Does God actively intervene in a believers life?

Q: I am curious to get help on my biggest struggle in Christianity.

I’ve been a lifelong believer, though took time in college to challenge my beliefs by joining a high credit world religion course. I joined Hindu potlucks, visited Buddhist temples, learned about witchcraft, presented on Scientology, sat patiently as my professor pointed at me directly and said, “by the end of this course, you won’t feel the same about Jesus”, only to end exactly where I started; Christianity is the only religion that made any logical sense to me.

My final essay was supposed to highlight what I changed my mind about, and I landed an A by declaring that my foundation was only "solidified" by the criticism and review of other religions. 

I say all of that to note that while I pragmatically believe in Christianity, I’ve struggled as I’ve aged to connect emotionally due to my unsure perspective on God’s level of intervention in our lives. I don’t believe in predestination, but free will, which has made my prayer life admittedly difficult. I don’t know how to bring my needs to the Lord if I don’t ultimately believe he chooses to intervene in my life. I know he KNOWS my destination, but if he doesn’t engage in the outcome, where does that leave us? What part of my review of theology has steered me wrong, if it has, on this view? I saw somebody post about God intervening in Trump’s life recently and questioning why he chooses not to intervene in other’s, and I think that line of logic has ultimately confused me. I mostly believe in randomization and reaping what YOU sow, rather than God’s interjection. This is certainly a grim outlook and one I sincerely want to change. A handful of very painful life experiences and deaths deepened this issue for me. Help!

A:

So your concerns and searching are:

*Open to learn and want to know of and where your thinking is wrong/not aligned with Scripture

*Want to know if God is personally involved in every believers life

*Want help for prayer life

*also need guidance about suffering existing in this world

God is in control and Soverign. He works out all things for His plan and that is down to the tiny atoms. He is personally involved in our lives. Scripture clearly shows this. Even by reading Job. And the Bible as a whole. He even walked with and was in personal fellowship with Adam & Eve. 

Here are a few more points to consider from Scripture: 

*God spoke to Adam, Moses, Abraham & the prophets. He gave us the Bible which is His Word. 

*He worked in the lives of various people and we see him even with Daniel in the lions den, and the men in the firey furnace. 

*Jesus was with us on Earth (NT) 

*Jesus had personal relationships with those noted in NT. 

*Jesus loved Lazarus and cried at his funeral

*Jesus provided food personally for 35k people multiple times

*Jesus "personally" healed all sicknesses, diseases (and demon possessed people) for 3 years in Israel. 

*Jesus kept the apostles with him in the garden safe from Satan (via the Jews and Judas) during his ordeal. 

*God intervened to save sinful humanity by his promise and completion of salvation for believers. We only deserve Hell and wrath but were given grace because he is a good God who loves.  

*Jesus "personally" bore your and my sins on the cross, taking the eternal wrath punishment to redeem us. Jesus paid our sin debt to God in full and we are his. 

*He gave us the Holy Spirit who indwells us, in fact Christ does too. 

*Also the Holy Spirit shares our inner prayers and needs to God on our behalf 

*Jesus gave us a prayer model 

*Jesus reigns on the throne of Heaven; is our mediator in Heaven before the Father

*God is the Father to all who are saved

*God loves his children 

*God cares for His children

*God provides all our needs

*God leads us

*God does good works thru us, which were prepared even before the world began. 

*He gives us gifts by the Holy Spirit to work through us to bless others at church and believers everywhere. 

*He commissioned us to share the Gospel

*The Holy Spirit brings remembrance of Scripture to us -gives us words to say - when we witness to people.

*Jesus said he is with us always

*God grows and prunes us as we live the Christian life

*God molds us to be more Christlike

*God has rewards and positions and blessings for us in eternity

*God gave us the Bible to communicate with us, and the Holy Spirit who intimately works in us to bring us to maturity. 

*Christ is the one who will perfect us and present us to the Father as perfect

*He personally cares for us and is with us. 

*He meets our needs. 

*He provides for birds he will provide more for and care more for us who are made in his image and are redeemed. [*While he provides common grace and provisions for all humanity (incl the unsaved enemies in the world), he has special care and blessing over those who are His children - thru Christ]. 

*NT explains clearly how God intervenes and is working all things for each of our good and for His will. 

⭐He is a personal God who is intimately involved and intervenes in every believers life. 😊

I would encourage you to go thru the FAQ sections here and then dive deeper into Scripture. If you do... your doubts and worries will disappear. 😊

I also recommend you do a study on God's attributes so you can know him better. This is key to everything else in your Christian life. 

As far as suffering in this world; tldr its due to man's sin. The consequences and ripple effects. However God takes what others meant for evil and works it out for good in the end.

Here is an answer regarding Trump and this topic. 

Here are resources on Prayer that might be a good help for you. 

And finally,  Read the Bible daily. The more you read it day by day year by year you will see all of these things and it will boost your confidence in areas you have concern. It will also address any questions and give you peace and joy. 

God bless!