I know, I know… God’s timing is perfect and He will give us the desires of our hearts. I’m both familiar with these truths and believe they hold true.
But that being said, REALLLLLY, tho… God is ignoring me.
…and the two pregnancy tests in my hand are proof.
Fun fact: Did you know it takes three years for an unused pregnancy test to expire? –THREE – flipping – YEARS!!!! Yet here they are; unopened, and expiring in two months.
As I ran my fingers along the foil packaging this last week, I couldn’t help but think how those two pieces of plastic were such incriminating proof that God had been letting all of my calls go straight to voicemail (at least in this area.) How those two pregnancy tests were purchased, you guessed it… three years ago. But how we’ve wanted a baby for so much longer than that (5 1/2 years to be exact.)
I thought back to when my daughter was 6 months old and we started trying to have another child. How God closed that door. How I had pleaded with Him to allow me to be pregnant by my daughter’s 2nd birthday. How I watched as her 3rd…4th…5th… birthdays came and went, with no hope of a baby in sight. How she turned six this month.
“You’re right,” God acknowledged, “…I have been ignoring you.”
(And strangely, He didn’t even try to deny it.)
In Matthew 15 (MSG) a woman is pleading with Jesus for a miracle. She asks not once… not twice… but numerous times. Yet, scripture says something shocking:
It says, …Jesus ignored her. (The Bible’s words, not mine.)
Even still, we watch as the woman refuses to be deterred. But Jesus takes it a step further…
…He refuses her.
I don’t know about you, but I could have handled the times God ignored me. But when He refused me? Well… quite frankly, that enraged me!
How I had prayed over that empty room in my home, believing it would one day hold all the memories and onesies of my next child. How I had imagined where I’d position the crib and the color I would paint the walls, and how I celebrated the miracle it was that my husband and I were – even considering – having another baby (when just a couple of years earlier, we were much more preoccupied with looking up divorce attorneys.)
How despite all of my hopes and prayers and belief for that baby, the room stayed empty and unpainted; how instead, the medical bills piled on the counter next to the coffee pot after the miscarriage.
Believe me when I say, I know God’s refusal stings. Much like when your toddler unnecessarily swipes you across the face with the palm of their hand as you’re feeding them a spoonful of peas. How everything in you wants to grab God sternly by the hand and declare, THAT. WAS. NOT. NICE. How at times you can almost feel Him laughing at you. At best, He’s not taking you seriously.
I’m sure the woman in the passage felt the same way. But nevertheless, she refused to budge in her belief.
We find her on her hands and knees now; begging… pleading… believing… for the miracle she heard He’s capable of doing. She’s heard all about this man named Jesus and what others have said He can do, and now she wants to see it with her own eyes. She refuses to relinquish her position until she does.
And it says this:
…Jesus gave in.
Don’t miss this sequence of events:
Jesus ignored her.
Jesus refused her.
…Jesus gave in.
God is ignoring you, you’re right… This won’t be a post trying to talk you out of that. (Though I’m sure there are beautiful ones that smell like rainbows and unicorns and are titled ‘God’s timing is perfect’ that may try. This just isn’t one of them.)
I’m here today not to change your mind, but to pose a question — A question straight to the area in which you feel most ignored by God, and the very thing you’ve nearly given up believing for because of it. (It’s the same question God put on my heart this last month when the birthday festivities and those two plastic sticks, represented every unanswered prayer I have prayed.)
God is asking us to consider this:
How many times have we given up, right before He was about to give in?
How many times have we given up on a dream… a calling… heck, a person… right before God was about to swoop in and do what only He can do?
Because like the woman in this passage, our most unrelenting pleas have indeed been rejected (God’s not denying that.) But what if they’re just one step away from being answered?
What if we’re right, God’s rescue is nowhere in sight… but what if it’s also just around the corner?
That’s how it was for Paul.
In Acts 27:20, Paul says these words while hopelessly lost at sea, “It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. Wind and waves were battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue.”
I wonder how many prayers Paul cried out to God before he lost all hope of rescue? Because here’s the thing… it was just around the corner.
If you’re like me, you haven’t seen the sun or stars in a long time. Not only has God ignored you, He’s refused you, and now it seems you’ve been enveloped in this storm for so long, that you fear the miracle you’ve been praying for will never happen. Or worse, that God is no longer listening. Sometimes you swear you can even feel Him laughing at you.
You’ve sent out well over 100 resumes and received not even a single call back. The nursery has stayed empty for going on 6 years now, and the pregnancy tests aren’t just negative, they aren’t even opened! You’ve cried. You’ve gotten on your hands and knees. You’ve said something to God to the tone of, THAT. WAS. NOT. NICE!!!
And you know what we’ve received in return?
*crickets…
Notta.
Nothing.
God’s not denying that. He’s simply asking why we lost hope in the miracle because of it? Why do we falsely believe that because we can’t see the sun and stars today? Somehow, that means they no longer exist at all.
Today God’s asking us to take hold of the prayer we’ve given up praying, and to believe for the miracle it would be that His redemption and the fulfillment of that prayer is right around the corner.
His redemption for you, for me & baby Ortiz.
UPDATE 9/9/24: For those asking, God is still ignoring me and I’m still writing about it (and about a bunch of other stuff He is doing in my life that I don’t *right now* understand) Check it out HERE —Along with some posts listed below that might encourage you that you aren’t alone, that God is not done, and He can handle your toughest questions in the meantime. Crawling through the trenches with you ❤
Other Posts that Will Encourage You:
I’m Doing Everything God Wants Me to Do, and I’m Disappointed By the Results
When God feels Far & His Love Nonexistent
Krista Ortiz 
YES. Waiting, praying, hoping, crying, and slapping that hand too. Thank you for the reminder to not give up – to keep on believing.
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Hi, I was near to give up everything. Even suicide. Thank you, I have read your story and I honestly looked to Heaven and told God I will not give up, for He will answer my prayer. Jesus Bless you
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Thank you for this comment and for your vulnerability. I have been there more times than I would like to admit and have made the same decision you made to not give up (And God has never failed to show up for me and make things right — not always in the time frame I would have wanted, but always, nonetheless.) Praying that God shows up for you in the next few days and weeks to show you that He sees you, that He hasn’t forgotten you, and that He has such gloriously wonderful days prepared for you in the future. Thanks again for your vulnerability. You are so much braver than you realize.
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True for everyone but me. God needs a punching bag and I’m it continually hit. My prayers is for him to take me.
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I feel the same way
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I have prayed multiple times to God to take me away cause i dont want to live no more. Sounds crazy but thats how rejected i feel by God. He doesnt listen, he rejects. And everyone sings – God is beautiful and amazing, whole Bible is full of his miracles. But He decided that nop, i will be the one that will suffer. And i cant do anything about it. Jeah suffering brings us freedom, just like Jesus suffered for us so we can be free.
But, f**k. I cant anymore. im out
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Not sure if this will help anyone here, but I started working with a man who used to be a psychologist for 25 years until he concluded it just doesn’t work and he wasn’t able to help people. Now he does a very simple prayer with people suffering like all of us here. He said grief and anger are what keeps us from hearing God and feeling like he ignores us because we can’t hear through our pain. That has helped me. Everyone with trauma has a lot of grief and anger. As I clear some anger at God and people, I have started hearing him a little more. His technique is very simple, you just make a very honest list of what you’re angry about and ask Jesus to carry it for you. It’s helped me more than my 20 years of crying, yelling at God, begging, therapy, etc. I’m at least not suicidal now.
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You and me both, my friend. I am not even asking for some big miracle. He just doesn’t like me. I can actually FEEL it. I started to read Stephen King when I was 10 years old, and it was HIM (not God) who cleared it all up for me. In one of his stories he retold the biblical tale of Job, and he wrote something like: “God punished Job in every way imagineable, he took his children, his servants, his livelihood, and even gave him a bunch of boils all over his body, therefore, Job looked up to Him and cried ‘Why? Why do you do these things to me?’ and God paused and said, ‘I don’t know….there’s just something about you that pisses me off.” My life immediately made sense for the first time…..
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My heart goes out because you are in a place of despair. You are loved, J. Don’t doubt it. If you aren’t familiar with Job, I would suggest reading his story. If you are, I would suggest studying it in depth along with reading certain Psalms. They are tons that you would relate to. If it starts I a way you don’t identify with, skip it.
God sees you. He loves you. You are not his punching bag. You don’t know what’s going on begins the scenes—just keep glomming to Him. Prayer, worship, fellowship will keep you hanging on in ways you don’t realize til after.
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I’m here now. I don’t even feel like He’s laughing at me. I feel like I don’t exist for Him. I’ve been battling with my health. It’s getting worse and I’ve prayed and pleaded and cried so many times but there’s no relief. I’d even welcome death now but even that isn’t given to me.
I’m so tired. I don’t know what to do anymore.
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Hej I’ve been there. Struggling with chronic pain, chronic illness, severe anxiety, ptsd and depression. All while having to put up with an abusive family and burying both parents. I’m not even 30. And being married or having kids is what I call normal people privileges. Some days I wish I had covid so at least I would know when I would join my mum. The only thing that’s brought me through is being supported by Christian friends who fast and pray. Seeking out healing and deliverance ministries for prayer. I honestly think I would have committed suicide if I had not received prayer from Godly people. (not exactly delighted to be alive, but at least I don’t spend my days bent over in agony) I think I understand what you mean by being so tired, like you don’t feel able to take on anymore suffering. I genuinely hope you can find Godly Christians who will support you through this. God bless you
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Wow, that is so sad.. and I feel the exact thing, I haven’t even had a full night’s rest like in 7 months, I hate my life
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Sorry to hear that. Ill pray for you. I know the feeling and sympathize. I have no answer, just that your not alone. If I could change it I would. Hope God give you what you want and need.
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As a young christian teenager, I believed that god would send that special mate.
I waited, believed, praying, expecting.
I’m 64 now and realizing it’s never going to happen.
Seems like I could have at least have gotten an explanation of WHY!
I still wait for god to answer my prayers. Still being ignored.
Even just a friendly encounter would be evidence that god heard me and answered.
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I feel the same as you, I’m always ignored and have prayed for the same thing
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I understand! God frustrates me! I feel I have wasted so many years living a surrendered or restricted way of life, unlike the heathens who do what they please and see NO BENEFIT!
In fact it even seems that God BLESSES to pagans and unbelievers more than His own! Work that out…..
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God ignores all people throughout our lives, but then goes in about how mighty he is. Through his little trials and games, he allows anxiety, depression, OCD and PTSD to develop and worsen until a person is sick with several mental illnesses. While we’re suffering, he’s demanding faith. While we’re exhausted, he’s confused and uninterested. Mental illnesses are serious and debilitating diseases. Anxiety is no joke yet God downplays it saying, “don’t be anxious for anything?” His little games are the reasons the person has anxiety. I’ve completely lost my faith. I believe in God. I don’t think he’s that big.
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I’m so sorry to hear of your pain and frustration. I understand as I have a daughter that was stricken with a autoimmune disease and have to watch her be limited to a lot of things that other children have the privileges’ to do. This is my youngest daughter and of course I prayed and prayed that God wouldn’t allow it to be so but it is. However, what I have and still am learning in this journey called life is that God as the writer well stated sometimes doesn’t say anything. Sometimes he answers yes, sometimes HIS answer is wait, and as hard as it is for us to except sometimes He says no. God want always turn our situations around as we think He should. Sometimes He will simply give you the strength to endure and in this God sends other people our way with similar struggles so that we can be that comforting agent of strength in the midst of life’s disparities. The biggest reality I had to except is that God want always maneuver things to our liking but will often give us the strength to cope.
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Angelique
God has never failed me but 2years now crying and praying 🙏 He is so silent. And my depression is not going away. I even call on Jesus, but it seems his busy too.
I fail to understand why Jesus said whenever you need me call on me and ill be there. When he doesn’t even bother.I have lost count of how many times I’ve been calling on him.
I even ask God to take me from this world. I have had enough, still he doesn’t want to do that.
*God I need you in my life Please Help Me* Do not be so silent 😔I need you Father.
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I have to agree,that this bit about rescue coming just around the corner is a game at best. It was never intended,which of s the real reason to be ignored and rejected. What good is a life preserver, if it’s tossed your way after you’ve drowned and sank ?? Rescue that comes too late is NOT rescue ! It’s something for God’s benefit, but that all it is. I have to finally agree with some leaders,who say that an ungodly heritage – which I DO have, can be the reason things are so hard. One person in an ungodly family will be singled out,and scapegoated to be punished for the sin of the entire family. Most ministers will say that you don’t need prayers for generational curses, that Jesus did it all on the cross. Win Worked and Bill Schoenblen do say that a person with a background like mine won’t ever have a normal life, and will come under attack,lack support,and God’s wrath rests on my unrepentant relatives. They don’t pay, though- I do. Point being, just being able to make it to Heaven will have to be enough. The American Dream is just a dream for many, with abusive,God- haters for family. So we don’t have the luxury of turning against God or Jesus and walking away. I can’t blame anyone who feels this way,just the same. Life will always be harder for US. I’m resigned to that. Once- saved- always- saved is a mistake,and that’s why walking away from God is dangerous. So I can’t recommend that.
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I gave up asking for friends…..25 years later….I don’t care anymore. I do care that at least two of my adult children are being ignored by God also. And the desires of their hearts are not only being denied them…its being rubbed in their faces out of their control. It says in Roman’s that God chooses who he bestows blessings. We’re not those he choose. I am tired of chasing after him.
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Are things still the same?
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These are the dangling carrot verses so many hooray henry me me me ‘aren’t we doing well’ selfish Churchianity types love to quote when they are gloating at us because ‘life is so good’ for them!! They are the ‘haves’, we are the ‘havenots’!!
Psalm 37: 4: Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 7: 7-8: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
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I can understand.i have prayed for a healing and then I didn’t have cancer anymore, they cut out my kidney. I was praising god so much and then boom! There is a growth in my ureatha. Brought me down big time. I’m hurt ,dissapointed because I actually beleived he helped. E. So now I don’t know what to think. I just know I pray for healing and no one is listening. Feeling betrayed or like a fool
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True. Especially if you come from a family that God hates and dumps on. I didn’t have children because I just felt that they’d have it hard, like I do,and I couldn’t protect them from people or God. If you can’t find good friends, part of it is just plain old rotten American culture. People are narcissistic and shallow, lots of materialism. I made a few friends over the decades,but they all died off. Only abusive people are left, and they’re not going anywhere ! I can’t get rid of THOSE kinds of people.
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Yes, yes, yes. But what happens when time on earth runs out? My mother/family/friends prayed and prayed for a son lost in addiction, for his restoration. By the time he conquered addiction, his mind was about burned out from the drugs and alcohol, ended up dying from lung cancer. How was that an answer to prayer? Now as a mother myself of an opiate addicted son, who is currently in recovery, I live with the fear that an odd twitch or chemical misfire could undo all the progress he’s made. It’s just so hard sometimes. I never stop believing in the miracle, I guess I’ve seen so many unanswered or when the answer is “refused”, that it’s hard to believe it will ever happen, even though I keep hoping. I keep hoping and praying to turn the corner and see the blessings some get to where it all makes sense. But for now, it’s just unending pleading and praying. I read a quote not too long ago – “For as long as we breathe, we hope”. This life doesn’t make sense to me at times.
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Perhaps the Judeo-Christian based faiths are a hoax and a lie.
Clever people must have written the scriptures because the promises and hope DO NOT MATCH WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF DAILY LIVING FOR A PERSON WHO HAS PRACTICED THESE BELIEFS IN SINCERITY!!!
Let’s face it, there are more holes in the New Testament translations and the 30,000 Christian denominations that all claim to be ‘the way’ that in a slice of Swiss Cheese!!
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But you see, sometimes what you are asking for is not good for your salvation, so instead of giving you what you are asking for, God gives you what you NEED for your soul. I’ve been praying and praying and praying that my marriage be saved. My husband is due to leave this house, oh……yeah……today. Except he’s not. He’s still here and still saying he’s leaving, while finding excuse after excuse as to why he’s still here. Now mind you, I DO NOT want him to leave. After 42 years of loving him, (and most of the time I still do), I want him with me here. It would be even better if he were here still loving me and being the wonderful man I knew for 42 years, but I’d even settle for the p.i.t.a. he has become, (while still praying for him to soften his heart and me to love him through the nastiness), in the hope that it will work out. I believe with all my heart that God does NOT want marriages to break up. They aren’t contracts, they are covenants, and you don’t mess with a covenant between you, someone else, and God. But what God has been saying to me is what I want is NOT good for my salvation for Him to answer that particular prayer. Now mind you, I haven’t totally given up. I’ve just changed the prayer a bit, tweaked it here and there and still have the bottom line of “save my marriage”, but with a big dose of “save OUR souls” and a “please help me become the woman You want me to be that I may live in Your perfect will.” I don’t know why my husband is still here. It doesn’t matter why. I’m just thanking God for each day and wondering over everything that is playing out, and still storming heaven for my marriage to last till death, not man, do us part.
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Hey Joria it’s been years since you posted this. How is the situation between you and your husband now? I relate a lot to everything you said so I am hoping by hearing things got better for the two of you, same can happen to my boyfriend and i..
I truly hope God answered your prayer and you feel peace and love as is necessary for your soul.
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So what being homeless is my destiny nah fuck that im done its either god give my my GODDAMN blessing or im giving up ive been waiting forever and nothing ever since i was born god has been ignoring me im starting to believe there is no god
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I definitely needed this read today. I had given up praying for that one thing that I so desperately hoped for over the last 18 years, and although it is something I still hope for I was/am tired of being disappointed… this helped me realize that I need to continue. God is there, God Loves me and he knows the end of the story.
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I lived with being told I was infertile for 15 yrs. I just had my first baby in May and am pregnant with my second. This morning, I kid you not, my morning was spent praying for the mama’s fighting to have a baby. I know the pain. I know the heartache every time you get your period after it was late. I’m terribly sorry God hasn’t answered this for you, but I will continue to pray and plead to him for you and many other women who struggle.
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This is amazing tara! Amazing to think you were praying that on the exact day I posted this! Celebrating god’s miracles in YOUR life!! Because that same powerful god is working on my behalf! 🙌🏼
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Good for you, clearly gloating when many are suffering……….
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I have been divorced for ten years now….I remember praying and fasting til I lost alot of weight and refused to eat until I heard from God…my ex just got remarried I have not had boyfriend or any real relationship for 10 years. Yes I have made mistakes because of lonliness. Each church I join the ppl either ignore me or I always feel like an outsider. I suffer from depression daily and my body constantly has so many issues. I live most of days in physical pain. All I ask is for someone to talk too.I told God I can deal with health issues, my disconnect from my family, my job that I dislike, my kids that dont appreciate me but all I desire is to get remarried. I have so much pressure on me everyday and just miss that companionship n someone to hold me through the pain……In faith I have written my vows, guest list menu and even colours.I fasted and fasted and prayed and prayed til I just gave up. I am the butt of everyone’s single jokes. It may sound like such a silly or simple thing but I always believed that a God that did so many miraculous things as small as this request is would hear me….mentally I am trying to hold together but I am struggling bad.
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I hope you are right! Thank you for your messages..
in the midst of my pain and hurt as my husband goes ahead with a divorce petition in the next coming weeks.. I am slowly losing all hope and all faith and trust in man and God.
And it breaks me to say that.
All i want is one simple answer, should i stand or not for the man i love and for my marriage.. And all i get is silence.. Are my prayers not enough?
I do know God has only good things planned for me. But its very difficult when the road ahead looks lonely and bleak.
I can only try and have faith that my answer is just around the corner.
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You’re so beautiful. Thank you so much.
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Thank you for this Krista. This week I have given up. For the past 4 years I have prayed every day and asked god to give my daughter strength and to make sure that the brain tumour that she had removed never returned. This week we found out that it has. I have never felt so alone and questioned my faith the way I have this week. Thank you for the message and the inspiration.
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I feel you, I am so sorry. You start to wonder if you’re saying the right things, and become so superstitious you begin to wonder things like: am I standing in the right direction when praying? Is Jesus communication thwarted and distorted due to WiFi? Then words and messages start manifesting in the mind.. not Jesus or Fathers voice, it’s your own voice. So you become fixated and proving it’s Him and not your voice.. spoiler: there is NO way to verify if he’s not talking to you. I’ve walked away, the frustration has me considering suicide nearly daily. Never was the the case prior to me ‘seeking Jesus’.
Wish I could go back to the way things were and never have gone down this path because now.. I am a hardcore drug addict and my life is falling apart. Never should’ve read the Bible with intent to prove the myth true.. my bad
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Christians love to say: “God will judge ever word and deed on Judgement Day” in a manner and motive of looking down at you because they have “worked out how to live by faith” yet they also FAIL to demonstrate and GRACE, COMPASSION, LOVE or KINDNESS but they are quick to judge as HYPOCRITES.
90% of the Church in the West is packed with FALSE CHRISTIANS.
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I appreciate how you’re straight forward about saying he probably is, but I don’t like your example. In Matt. 15, Jesus actively says no to a person and they persist. In my case, I’ve prayed and didn’t even hear a refusal, it’s been like talking to the wind. I wouldn’t be the same kind of crushed if I were like David when he was praying for the child to live and God informed him it wouldn’t. It’s more that he’s my heavenly father but he’s much more confusing than an earthly one; if my dad wasn’t taking my calls I’d know we had an issue. With God I’m just left puzzled and sad with no means of resolution that I know of.
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Awesome way to put it. I’m afraid he’s not real man, if he is he’s given up or never cared in the first place
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Well said! The way God as a Father treats us as His Children would never be acceptable if we treated our own children in like manner! It would be classed as abuse. God gets away with it because most Christians are self-appointed body guards and bouncers thinking they need to defend God!!! Pathetic muppets.
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You don’t see God in the correct like. You say “the way God treats us as children, would be considered abuse.” But what you fail to realize is that God does not answer to us! He is no mere man that He should answer to 5he authority of man!
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This is exactly what I needed. I’ve been depressed for 11 years and feeling purposeless. I’m been seeking for peace, some kind of change in my heart and I’m really really struggling, but I guess I’ll hold to this belief that my blessing is around the corner, because if it isn’t then I’m as good as dead.
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God has given up on all of us.
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That’s what I think, which is fine but damn when we get our hopes up and dedicate 750 days building a one sided relationship with Jesus, doing everything the Bible says.. yeah it’s frustrating
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Sorry ma’am, that’s incorrect, I’m sorry if this post or the comments have made you feel this way, the culture here is not very insightful and incites anger, confusion, and sadness.
You could talk to God about this, not exactly expecting an audible answer like we would with a human, he has reached out to people in ways that are pretty fascinating, I hope that your thoughts will be changed on this subject.
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Perhaps the Judeo-Christian based faiths are a hoax and a lie.
Clever people must have written the scriptures because the promises and hope DO NOT MATCH WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF DAILY LIVING FOR A PERSON WHO HAS PRACTICED THESE BELIEFS IN SINCERITY!!!
Let’s face it, there are more holes in the New Testament translations and the 30,000 Christian denominations that all claim to be ‘the way’ that in a slice of Swiss Cheese…..
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It’s funny, I’ve never considered suicide as a viable option, in fact I had never been able relate to those who somehow feel like that’s the better of two options. Well in 2017 I began slipping off track, making big mistakes, all this coinciding with me asking Jesus into my life. I had a lot of positive confirmations, lots of messages and blah blah blah..
Life has gotten horrendous and I am not even praying for anything anymore, just crying until I’m sick of living begging and pleading for Him to please just give me the comfort of knowing He’s really there. That knowing would improve my life, mindset, attitude etc.
I just hate this, this sucks so bad, I’ve fasted and waited almost two years for something.. anything. Spending time studying word and praying over working and making money, making personal improvement. So sick of this I get sick every time I think of Him and all this delusional junk.
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To me, it sounds as though that relationship with God was a bit too formal, I hope that is cathartic to hear, fasting and praying are things that we do for God, but sometimes we find ourselves doing those actions themselves without meaning anything, it’s like how some people can pray the Rosary twice in a day, but end up not having a relationship with God.
Sorry you’re feeling that way, I think the person who wrote this post and some of the commenters have got God wrong, I’m not condemning them at all, I hope they are happy to realize that God is not so despotic as they have thought him to be.
There are a lot of ideas in the comments that are insanity-inducing, which is FAR from what God wants.
I’d be happy to elaborate, just so you know, if you ever get that “bored and legalistic” feeling from seeing stuff related to God (I certainly get that, it happened to the saints, which I aspire to be one of,) either because it brings back bad memories, it just feels empty, or you are emotional and confused (I can really relate to that,) then just know that these are normal things, and don’t let those stay in your head, try and rejoice in God, you won’t regret it.
I suggest you join the Catholic Church, unlike what many people may say, we are Christians, and we don’t worship Mary (we ask her to pray directly to God for us.)
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would there be a way i could reach you and we talk a bit about this? i really need someone to talk to, none of my friends are Christians and i need this perspective and comfort. i am exhausted and starting to feel hopeless and would just like a word with someone that is a Christian. if u have instagram u can find me at @teodosijevic_tea
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Were is this bend or corner that holds the answers. I have prayed for 40 years for help getting out of poverty. I am still waiting. I thank God for Jesus and all that means, but I don’t understand why God is taking so long. I too wish God would at least give some indication that He hears me. God’s perfect timing would be a lot easier to accept with a little input from God, not this never ending silence. I grew up in poverty in a rural area with no opportunity to get a decent education. Thus I have never been able to afford high priced education or training. Lack of education left me without any skills to help me get a decent paying job. The basic cycle of poverty. You said to not give up, but decades of unanswered prayers has left me with precious little faith. I have been depressed as long as I can remember. I also have come to realize that a big part of this depression is because of God’s inaction. If God needs me to change something before He will answer my prayers, I need God to tell me what I need to change. I fix anything if I don’t know what is wrong. God’s silence is destroying me. I guess that I will have to die before God will pay attention to me. The only thing stopping me from ending this life is my fear of a Hell worse than the Hell I’m already in. I try everyday to believe that God cares about me, but the silence makes it impossible.
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Too late for me. I’m 64 and no baby. No husband now either. After 22 years of trying to make the marriage a success it failed and I got divorced.
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I firmly believe in God’s grace and limitless love. I just do not believe that it is available to everyone. Some people are immensely blessed by God and they live lives of witness and wonder. Some people totally ignore God and their lives still are blessed by God. And a few people, like me and others. try to speak with God and all we get is nothing. Even if God said No to me, it would be better than being ignored. I still hold out hope for others and most of them are blessed, but I neither hope for nor expect anything for me from God.
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Hi Mark,
I completely agree with you. I can’t comprehend how happy, grateful, thankful, content, for the No answer. My soul would do backflips over that. I can’t describe how much even No would mean to me. Over 40 years of nothing takes a toll on you, both physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. That No answer would be the healing stroke. I keep being told that I am delusional for wanting an audible answer. Like God can’t speak audibly without something bad happening if you actually heard His voice. I say how many times in the Bible does speak too people without them dieing, so why not me or you? I believe that God’s silence is the destroyer of faith, just mix in time. Nice to read that other people think like me. I read that you don’t expect anything from God, but I’ll say it anyway. God Bless You Mark, in Jesus name. Amen
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My biggest fear is that the pain, and sorrow, and sense of loss will be waiting for me when I die. And then it will be for eternity. Long time to be ignored…forsaken. An eternal broken heart is more than any soul could possibly bear. So I continue to pray for my miracle. Not really for my hope and dream anymore…but to save my poor soul.
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I just ran across this. I cried even more after i read not to give up on my prayer. Its so difficult. I feel like giving in because at times i lose all hope as to whether this will actually happen for me. I feel tired. And hopeless. I dont want this hurt and all the crying. i guess ill stay the course.
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Hi I’ve been praying for years and no response. I feel so alone . I don’t really want to live without God but he just ignores me. It makes me so sad but I’m going to try and enjoy my life as much as I can. Just trying to be a good person and help others when I can. I’m on my own and I’m making my peace with that
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I understand you. I’m pretty much on my own too, with the exception of a.couple acquaintances, after I left dysfunctional family. I resent God for allowing my life to be broken and I’ve grown tired of praying for God’s restoration amd direction while He only seems to be silent. I cursed and Him and told Him our relationship was over, as I feel mistreated by Him
You’re not alone.
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I can’t believe I read the entire thing. I guess the only positive thing that was present in this spiel is that a Christian woman had a miscarriage – that way she didn’t have to end up brainwashing another child. Please do not attempt to mate anymore. Spend those time trying to what you Christians do best – cherrypicking favorable scriptures and events to indoctrinate weak people.
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My question is why? It’s seems like a game. Why not acknowledge the people on the brink of losing hope or faith who are crying out for help? Only to then damn them to “hell” because they didn’t keep faith. Faith in what? Unanswered pleas, no proof of existence, and the world crumbling around them. I was raised Catholic but I’m now 20 and am growing more and more confused on what the point of this all is.
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Thank you Krista. I was in that pit again tonight, searched and landed on your article, was expecting you flip on faith judging by your initial tone. I was on that verge of breaking too. Thank you for sticking to the truth in the end. You helped me stick to mine today.
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Well, I’ve given up, admittedly. It is apparent I’m cursed, for whatever the reasons. I’ve always done right, done right by others, but this decade of hell is about all I can stand. It’s clear to me there is no higher power; and it’s just to make people feel better, to keep positively thinking. Otherwise, man would turn into its primal self and take what he wanted.
You are welcome to show me I am wrong.
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Jesus giving in is not just right around the corner. Not for me. I’m done. I’m done with the unanswered prayers. He’s not saying “no” to my prayers. He’s not responding to them at all. I’ve given up. The God I “know”, if I know him at all, is cruel and arbitrary and not worth following if this is how he’s going to treat me.
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I can relate to every one of these comments. Every word of this excruciating pain. Ironically it led me to pray. I found myself praying for everyone who commented here and pouring out to the Lord the prayers for others that I’m too weak to pray for myself. Telling him they’re in pain and can’t even get a breath from the hopelessness. I am in the same pain myself but was able to release that in prayer for others. Interestingly, I saw the Lord’s compassion for each person. I think I will do it again as it helped me remember who God is again a little bit. Another interesting thing that I thought while praying was that all here are God’s people who need love and people and what if God could get people like us together in real life because we all need the same thing and he provides needs through his people. Anyway, I ache for everyone who is hurting and after praying am convinced God sees each one and will help.
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Couldn’t agree with you more. I started praying for them also. And somehow God is using even what seems to be hopeless messages for me to feel His compassion for all of us. It is my understanding that we will suffer and our life here on earth is not about us. It’s not about our desires or comfort or healing or goals. It’s hard to understand why God doesn’t do everything we ask when we do what we are told, we follow Jesus’ example (not perfectly), but we keep climbing back up on the horse and trying in faith.
I don’t what the answers are for myself or anyone. But I can at least say that we are not alone in our pain, we have each other…and that could be God’s way of blessing us in this difficult life we live.
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I really wish I could believe this, but I can’t. How many kept their faith, kept holding on, kept waiting, and then died, never having received the help they begged God for countless times?
“God’s timing is perfect” – I have a hard time squaring that with him deciding to help only after I’m already dead (if ever).
God ignored me. In fact, from his utter silence (my entire life), I think it’s safe to assume he’s refused me as well. But I don’t believe for a second that he’s about to give in. He’s God. He doesn’t have to change his mind about anything, ever, least of all the needs of some schmuck like me.
God’s not here to help me. I’m here to be a tool for him to use, and to use without any regard to my happiness or well-being. I’m nothing more to him than a wrench.
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This is very interesting.
I am in a situation where I have prayed almost every day for the last 3 years apart from the times I have lost faith and fallen out with God.
That I’m itself is a sin because I have doubted Him. I do my best in life and if he would only rid me of the situation I am in, I could do more, much more.
He couldn’t rid me of all this in 1 second and I would be a new man in seconds, and no harm would be done to anyone, only Good.
I only want Good and to be able to go home to pay all the Bills and be with my family.
It would benefit my wife, Daughter, son, Brother and sister, all of us would be released from this ongoing hell.
Why won’t He help, I go to mass when I can and would go more if all this went because I would be better placed. I have confessed in a confession box 3 times.
There is lots more but I am not wanting to blow my own trumpet, all I want is peace, love to be happy and to help anyone I can, even strangers like I always have.
I need God in my life but it looks like he is not interested.
Every day is Fear, Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Crying.
I don’t Understand.
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I’m seriously considering suicide. The and I certainty is too much to bear. I can’t cope anymore.
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Christine, I am so sorry. I know the feeling and was there again tonight. But recently I have had glimmers of hope. I felt like God whispered for me to look at the cross and really think about what it meant for him to shed blood for me and to open my heart to the idea that he actually loves me. I’ve heard him say for awhile “that isn’t me”. That he doesn’t ignore and that he gave everything, his very life, for my trauma, that he is the only person who did not ignore or look away but faced it head on. He does love us. I had yelled at him tonight and cried and said I can’t do it anymore. But lately he has been gently telling me to look at what he did on the cross because that’s who he really is and everything else is a lie. Satan wants you dead. Jesus bought you with a very high price. I don’t know your story but mine is full of abuse and I came to believe God is abusive and doesn’t care. It certainly feels like it. I am praying for you right now because I hate this horrible place you’re in, it is the worst feeling in the world and makes me angry at whatever caused it. I pray God will send you hope. Real hope. Soon.
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I have been struggling with sin for over 20 years. I’ve tried repenting, fasting, praying, confessing, joining men’s group, telling my spouse, counseling, deliverance prayer, church, etc. Everything and I can’t get any help from God. In fact, I feel ignored by God. I think I’ve finally realized what the problem is, my pain and anger from my mother dying and my father abandoning me. I used to find comfort in God’s presence but I can’t feel that anymore so I find comfort in sin. I hate it and want God’s presence but I feel stuck. I keep trying to move on but I fail daily almost. I’m so weak and discouraged. Jesus have mercy on me
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He didn’t feel like he would get enough praise and media coverage for an unknown entity. Who do you think you are, Mary Magdalene? God is an attention whore, after all. Not a problem solver. A begger for praise, but a giver of empty hopes amd failed promises(also known as lies).
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Wait, God has been ignoring you for only 5 and a half year? Girl! It’s been 18 years and counting for me. And the hard truth is…we’re not getting any younger. My miracle isn’t about having kids, but still I don’t want my miracle at an age I don’t even feel enthusiastic anymore. It’s like if God sometimes forgets we the folks are mortal beings.
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Well said. I often wonder why these blog writers seem to be written by attractive, comfortable/affluent women like the author? You never seem to see more average looking overweight middle aged authors for some reason? Why? Not marketable??
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God has been ignoring me actually for 12 years (I wrote this many years ago) I’m still writing new things on the topic. Feel free to follow along!
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To all the people that have posted here and are suffering and have given up on GOD. I hear you. I sympathize and feel your pains because I too can relate to your despair.
Rather than tell you my tales of woe, I want to point out a passage in one of the 4 Gospels about prayer. Jesus says: WHEN YOU PRAY DO SO AS IF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS ALREADY GRANTED IT. DO NOT PRAY BY PLEADING AND ASKING FOR HE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT YOU DESIRE AND NEED. THEREFORE PRAY BELIEVING THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED UNTO YOU. This is the Secret to prayer. It has already begun to work for me. But not always. That’s because Jesus has a “timeline” as to when it will be granted. But then again, sometimes it will never be granted. That is the Great Mystery that no one can understand. This where the patience of Faith comes in. Please look it up in the New Testament for the section where the prayer teaching is written. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.
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I don’t know why, but that just reminds me of a (not quite toxic but) controlling relationship. It’s like a person who will always refuse your offer but still likes to be asked. Or maybe a better example is like a guy who wants you ignores you so you csn pursue THEM. Because when you’re told you can’t have something, you just want it more.
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yes, i understand Roberts comments (Jan 24, 2023)…God doesn’t have my address either…a lifetime of ignoring…too late to have anything now that passing time has made impossible to have…what was it all for…wasted time waiting for just the most simplest of life’s needs…God needs a larger rolodex to add in the ones he missed…
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It’s always been left to chance, a roll of the dice. You feeling lucky today? You can’t win if you don’t play!
You don’t need God, you need luck. Or try Law of Attraction, I hear their followers are pretty lucky.
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And what if the ’round the corner’ miracle or answer never comes, it is a dangling carrot!
Sounds cruel not loving. What would be the point of God’s fames with us? He seems to bless those who hate him more than those who love him. 😦
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And what if the ’round the corner’ miracle or answer never comes, it is a dangling carrot!
Sounds cruel not loving. What would be the point of God’s games with us? He seems to bless those who hate him more than those who love him. 😦
All nonsense!! Faith seems worthless.
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At the end of the day it’s a load of bollocks…….the religion of the Hebrews is not as it seems today.
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It seems I am struggling with something quite differently. For as long as I can remember, I have felt close to God. When I was a child, it wasn’t so much in relationship, but just knowing there was a God. When I was around 12, before I had ever read the bible or heard anything about it, I had a dream of the end of the world. Someone then read revelation to me and it was similar….blood red sun etc…so eventually I became a christian. Around 18, I felt extremely close to God. Then suddenly, I felt all alone like he just wasn’t there one day. I was then at church and it was ironic that my pastor was talking about how God hides his presence from us to “test” our faith…to teach us its not about feelings. So for some years I was fine….now, however, I feel completely lost, like not that He’s simply ignoring me, but like He has completely turned His back on me. But it’s just weird timing because 2 weeks prior, I had had a breakthrough and felt so close to Him like when I was 18…so why after feeling a connection, the sudden disconnect? I wake up every morning feeling depressed because I don’t feel that love and closeness that I once had…I go throughout my day and cannot even smile. I drag myself around. I pray when I wake up asking God for relief. I go to bed crying. I don’t know what happened. When I became a christian, I asked God to forgive me of all of my sins. But now for some reason, it feels like he’s telling me there’s 1 sin He won’t forgive me and I don’t understand if that is truly Him (why would He forgive it when I became christian, but not now??) I almost feel condemned for that one sin I did so long ago and I don’t know why. I’m not sure if it’s the devil condemning me or if it’s God trying to convict me. But I asked for forgiveness long ago. Do some sins not get forgiven unless we physically do something to make up for them?
But I just don’t want to give up hope. I don’t want to just exclaim “there is no God!” Simply because suddenly I can’t feel him. I know there is a God, because He’s answered my prayers many many times before! I love Him! I know He loves me too. I just can’t feel it right now. The Bible teaches us to not base our faith off of feelings, and so, maybe this is what God is trying to do to me and a few others In here right now. Don’t base your belief of God on your personal feelings because feelings are fickle and can change at the drop of a hat. “There is a God!” And I will chase after Him. God bless anyone reading this.
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Yes, that is called condemnation, and it is not from God. I struggled with the same thing until I learned what condemnation was. In my case, I didn’t even know what sin it was that He didn’t forgive, I just felt constantly like it was one unforgivable sin that He just would not forgive. The Bible says over and over that He forgave us ALL of our sins when we first believed on Him. But then thoughts and other people’s accusations and situations and maybe even the devil himself can bring accusations that make us feel like maybe God did not forgive us. Then we don’t feel close to Him and we stay away from Him and get more and more sad or bitter. I am still struggling with this. I believe it in my head, but I guess I don’t feel it in my heart. My situation is so hard that I feel like if He cared He would answer my prayers. But I really wish that I could go back to that feeling of being totally forgiven. I think that is the key to getting relief and hope. I’m trying to go back and remind myself that I am completely forgiven and He holds nothing against me.
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I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. IT TOOK ME 8 YEARS TO GET PREGNANT. I WOULD PRAY AND PRAY. BUT UNTIL I LET GO AND LET GOD HANDLE IT AND NOT MYSELF, I BECAME PREGNANT WITH TWINS. IN OUTHER WORDS I HAD TO LET HIM BE IN CONTROL. THIS WAS A HARD LESSON TO LEARN.
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That’s the kind of God we have? One who plays games with our brains? That’s what unconditional love is?
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I have been homeless for almost a year. My son has been verbally and emotionally and mentally and sometimes physically abusive to me for over 10 years. We are not together. We coparent but it still doesn’t stop the abuse. I pray for God to help me and I get ignored and I DONT LIKE IT. I FEEL LIKE HE DONT LOVE ME AND THAT HE ENJOYS MY SUFFERING.
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I meant my son dad has been abusive towards me for over 10 years
I have been homeless for almost a year. My son dad has been verbally and emotionally and mentally and sometimes physically abusive to me for over 10 years. We are not together. We coparent but it still doesn’t stop the abuse. I pray for God to help me and I get ignored and I DONT LIKE IT. I FEEL LIKE HE DONT LOVE ME AND THAT HE ENJOYS MY SUFFERING.
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I have been homeless for almost a year. My son dad has been verbally and emotionally and mentally and sometimes physically abusive to me for over 10 years. We are not together. We coparent but it still doesn’t stop the abuse. I pray for God to help me and I get ignored and I DONT LIKE IT. I FEEL LIKE HE DONT LOVE ME AND THAT HE ENJOYS MY SUFFERING.
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I stumbled across this site I guess like many here did – searching for meaning to my hard and difficult feelings of being unwanted and rebuffed by God despite my (at least in my opinion) sincerest efforts to remain at his feet. I can go all day describing how I’ve struggled with this and it’s effects on my life. I know I’m angry and deeply hurt but my breaks for us all here. Even those who have written angry stuff, lashing out are all seeking God somehow cos I think that’s why we all read this write up in the first place. As much as I’d like, I don’t want to give up. There’s nothing out there outside of God. It’s just more darkness that may masquerade as light. I’m praying for this group of ours. Both for those who have posted in the past and those who yet will in the future. Praying that God will hear and help in His deep mercy. For what it’s worth, I’d also like to recommend you read these books by Larry Crabb – Shattered dreams, Finding God and Inside Out. I’ve read the first 2 and I am rereading the second to remind myself of things I need to keep.going. They might help someone here too.
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Dee, I know its been awhile since you commented but I wanted you to know I am writing again on my blog (after many many months –even years–of silence) and I wanted to reach out to you and others and invite you to follow along. Like you, I am trying to remain at Jesus’ feet, to cling to him and not give up (its so difficult!) and over the next 5 weeks I will be releasing a new post every tuesday outlining my continued journey through the tough stuff, but also everything god has been speaking to me. Perhaps it would encourage you on your own journey? ❤
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I have a special needs child who struggles with basically EVERYTHING! He is terrified of growing up and he is absolutely the sweetest, most caring, non judgmental child I have ever known. he loves his mommy so much, our bond is beyond words. he will never be able to live a life independently and I worry constantly about what is going to happen to him when I’m gone. it breaks my heart into pieces. I pray and I pray and I pray for guidance he is so absolutely unmotivated and I just don’t know what to do besides teach him about God and instill that in him. he has autism and a severe for of social anxiety so after trying everything we could possibly try I finally pulled him out of school and started to homeschool but he hates that too and it is a huge ordeal to get him to sit with me and do school, he has sensory processing issues and HATES HATES everything about taking a shower and it is a completer meltdown, he’s 15 yrs old and he’s turning into a man and I feel very uncomfortable showering him. I don’t show it though. I tell him that I put on my “mommy glasses” so I see him like a doctor would because I am his mommy ,point being I have prayed and prayed for guidance from the Lord to please please help me, I am a first time mother and never expected nor was I prepared for all this and i’ve never felt so alone in this. I feel 100% responsible for all of this. I have begged the Lord to please give him my place in heaven and I would be willing to burn in hell for eternity if he would just take him. I have even considered murder suicide so at least we would die together and he would never have to live alone without me because that is his greatest fear is that one day he’s going to be all alone. God has heard me beg and beg and beg and cry and sob, not so much for me but for my son. he could heal him after all he created the earth and everything in it so surly he can help my angel of a child. GOD chose to give this child to me knowing the issues I already struggle with. I am completely lost and time is just ticking away. I totally without a doubt believe that God ignores me. probably because of the bad things I did when I was younger. so then why on earth would he give me a child with so many challenges??!! I NEED GOD IN A TERRIBLE WAY AND HE JUST IGNORES ME. maybe I don’t pray correctly, maybe I have done things that are just unforgivable but damn my son hasn’t lied or done a devious thing in his entire life so why make him suffer? my heart can’t seriously take much more and if God doesn’t hear me or chooses not to answer then what is the sense?
Thanks for listening to me babble@
Maria
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Hi, I also have a special needs child. I actually have 2! One has autism and the other has mental health issues that we never have gotten a good diagnosis for. She’s been given several diagnosis’s but none seem to fully fit the symptoms she has. They are both adults, yet I’m still having to care for them as if they were kids. Like most people on this post I have cried out to God, asked for healing, gotten mad at Him (like I have any right to do that!) and gone into despair. But you know what? Christ promised to never leave or forsake me. I believe Him. He already endured the cross for me so if that’s all He ever does then that’s more than I deserve. But I know how much life can hurt-believe me! I pray for the lady above my post with the autistic son, I know your exhaustion and pain! But God IS with you, and loves your son as well as you. Please don’t believe the lies the enemy throws out when we are vulnerable. I’ve been there to. Get some Christian friends that you can share with so people are praying for you. We weren’t meant to do this journey alone, God created us for fellowship. Both with Him and our spiritual siblings! Love to you all.
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Praying for everyone here tonight. Praying that God gives us each that faith that we need to find Him right in our different situations. That faith that knows with certainty that He is (i.re. He exists) and that He rewards continued search of Him (with Himself). He will be found as long as we keep seeking.
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What is the matter with you saying God ignores people?! Shame on! That’s NOT what the scripture said, and certainly NOT what Jesus meant either. Jesus wasn’t ignoring her, but testing the woman’s faith! You seriously need to be careful on what you say because it could be misleading. Your blog seems to be more about you than of Christ especially you probably don’t study God’s word, and truth! FYI it’s very important to read between the lines especially reading the Bible! Waiting on God is definitely hard, but God does it to test our faith, our loyalty and trust in HIM! But ignoring is NOT WHAT God is doing.
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Hmmm starting a Church… That’s concerning! Makes sure it;s all about Jesus Christ NOT YOU! The Church is about, and belongs to The King! Remember that God strictly holds those who are Pastors, Teachers etc… TELL THE TRUTH! Make Jesus Christ known!
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So God in his benevolence ignores me… so why to serve someone who willing ignores you? Does he have preference? So there is no way to fit on his infinite compassion? That is not the type of deity that deserves praises…
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At least you have a child who’s alive. At least you have a child whose grandparents don’t literally deny her existence. I can’t even say that much
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Praying for you, Lisa. Much love to my sister here—
Heavenly Father, bless Lisa’s situation and bring her resistution and grace with the healing that fills her heart from bottom to top, and reminds her not only of your amazing power but fills her with your love.
You are not alone.
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