Do you find the Lord distant?
Do you often wonder why the Lord does not answer prayers, particularly during times of suffering and pain?
Why does it seem that healing for the sick and the poor in spirit never comes?
Why do the meek appear not to inherit the earth?
Why does the Lord not intercede for victims of abuse and cruel treatment?
Why do we question the Lord when it is the sins and ruthless actions of humanity that cause pain and suffering?
Why not ask those who ignore the call for peace and love, who forsake the commandments, the Lord, and our fellow human beings?
Why not inquire of those who never listen to or receive the Holy Spirit and fail to recognize that each one of us is a child of God, embodying the living witness of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17)?
Did the Lord fail to answer us, or did we fail to respond to the calls of faith and our duty toward the Lord and stewardship to humanity?
Do we have faith like a mustard seed?
Are we Good Samaritans, always helping our neighbors in need?
How can the Lord fail to answer when the answers lie within us, in the love and peace of the Holy Spirit and the faith of a mustard seed, especially when we choose to respond to these calls and abide by the teachings of the Lord?
Who is responsible for the sins of humanity and for defending against harm and crimes against others?
Who is to blame when some people turn a blind eye to abuse, sin, and harm?
Who has led their flock astray by offering false absolutions of forgiveness without first embracing honest and humble confessions of the soul, contrition, repentance, and atonement of the heart?
Why believe that the Lord has not answered when the answers have long been provided by the prophets, Christ, and the Holy Spirit?
The proverb "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" is particularly relevant.
It suggests that while the Lord can guide, teach, and respond through the Holy Spirit, it is up to the individual to listen, see, follow, and receive the fruits of the Spirit.
The failures of humanity due to sin and complacency rest with us, not with the Lord.
The Lord is actively present in our lives through the teachings of Christ and the loving peace of the Holy Spirit, giving us the strength and faith of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) to overcome hardships and move mountains toward love, peace, and prosperity, if only we choose to see, hear, and believe (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).
When someone is acting inappropriately, sinning, and going against the commandments of the Lord, that individual is acting contrary to the will of the Lord and betraying the teachings of Christ.
Those actions have nothing to do with the Lord's blessings or answers.
Therefore, we must identify and address the root causes of man-made inequalities, ruthlessness, callousness, indifference, ignorance, hatred, fears, and injustices of humanity, rather than placing the blame on the Lord.
For the Lord always answers each sincere and heartfelt prayer through the power, love and peace of the Holy Spirit.
We need only to believe, receive, and respond to the Lord's calls for justice, freedom, and equality, reason and wisdom, bravery, compassion and empathy, and love and peace.
🕊
