His Perfect Timing and Plan

Recently my (Christian) granddaughter posted a plea on Facebook for her friends to “pray for her” as she wants to have another baby.

My granddaughter has Type 1 diabetes.

During her teenage years, she didn’t eat right and had a laissez-faire attitude about her condition (typical among many diabetic teenagers). Fortunately, when she reached adulthood, she became more serious about her health and started taking better care of herself. However, her neglect during her early years has resulted in her experiencing some of the symptoms of the disease.  Nothing too serious, but as is common to diabetes things will, unfortunately, worsen over the years.

When she became pregnant the first time (which, from what I understand, did not come easily), many in the family were concerned as complications are not unusual. As it turns out, she took care of herself and was able to deliver a healthy little girl.

Now she feels she is ready for a second child.

I’m unaware of the circumstances related to the struggles they had in her becoming pregnant the first time, but apparently they are again present … which is why she posted her plea on Facebook.

Naturally, her many friends rallied around her with the usual platitudes related to prayer. (“Praying for you; Keeping you in my prayers; Keep the faith, there’s power in prayer; Time to get back on my knees”). Non-believer grandma, however, posts this:

Have you considered the thought that perhaps it isn’t in Gods plan for you to have another child? Perhaps there’s a reason things are so difficult.

I was pleased when one of her friends wrote: “Everything is in His perfect timing and plan” as it seems to me this should be the mindset of every believer. If God truly loves and cares for his subjects as much as they want to believe, then why not simply leave things in “his” hands? Why must one petition God again and again and again … and recruit others in the faith to do the same?

Of course I know the answer. But I still have to ask the question.

She Begged God

I know I reference a lot of articles in my posts, but things I read trigger multiple thoughts that I feel compelled to share. Like this one.

Article title: “Family shares cautionary tale of addiction’s downward spiral.”

Sounds neutral enough, right? I mean, we all know the harmfulness of addiction. But wait … here’s the leading sentence:

Whitney Ferguson begged God to take away her addiction.

Next line?

Before the 25-year-old Knappa native died December 11 while undergoing detox in West Hollywood for heroin and methamphetamine use, she prayed for the strength to overcome the drug dependency that had derailed her life.

Her mother commented:

She was always trying, it seemed like, to stop. As a parent, you keep believing, you keep praying …

Yes.

You keep praying.

And praying.

And praying.

There’s no denying the story behind the article is tragic in that it describes all the terrible stuff drug addiction does to a person and how this girl went through “hell” trying to kick the habit. (I have little doubt some of you reading this know first-hand what drug addiction can do to a person AND a family.)

But what is truly tragic is believing prayer will change circumstances. It does not. It won’t. At the most, all prayer does is offer comfort to the person doing the praying.

In fact, when someone says prayer works, they are actually saying “My deity alters reality when I ask for it.” (Credit SiriusBizinus).

I know many Christians reading this will offer numerous examples why they believe prayers are answered. But the question always follows: What about all those OTHER times when nothing changed, even after the fervent prayer of the righteous (James 5:16, NRSV)?

Sad but true … begging god did not help Whitney.

 

Pray Tell: What Good Are Prayers?

ANOTHER shooting. This time in San Bernardino, CA. People on social media are sending “prayers” to those affected.

Why? What effect will prayer have after the fact? Would it have not been better to pray that “God” not allow such a scenario to ever take place?

I know. I essentially asked this same question in another posting. But it boggles my mind that so many believe the only answer to senseless tragedies such as this is … after-the-fact-prayer.

IF a god exists … WHY does “he” allow these things to take place?

In my mind, it simply confirms there is no “supernatural being” that is as interested in the human race as some would like to believe.

Question for Deconverts

This post is a bit different — no ranting. 😉 I’d just like some feedback from those of you who have left the faith on something that’s going on with me.

Life-long non-believers won’t really be able to answer my question, but of course, you’re welcome to add any input you might have.

Background

When I was a Christian and wanted something really bad to happen in my life, I always “prayed” and asked God to grant the desire of my heart. Sometimes (often) this meant “praying” a LOT in hopes of getting the answer I sought.

Occasionally, it felt like the prayer was “answered,” but more often things just continued to happen as they do in life and eventually the request, and the hoped-for response, was simply absorbed into everyday living.

Today

In my current life as a non-believer, I have something I really, really want (yea, need) to happen … but so far (even though I’ve done all the things I need to do to help things along), it hasn’t come to pass.

You probably know the saying “Old habits die hard,” and sure enough, I’ve actually found myself feeling the “urge” to ask someone/something (the universe?) for help in making this event become reality.

So, my question is this:

As someone who has left the faith and accepted/recognized that prayers to a non-entity are a waste of time, what have YOU done when in this type of situation?

Thanks!

P.S. This is not a medical emergency or anything like that.

The Time for Prayer

Illinois Valley Fire District photo

There currently are a LOT of fires burning in the state where I live (Oregon), as well as in neighboring states (Washington and California). As a result, people in the affected areas post frequently on Facebook with updates, pictures, and other news about the fires in their areas.

Among the many resulting comments to these posts, one word consistently pops up:  “Praying …”

Generally, people are directing their prayers to those who have been affected by the fire — either from having to evacuate (or even lose their homes) or, on a couple of occasions, the death of a firefighter.

While either scenario is terrible and one can’t help but experience empathy, the thought that keeps coming to my mind is … isn’t it a little late?

If you’re going to pray, why don’t you do it before the fire season starts … and then continue to do so throughout the entire summer? Pray that your god God prevents lightning from hitting trees during summer thunderstorms. Pray that your god God influences others not to use mowing and weeding equipment on dry grass and weeds. Or better yet, pray that your god God sends buckets of rain during the rainy season to keep the forests wet and less susceptible to fire.

Once a forest fire has ignited, the scene has been set. There is going to be destruction and sometimes loss of homes — and even lives. So prayers to your god God “after the fact” are pretty much next to useless. It may make you feel better because you’ve expressed your sympathy this way, but such prayers have little effect on the big picture.

Therefore, if you truly believe your god God is all-powerful and hears and answers prayer, wouldn’t the time for prayer be better before rather than after?

P.S. The picture above was taken just recently and was happening about 3 miles from where I live.