what His agenda is? Not how it is interpreted by powerful and staunchly traditional organizations, not how it is interpreted by those who only focus on a few scriptures or only on a few books within the Bible, but by seeking to prove each and every thing that is taught to me (which is how God wants it to be) and making sure that there is no hypocrisy or contradictions that would cause me confusion about Him, and therefore, cause a weakening of my faith. It doesn’t even matter which version of the Bible I read (although some are much easier to read than others), because no matter how much any particular individual or religious organization may have “altered” some of the texts, the basic truths which He wants us to learn never, ever change. (That’s another amazing thing to me when I have compared the writings of several different Bibles in my quest for the truth).

I, personally, do not accept the idea that some things are just a “divine mystery” for I know from my studies that God has made clear exactly what He has chosen to reveal to us and what he won’t. He even explains why He does not reveal these things. Although I do not like that, I must and want and need to - accept and trust that He knows better. (Many have great difficulty with this, which can and does lead those who demand to know such things before they are willing to believe, away from accepting His truths simply because of their unwillingness to accept this fact).

Quite frankly, I doubt that I, nor anyone, would be able to fully accept the real reality that we all would like Him to reveal without going insane! I look at how the world is today and that in itself causes great imbalance in me – imagine if I had the whole truth? I just know I would not be able to accept, or comprehend it, and doubt very much that I could live with that knowledge. Looking at it in this way, I believe He is protecting us all from just this sort of thing from happening.

I accept these truths only because I now know who God truly is, what His personality is like, what His desires are for humankind, and how He is going to go about restoring things to the way He had always meant it to be for mankind (and He is NOT the malevolent God I was taught about when I was young that eventually led to my turning my back on Him, and religion in general for so many years).

One of the greatest comforts for me in my learning about God is that He never changes. Ever! Time goes on; people move forward in life; in understanding things in terms of science and technology; in philosophy and psychology; in politics, and even in the mundane rituals we go through each and every day. Everything is always changing. And as man progresses faster and faster in these areas, the changes are such that hardly anyone has the capacity to keep up. But the one and only thing I can count on NOT to change is who God is and what He is all about.

For me, this absolute God is exactly what I have been searching for my entire life. I find stability in Him. Known as “The Rock” in Biblical text, He is “unchanging, He is a secure refuge…all powerful, “faithful, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright…”

There is no imperfection in Him. Is this intimidating? Of course it is, for I know I could never attain this for myself or even for him – at least not now. But He knows that, shows me mercy and always accepts me back when I am ready, once again, to accept Him. One would definitely be hard pressed to find this kind of dedication (and completely without judgement) in human form. I would say, impossible, really!

So, where does this leave things? Well, obviously for the one who is looking for real proof, nowhere closer to where they were before, I am sure. But for me? Even closer to Him now, thanks to the question being posted in the first place!

How can I rectify this and provide some sort of answer that may satisfy this person? The only answer that I keep “hearing over and over” is this – Learn. Study. Pray. Discuss with Him your concerns, your anger toward him, your pain – everything and anything. And above all, LISTEN, because if you truly want to see, He will show you. If you are sceptical, hey, that’s okay too. He understands. Again, what to do? Learn about who you are trying to believe in, and LISTEN. And to your friend who is losing his faith? He needs to do the same. Learn again, because in this world, it is so easy to forget what one does not physically see in front of them all the time. If he had faith once before, he can attain it again. And I believe he probably knows exactly what he needs to do. He may just need a little reminding of that and a little encouragement from you - Rhapsody.

I apologize for posting this separately from yours, but in keeping what you wanted on your post, I could not put it there. I hope you understand.

In all sincerity,

Altered State