How Did Your Personal Relationship With God Come About?

[gfm7175]

The idea for this thread came from a post that I had just made in another Theology thread (and one that I will copy almost word for word), and it sparked the idea of "what was your journey (and things you've been through) which led you to a personal relationship with God" ... So, here is my personal journey meant to serve as an example...


I fell into a horrible frame of mind about 1.75 years ago, which almost led me to committing suicide. Even for quite a while before then, I had regularly felt "depressed", "unmotivated", "down on myself", and what not (for various reasons, but especially because of a disorder I have had since I can remember, and the effects that it has had on my life as a whole).

The Summer of 2016 is when I finally realized, after almost following through with suicide, that I couldn't keep going down the same road I was going down... God knew my wishes to have "peace of mind", but it was an interesting road to finding that "peace of mind"... At first, I tried (on my own) some little self-focused changes for the rest of that year, but nothing seemed to truly help. The first major change I made was at the very end of 2016 when I decided to completely remove myself from social media (except YouTube, so in essence, no more Facebook and no more SnapChat). That helped me to stop being jealous and concerned with the attention and joy that other people were getting (from looking at Facebook walls and SnapChat stories and interactions between other people), and to just "do me" instead.

That change was a huge step in getting to where I currently am, and after a few months of doing that, I decided that I could maybe handle SnapChat, so I made a new account with just my close family and friends that make use of it, solely so that I had an "internet based" form of communication (as an alternative to texts/calling). I barely use it, but it's there when I want to use it. I will never go back to Facebook because I've been off of it for 1.25 years and don't miss it one bit, and I fear that going back to it would lead me to "fall back into my old ways".

During the rest of 2017, I was definitely making plenty of improvements by my own will, but I never got to the "peace of mind" feeling that I desired having. I've been a Christian my whole life, and I've gone to church on a fairly regular basis, and I thought I was all good in that department, but since the beginning of this year (2018), my eyes have been opened and I can clearly see now that I was NOT "alright with God". While I called myself a Christian and went to church, I didn't have a "personal relationship" with God, nor was I "doing God's will". I was doing my own will, and I had been completely focused on my own will, and that is why I had the problems, lack of motivation, and overall mindset that I had.

Since realizing all of that (beginning of 2018), I have started diving into the Bible more, started having more of a personal relationship with God, started changing my mindset over to "not my will, Lord, but YOUR will be done", started realizing that I indeed DO have a purpose, and I have talents that I can make use of to serve my God. And what good has come out of that? I've had motivation again, I've gone out hiking, I've been taking much better care of my physical body, I've felt refreshed, and I definitely do have that "peace of mind" that I was looking for during the greater part of my short 27 year life. Now, I don't get jealous or care about what other people have that I don't have, because it's none of my business. They happen to have a different calling from God, and have been blessed with certain talents and called to fulfill a certain path in this life, and that is between them and God. I need only be concerned about what God has called ME to do... what he has entrusted ME with... the path that he wants ME to take.

After almost two years of looking for "the answer" and not finding it, God has finally answered my prayer in his own time, and I believe that he's been slowly getting me ready for these hard times to come here on Earth, before he determines that it is time for the rapture and he calls my spirit up to him.

The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes was a great read, and was exactly how I had been feeling, and the answer to happiness in that book was the same answer that I have now found through my life journey over these past few years.

God is good, and all glory belongs to him.

 

[<alt>doxygen]

I'm always interested in hearing people describe meeting/finding God. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tosca1]

I was born and raised a Christian. But like a lot of youths, I didn't take religion seriously and had eventually strayed away, lured by materialism and worldly pleasures. Joys were fleeting. However, every now and then my belief in God would come to the fore (and I found myself defending Him in discussions with my first husband, who had lost his faith).
It was like a tug-o-war with faith. He, trying to convince me and me, trying to convince him. That was a very troubled marriage.
I wanted to leave that house, but I couldn't afford to be independent with the salary of casual employment. A regular position had opened up, the lady from Human Resources told me that I practically don't have any chance getting it. There were 6 or 7 other senior applicants. I prayed that night. How I ended up getting the job the very next day was an answer from God - everyone who applied for it had turned it down. It is strange that God would answer my prayer at a time of distress.....and yet He knew it will pave the way for me to commit adultery.

My second husband is born and raised to a Christian family, too. But he also strayed just like me.
Even after that answered prayer, I took God for granted. So we went on in our materialistic and shallow ways, though the shadow of God seems upon us - for we both hadn't lost faith.
We were always chasing after money, so we can afford all the things we see.......but it was elusive for us.
I began worrying about the future, and got depressed (not serious enough to need medication), but still depression nevertheless - because I felt some kind of pressure, which made me restless, but I couldn't rectify that. I knew it has something to do with faith, but I wasn't really doing something about it. When I prayed - it was still about material things!

Finally, God must've had enough with these two buffoons who're so densed to get it in their heads that
He is, what's missing in their lives. He knocked us down.
We were faced with the reality we were going to lose everything.

My husband and I began talking about faith. Looking back, there were signs of God reaching out. At some point I stumbled onto the tv preacher Charles Price – like he was talking to me. He made it seem so easy reading and understanding the Bible that I began to read mine.
One time, we both read the tragic news about a Christian farmer who'd lost his 11 children and pregnant wife in a fire. The front page showed the photo of the man clutching at the tiniest coffin, and yet when asked about his faith his answer shows he's submitting to God's will, and his faith was even more strong. Here's a man who'd lost everyone he loves, and yet here we are moaning about money. My husband and I both burst into tears. I can't speak for him but it was the turning point, I think. I remember us both calm, talking in our living room.....putting everything in God's hands. We'll humbly submit to His will.
We found rest. Suddenly, losing everything didn't matter anymore. We're ready to face anything,
come what may.

We didn't lose our things. God gave us another chance.

That's when it all started for me too, the period of years when I felt I had no control over my life, and I was just going with the flow. It was an amazing period (too lengthy and layered to give in details).....but I felt like God was literally pushing me from one situation to another - one job to another - I didn't know exactly what I was supposed to do (but I must've done it) for He'd take me out of there, and plunk me elsewhere. All that time I was protected, too. Like when I got fired for "making waves" - like, we still got the good deal from renewing the mortgage even though they knew I'm suddenly unemployed....and how I got another full-time job not long after that, I never even got the chance to collect unemployment insurance, at a time when people were getting laid off (and how I ended up with the full time job in that location was another amazing story). At that place, I and another lady, were with a dying man who'd lost his faith in God - and we were there at his bedside, reminding him to call upon Jesus. There were a lot of heartfelt conversations with co-workers and even my employer about God. Then I moved again. The whole period must've lasted for about 7 to 8 years.

We're born again.

 

[gfm7175]

(post cut out to shorten response)

Sounds like you had a heck of a journey also. I can relate to the "God putting you in a certain job" sections of your post, because I know that God did that for me as well. When I graduated from college with an Associates Degree in Accounting at the beginning of 2012, I immediately began looking for a full time job in my field. I applied for many jobs. I was feeling defeated because even though I was actively looking and applying, I was still "hearing it" from my family because I wasn't taking a full time job outside of my field while I looked for an accounting job. I was also defeated because the places that I thought would be a good fit for me, and in locations that I would enjoy driving to, were not hiring me.

Six months into my job hunt, I finally came across a family owned business that was looking for a person to handle the incoming money (and sort of an "accounting assistant" type of job) (the other accountant handles the outgoing money, payroll, and the more important stuff that requires more knowledge). Even though I didn't have any real world experience and only an Associates Degree, they, for whatever reason, decided to take a chance on me at $13/hr starting pay. To be honest, I didn't particularly want the job (mostly because I don't like being in populated areas, and this job is located downtown next to the capitol building). But after striking out for six months, I "knew" that I couldn't turn this job down.

It didn't take me long after that to realize that it definitely was God placing me into the job that I could best serve, not just the family that owns it, but God himself as well. My talents happened to fit in perfectly at this place (they didn't have anyone who was good with Excel, so I'm the "Excel Expert" haha). I fully believe that God did specifically place me at this job (even over my own family's business [my uncle and cousin have a heating and cooling business]). It just goes to show that God knows what is best for me, even if it's against what I think is best for me... My job also (so far over my 5.5 years of working here) has given out quite generous raises each year, and I make quite a bit more than I started out making (still not that much money imo, but from day one, I never took the job for the money, and having a lot of money has never been a concern in my life. I've trusted in God to "provide my daily bread".

It's funny how God knows what is best for us when we don't have a darn clue haha

 

[shrubnose]

I haven't met him and I've been in a lot of churches

If I ever meet Him I have some questions for him.

Starting with: Why doesnt he do something,or just anything?

The world is going to hell and and He's doing nothing about it.

 

[Tanngrisnir]

I haven't met him and I've been in a lot of churches

You're looking in the wrong places ;-)

 

[shrubnose]

Sounds like you had a heck of a journey also. I can relate to the "God putting you in a certain job" sections of your post, because I know that God did that for me as well. When I graduated from college with an Associates Degree in Accounting at the beginning of 2012, I immediately began looking for a full time job in my field. I applied for many jobs. I was feeling defeated because even though I was actively looking and applying, I was still "hearing it" from my family because I wasn't taking a full time job outside of my field while I looked for an accounting job. I was also defeated because the places that I thought would be a good fit for me, and in locations that I would enjoy driving to, were not hiring me.

Six months into my job hunt, I finally came across a family owned business that was looking for a person to handle the incoming money (and sort of an "accounting assistant" type of job) (the other accountant handles the outgoing money, payroll, and the more important stuff that requires more knowledge). Even though I didn't have any real world experience and only an Associates Degree, they, for whatever reason, decided to take a chance on me at $13/hr starting pay. To be honest, I didn't particularly want the job (mostly because I don't like being in populated areas, and this job is located downtown next to the capitol building). But after striking out for six months, I "knew" that I couldn't turn this job down.

It didn't take me long after that to realize that it definitely was God placing me into the job that I could best serve, not just the family that owns it, but God himself as well. My talents happened to fit in perfectly at this place (they didn't have anyone who was good with Excel, so I'm the "Excel Expert" haha). I fully believe that God did specifically place me at this job (even over my own family's business [my uncle and cousin have a heating and cooling business]). It just goes to show that God knows what is best for me, even if it's against what I think is best for me... My job also (so far over my 5.5 years of working here) has given out quite generous raises each year, and I make quite a bit more than I started out making (still not that much money imo, but from day one, I never took the job for the money, and having a lot of money has never been a concern in my life.

I've trusted in God to "provide my daily bread".

It's funny how God knows what is best for us when we don't have a darn clue haha

So God feeds you,eh?Does he put chothes on you also or does he leave you naked?

fill us in.

 

[tosca1]

It's funny how God knows what is best for us when we don't have a darn clue haha

I know. :lol:

I once heard a sermon that says we play a part in God's plan (which is likened to a big jigsaw puzzle). It may not necessarily be a big part, but who knows....maybe it was to say something to, or to assist someone whom God had big plans for, or someone He just simply wants to help. That could also be it, for all we know....

But yes.....I see the similarity in our experience.

 

[tosca1]

So God feeds you,eh?Does he put chothes on you also or does he leave you naked?

fill us in.

He will provide what He think we need, or He will see us through. It may not be what we have in mind, but yes, He does provide.


I was talking to an atheist-turned Christian at a parking lot (of all places). He gave me some testimonies.
One of them, he went through some rough times....I forgot the details, but he has to pay a certain amount of money to the bank. Lo and behold, he went home and found a letter in his mailbox. He received the exact amount - to the penny - from an insurance he'd forgotten about.

I can't remember how many times God had bailed us out, too. I'm telling you....He also gets involve even in trivial matters.

It is true!!!! It's not only us here who'd experienced practically similar things.
It's like being with a loving, sensible father, you talk to him and ask - and He gives what He thinks is best for you.

 

[tosca1]

I haven't met him and I've been in a lot of churches

If I ever meet Him I have some questions for him.

Starting with: Why doesnt he do something,or just anything?

The world is going to hell and and He's doing nothing about it.

If you're sincerely looking for God, I don't know why you haven't met Him yet.
Could it be you're too busy thinking of questions to ask Him.....that you fail to hear Him talking to you?

Like a beautiful lyric of a song...."sometimes it takes a mountain.....sometimes the troubled seas....sometimes it takes the dessert....to get a hold of me."

A lot of people had found Him in the dumps. When they're down, and there's no one else to turn to.

 

[AlbqOwl]

The idea for this thread came from a post that I had just made in another Theology thread (and one that I will copy almost word for word), and it sparked the idea of "what was your journey (and things you've been through) which led you to a personal relationship with God" ... So, here is my personal journey meant to serve as an example...

<<snipped to conform to character limitations>>

After almost two years of looking for "the answer" and not finding it, God has finally answered my prayer in his own time, and I believe that he's been slowly getting me ready for these hard times to come here on Earth, before he determines that it is time for the rapture and he calls my spirit up to him.

The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes was a great read, and was exactly how I had been feeling, and the answer to happiness in that book was the same answer that I have now found through my life journey over these past few years.

God is good, and all glory belongs to him.

I can't remember a time that a relationship with God was not part of my life. There is an ebb and flow to the experience, sometimes feeling close and comfortable and sometimes not so much, just as we experience in our human relationships, but it is always there. My understanding matured of course as I have grown older. Like you I spent a considerable period of time in soul searching and even tried to convince myself God was not real. But as I have devoted a good portion of my life to comparative religions, church history, development of Christian thought, etc., and have studied the parallels between the morals, ethics, and attitudes, coping strengths, contribution/accomplishments of various groups within religious demographics, I arrived at a point that I could not explain away or deny.

I am convinced all the more that a relationship with the living God makes a huge difference in the life a person leads and his/her perceptions of his/her place in it. I know that my experience has been shared by millions. There are so many things that cannot be understood or even described until they are experienced: i.e. cold, hot, beauty, fear, love, God.

I give thanks that you stuck it out and have made your peace with God. I think you won't find your faith easily shaken now though it will mature as you go along. And you are more likely to go with God now rather than trying to fit God into your timetable, design, or image you want for God. It is quite a remarkable thing when that happens.

 

[tosca1]

 

[gfm7175]

I know. :lol:

I once heard a sermon that says we play a part in God's plan (which is likened to a big jigsaw puzzle). It may not necessarily be a big part, but who knows....maybe it was to say something to, or to assist someone whom God had big plans for, or someone He just simply wants to help. That could also be it, for all we know....

But yes.....I see the similarity in our experience.

I love your words that I bolded. It makes me think of Jesus' parable about the talents. Some of us were called to do "huge" things (person with 5 talents), some of us were called to do "lesser" things (person with 2 talents) and others were called to do "small" things (person with 1 talent), but we all play an important part in God's plan, and God expects us all to use our talents that he gave us to do his will (instead of "burying them in the Earth").

 

[gfm7175]

There is an ebb and flow to the experience, sometimes feeling close and comfortable and sometimes not so much, just as we experience in our human relationships, but it is always there. My understanding matured of course as I have grown older.

And sometimes it takes bad things to happen to us, and bad experiences, for us to "get back on track". I needed exactly what I've been through in order to get to where I am today, and do hope, as you said, that my understanding keeps maturing as I continue to get older.

I am convinced all the more that a relationship with the living God makes a huge difference in the life a person leads and his/her perceptions of his/her place in it.

I am convinced of the same thing, especially since I have now had personal experience from both perspectives during my very short life. Before this year, my religion and belief was exactly the same, but my "personal relationship" with God was completely different, as was the life I led and my perceptions of the world around me. I've always believed in God and wanted to be saved, but it's taken bad experiences and things not going according to my own will for me to realize that comfort is found in doing God's will, and staying active instead of being idle and lazy. Those are huge temptations for sin, as the Bible points out, and I've personally been on both ends of that spectrum as well, and realize from personal experience exactly why the Bible says that...

I give thanks that you stuck it out and have made your peace with God. I think you won't find your faith easily shaken now though it will mature as you go along. And you are more likely to go with God now rather than trying to fit God into your timetable, design, or image you want for God. It is quite a remarkable thing when that happens.

Thank you very much!! And yes, it definitely is a remarkable thing. It's something that atheists, and even a good chunk of Christians and other religious folk (such as myself) will not understand or comprehend unless it directly happens to them (as it now has for me).

 

[gfm7175]

So God feeds you,eh?Does he put chothes on you also or does he leave you naked?

fill us in.

He spiritually feeds me.

 

[gfm7175]

I haven't met him and I've been in a lot of churches

I can only guess that you may not be entirely genuine in your search for him, because from my personal experience, whoever desires to find God seems to eventually find him one way or another. I will say that it takes more effort than simply being inside numerous churches.

If I ever meet Him I have some questions for him.

Starting with: Why doesnt he do something,or just anything?

The world is going to hell and and He's doing nothing about it.

You seem to be looking at this from a perspective of your own will instead of God's will... I did that very same thing (as little as a quarter of a year ago) for a quarter of a century, and once I submitted my own will over to God, many questions such as the one you just asked instantly started to get answered, and instantly started to bring peace of mind to me and soothed my spirit.

 

[gfm7175]

I haven't met him and I've been in a lot of churches

You're looking in the wrong places ;-)

You're actually on the correct track here Tanngrisnir, even though you seemingly meant for your comment to be sarcastic.

Shrubnose is "looking for God" in physical places from a completely physical perspective. If Shrubnose truly wants to find God, he needs to conduct a spiritual search and realize that there is more to him than just a physical flesh body.

 

[SirGareth]

The idea for this thread came from a post that I had just made in another Theology thread (and one that I will copy almost word for word), and it sparked the idea of "what was your journey (and things you've been through) which led you to a personal relationship with God" ... So, here is my personal journey meant to serve as an example...


I fell into a horrible frame of mind about 1.75 years ago, which almost led me to committing suicide. Even for quite a while before then, I had regularly felt "depressed", "unmotivated", "down on myself", and what not (for various reasons, but especially because of a disorder I have had since I can remember, and the effects that it has had on my life as a whole).

The Summer of 2016 is when I finally realized, after almost following through with suicide, that I couldn't keep going down the same road I was going down... God knew my wishes to have "peace of mind", but it was an interesting road to finding that "peace of mind"... At first, I tried (on my own) some little self-focused changes for the rest of that year, but nothing seemed to truly help. The first major change I made was at the very end of 2016 when I decided to completely remove myself from social media (except YouTube, so in essence, no more Facebook and no more SnapChat). That helped me to stop being jealous and concerned with the attention and joy that other people were getting (from looking at Facebook walls and SnapChat stories and interactions between other people), and to just "do me" instead.

That change was a huge step in getting to where I currently am, and after a few months of doing that, I decided that I could maybe handle SnapChat, so I made a new account with just my close family and friends that make use of it, solely so that I had an "internet based" form of communication (as an alternative to texts/calling). I barely use it, but it's there when I want to use it. I will never go back to Facebook because I've been off of it for 1.25 years and don't miss it one bit, and I fear that going back to it would lead me to "fall back into my old ways".

During the rest of 2017, I was definitely making plenty of improvements by my own will, but I never got to the "peace of mind" feeling that I desired having. I've been a Christian my whole life, and I've gone to church on a fairly regular basis, and I thought I was all good in that department, but since the beginning of this year (2018), my eyes have been opened and I can clearly see now that I was NOT "alright with God". While I called myself a Christian and went to church, I didn't have a "personal relationship" with God, nor was I "doing God's will". I was doing my own will, and I had been completely focused on my own will, and that is why I had the problems, lack of motivation, and overall mindset that I had.

Since realizing all of that (beginning of 2018), I have started diving into the Bible more, started having more of a personal relationship with God, started changing my mindset over to "not my will, Lord, but YOUR will be done", started realizing that I indeed DO have a purpose, and I have talents that I can make use of to serve my God. And what good has come out of that? I've had motivation again, I've gone out hiking, I've been taking much better care of my physical body, I've felt refreshed, and I definitely do have that "peace of mind" that I was looking for during the greater part of my short 27 year life. Now, I don't get jealous or care about what other people have that I don't have, because it's none of my business. They happen to have a different calling from God, and have been blessed with certain talents and called to fulfill a certain path in this life, and that is between them and God. I need only be concerned about what God has called ME to do... what he has entrusted ME with... the path that he wants ME to take.

After almost two years of looking for "the answer" and not finding it, God has finally answered my prayer in his own time, and I believe that he's been slowly getting me ready for these hard times to come here on Earth, before he determines that it is time for the rapture and he calls my spirit up to him.

The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes was a great read, and was exactly how I had been feeling, and the answer to happiness in that book was the same answer that I have now found through my life journey over these past few years.

God is good, and all glory belongs to him.

I don't have a personal relationship with God, I'm quite confident that some unfathomable force rules the heavens and if you want to refer to it as God that's fine with me.

For me to have a relationship I must understand what it is that I'm relating to and since I have no knowledge of God, that's impossible.

Furthermore I am dead certain no other mortal soul has has ever had God on the phone either.

 

[gfm7175]

I don't have a personal relationship with God, I'm quite confident that some unfathomable force rules the heavens and if you want to refer to it as God that's fine with me.

I am sorry to hear that you do not have a personal relationship with God.

For me to have a relationship I must understand what it is that I'm relating to and since I have no knowledge of God, that's impossible.

You're absolutely correct. And a big hurdle seems to be (besides people having "hardened hearts" and not truly wanting to know God) the fact that people can only understand the "physical", so they have no knowledge of the "spiritual"... The book of Mark (and then Acts) is a good beginning point for understanding the history of Christianity and how it started. The book of Romans is great for understanding why we needed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. I'd say that would be a good beginning point.

Furthermore I am dead certain no other mortal soul has has ever had God on the phone either.

I would say that numerous other posters in this thread have "had God on the phone" in a spiritual way, through Jesus' body and blood.

 

[tosca1]

I don't have a personal relationship with God, I'm quite confident that some unfathomable force rules the heavens and if you want to refer to it as God that's fine with me.

For me to have a relationship I must understand what it is that I'm relating to and since I have no knowledge of God, that's impossible.

Furthermore I am dead certain no other mortal soul has has ever had God on the phone either.

Irrelevant.

Obviously, the question (which is the title of the topic), does not apply to you.
It is directed at people who have a personal relationship with God.

 

[Logicman]

I haven't met him and I've been in a lot of churches

If I ever meet Him I have some questions for him.

Starting with: Why doesnt he do something,or just anything?

The world is going to hell and and He's doing nothing about it.

If people will just make a sincere prayer and ask Jesus to make himself known to them, he will answer in due time.

 

[Logicman]

My brother, who came to Christ later in life, said that eleven of the twelve people in his weekly Bible study came to Christ when everything in their life turned bad and they cried out to him in their pain and depression. And then he showed up. I think he probably would have shown up a lot earlier if they hadn't forgotten about or ignored him.

I think more people will find God in the valleys of their lives rather than when they're on top of the world.

 

[Daisy]

I don't have a personal relationship with God, I'm quite confident that some unfathomable force rules the heavens and if you want to refer to it as God that's fine with me.

For me to have a relationship I must understand what it is that I'm relating to and since I have no knowledge of God, that's impossible.

Furthermore I am dead certain no other mortal soul has has ever had God on the phone either.

That relationship is obtainable or otherwise James would have not made the claim...

"Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you...."

But Jame also continues on, we have to make changes in order for that to happen...

"Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones." James 4:8

I can vouch to what he says as being true...

 

[Daisy]

My brother, who came to Christ later in life, said that eleven of the twelve people in his weekly Bible study came to Christ when everything in their life turned bad and they cried out to him in their pain and depression. And then he showed up. I think he probably would have shown up a lot earlier if they hadn't forgotten about or ignored him.

I think more people will find God in the valleys of their lives rather than when they're on top of the world.

So true, LM...I grew up going to church but never being satisfied with the answers, or lack thereof that I got...too many unanswered questions where people who claimed to know about God and the Bible, were unable to explain...

Why would a God of love, mercy, and justice choose to burn a person in a place called hell forever and ever when their sins amounted to a mere 70, 80 years, at best?

Why does God permit suffering and death?

Where are the dead if there is to be a resurrection in the last days?

What is God's purpose for the earth?

What is God's purpose for us?

What is the truth about God?

I found the answers to all my questions by studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses at the age of 22...I really wanted to know the answers as never before because I learned my husband, the love of my life, was dying of cancer at the age of 23...I could not understand why...why him? Why so young?

In searching for my answer, I found...we both found...a long and lasting relationship with Jehovah God that brought true meaning to both of our lives...even though he is gone for now, there is no doubt in my mind I will see him again one day...

 

[shrubnose]

If people will just make a sincere prayer and ask Jesus to make himself known to them, he will answer in due time.

Lots of people have been praying for a long time and I don't see any results.

What's up with that?