God Loves You But Sometimes Its Hard to Tell

God loves you but sometimes its hard to tell.

I have often despaired, because it seemed that God did not answer my prayers.

But I look at my life, during which I was guided by my love of God and obedience to his Commandments.

And because I followed God's laws, my life has turned out ok.

I am not in prison, I have no criminal record, I am not in trouble with the state bar.

I am still married to the same woman after 23 years of marriage.

I have three children who have normal problems, but have grown up to be good people.

I have much to be grateful for.

But my life would not have turned out so well if I was cheating my clients, abusing drugs or alcohol, cheating on my wife, or reading pornography.

So there is much to be said for living the life of a Christian.

 

Sounds like you lead a typical life that most people lead regardless of religious faith.

Do you think that if you had no religion that you would not have followed the same moral path that you have in your life?

 

Yeah, when I see what is happening to other people I don't think my life is typical.

I had a bunch that I hanged out with in college, and three of them are divorced, and one of them divorced twice.

They wonder how my wife and I stayed together, and I would tell them, but they wouldn't believe it.

And neither would you.

 

Which god? Zeus?

 

Well, I've despaired a lot less since quitting my belief in Mr. Deity. One problem with that belief is the "gimme" attitude that comes with it, expecting a non-existent being to give me what I want if I just ask for it with lots of faith.

You have to work for what you want. We are on our own (except where other human beings support us), so we need to quit worrying about fairies and take responsibility.

I am not in prison, have no criminal record, am not in trouble with... anyone. I'm not married, but I plan to remedy that eventually, and I am a one-woman kind of guy who plans to make a vow and keep it, as long as she holds up her end. I am not grateful to something imagined for what I have, but I am happy with who I am and where I'm going. So, there is much to be said for living the life of a non-believer.

 

If I were to pick a god, I think I'd go for one of the Norse variety. I trust in Odin!

 

You've only been married 23 years. That's not very long. It's like being a newlywed.

 

not sure I understand, are you saying without your religion you would of divorced your wife?

what religion were your friends?

I thought love kept people together... seems people of all religions have about the same divorce rate

.

 

You are right. It is hard to tell if God loves people.

His Love must have lapsed during the holocaust.

 

Hard? F'n impossible!

 

These are all great things to be happy about. I just hate it when people just heap the credit on God. I think you owe yourself some credit, too.

 

Double post...

 

Double post (again)

 

You describe the life of an "ethical" person--nothing uniquely Christian there.

 

Is you character so questionable that you would cheat clients, abuse drugs, or cheat on your wife if you didn't believe?

 

This is a personal anecdote. I could show you examples of all sorts of Christians with horrible lives. Just because your life doesn't totally suck doesn't mean that being a Christian is going to make your life magically better. You don't think Muslims or Atheists or Jews have good lives?


I'm an atheist. I own my own home free and clear at the age of 33. Not married, but I don't want to be. No kids and I love it that way. I'm healthy, in shape, smart, talented and have a better life than most people. Oh, and I look at porn on a regular basis. I don't read it, though. lol. There is so much to be said for living the life of an atheist.

 

Not to mention hurricans Katrina and Sandy, plus countless other natural disasters throughout history, and even those are just major, attention-grabbing events.. The world is chock full of suffering and death, no matter who prays for what.

 

Wins football games.
*Scumbag God meme*
Let's people starve to death.

 

I am not in prison, have no convictions, and my life is turning out fine, yet I am not a Christian. Religious beliefs don't determine the life you will lead.

 

Synchronicity. Psychology. Google it.

 

Yes indeed! God our Heavenly Father loves everyone no matter who you are...but because He is perfectly Holy He hates sin with a passion!

 

God still hates Esau.

 

God loves everyone so much it feels like indifference to the point of nonexistence.

 

The title of this thread is perfect. It gives no credence to the existence of God and a lot to the nature of humanity.

What you're basically saying whether you know it or not is that at times it appears God isn't listening or even paying attention, that when things are good God is involved and when they’re not God isn't abandoning you but rather letting you make your own mistakes. What you have is the illusion of Gods will and it gives you no credit. What you have said is the failure in your life is your own but your happiness must be contributed to God. If not then what exactly does God do?

I have a very good life and yes I've watched porn, (did you say read porn? That's oldschool) I've done drugs, never cheated anyone or on anyone and aside from when I was a child I've never believed in God and in fact spent over the last 12 years trying my best to show what nonsense religion is. I have a beautiful wife, two great kids, a good job, great family and friends, a house etc, etc, but why? In fact between all my friends and family which is split about half and half in regards to theism and atheism I can tell a (*)(*)(*)(*) bit a difference in the outcome of their lives.

Someone started a thread about a convict who was trusted by someone who believed they had changed by finding God and it cost them dearly. This is the happiness of credulity effect. You do not understand human nature because you reject it outright. How can we evolve as a species if we can’t truly learn about the nature of our existence?

No God: 1+1=2

With God: 1+Fairy=whatever the hell you want it to.

 

I re-read my post and realized I said "can tell a D bit of difference" rather than can't and it bothered me so I fixed it.