A:  Your question really tugs at my heart. I hear so much sorrow in it, and I feel sad that you feel God was not with you in your hour of need.

You don’t offer any details of what happened, and why you feel as you do. I suspect that you prayed about a situation, and it didn’t turn out as you had prayed and hoped. And so, you have concluded that God was not with you.

I can only assure you that God has never abandoned you. He has never left you alone, and he never will leave you alone. God hears our prayers, and he answers prayer in many different ways. Oftentimes, we don’t get what we think we want or need as a result of prayer. Sometimes, things go terribly wrong—people have accidents, they get sick, they die, we lose money, or a job, or our home. But life hands all of us challenges. No one—even the most successful person—is immune to life’s trials and tribulations. Challenges make us stronger, or they break us. But through it all, God is ALWAYS with us. Even if we don’t see the results that we wish for, this does not mean God is not with us.

From The Urantia Book:

Most of what a mortal would call providential is not; his judgment of such matters is very handicapped by lack of farsighted vision into the true meanings of the circumstances of life. Much of what a mortal would call good luck might really be bad luck; the smile of fortune that bestows unearned leisure and undeserved wealth may be the greatest of human afflictions; the apparent cruelty of a perverse fate that heaps tribulation upon some suffering mortal may in reality be the tempering fire that is transmuting the soft iron of immature personality into the tempered steel of real character. (118:10.9)

And Jesus taught:

“In the matter of sickness and health, you should know that these bodily states are the result of material causes; health is not the smile of heaven, neither is affliction the frown of God. (166:4.10)

God lives with you in the most intimate and loving way—he actually dwells within your mind—helping you to elevate and spiritualize your thoughts. He is not there to give you a life of ease, but instead, he helps you through the inevitable sorrows of life by raising your awareness of him, and helping you to know that sublime peace that passes all understanding, no matter what happens. God wants to be your partner through life—not your rescuer. It is for you to figure out how to rise above even the bitterest disappointment by using your God-given mind. In your mind, God is an ever-present help through everything and anything.

I am going to give you some Urantia Book links that may help you understand better how prayer works, and how God works within you, and with you, to make your life better.

HERE is a link to our study on prayer. From there, you will be able to click on any of the quotes to expand the passage for even better understanding of prayer.

And HERE is a link to our study on the indwelling God who lives inside of you—always available, always present.

Finally, HERE is our study on “Disappointment.”

I would suggest that you have a careful look at these studies. They are full of wisdom, truth and inspiration for you.

Again, I am glad that you chose to write to us with this important question. I hope that you will take advantage of the links that I have given you, and come to peace within yourself about the problems that may be troubling you. In the end though, I hope you will understand that God WAS with you in your problem. He is still with you now, and I hope you will try your best to find him, for he loves you beyond measure.

”