View Single Post
 
Old Dec 13, 2006, 03:25 AM
Rapunzel's Avatar
Rapunzel Rapunzel is offline
Legendary
 
Member Since: Jun 2003
Location: noplace
Posts: 10,284
I didn't think you were being negative. You asked a legitimate question that has a lot of meaning for you. There is a lot in that to understand.

Many times we pray and don't get the answer that we want. That happens for a number of reasons, but the key words are "that we want." It isn't that He didn't listen or doesn't care. Sometimes the answer is "no." And sometimes we can't understand why the answer is no.

One reason is that everyone has agency, so when you asked for God to stop the fighting, your parents had agency to choose their actions (and responsibility for the consequences), and God won't take away anybody's agency. That would be like not letting you finish a test because at the moment you're not doing so hot. But you still have the right to keep on trying and hope that you do better later on. It wouldn't be fair to take that away, or to make you put down the right answers.

Another reason is that what we ask for isn't always the very best for us. Again, we can't understand why. But maybe there is some understanding that you gained or will gain from being a helpless child listening to your parents fight. Maybe because of that you will be able to help someone else, or you will know what to do when you face another difficult experience later on. It's not for us to say why.

Have you ever prayed and just asked God if you are acceptable to Him and if He loves you? Try it, and really listen for the answer. It might be a silent answer that you will feel somehow. You do have to be open to it. I have, and I was answered, and sometimes I still forget momentarily but I can't deny that I did get an answer to that question, and that you can too.
__________________
“We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impression to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of.”
– John H. Groberg