Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen (Heb 11:1). We have examples of faithful people who suffered hardships and prayed fervently for help, guidance and/or relief. Job, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Hannah, Jesus, Paul... Chapter 11 of Hebrews recounts some of the victories that God’s faithful servants experienced. It also mentions the hardships they endured as a result of their faith: death by torture, trial by mockings & scourging, imprisonment, “sawn in two”, slaughtered by sword, death by stones, etc. These faithful men and women were given the strength, by Jehovah God, to endure and maintain their integrity while under trial (Isa 40:29). When we pray to God and do his will, He helps us. Jehovah is our Almighty God, not our servant. His help may not come to us when and how we want it, but our strong faith helps us to realize that He sees our struggles and hears our cries for help (Psa 34:15). Surely, we would not want to behave like toddlers and pout every time we do not get our way. We are not the sort who shrink back to destruction, but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives (Heb 19:39)

No, shear logic led me away from my faith. God allows a lot of terrible things to happen in the Bible. It's not the fact that these things happen that bothered me, it was the fact that it didn't make sense, yet was always presented as a parable or lesson, sometimes with a bad message.

Yes, there was a time. My son and I had raised my grandson from the time he was 16 mos. When he was 8 he was ripped from my life because grandparents didn't have custody rights in Alabama back then. I begged and pleaded that MY WILL be done, until I realized I needed to surrender to HIS WILL. But it did not lead me away from my faith. Quite the opposite. I had absolutely no say in the matter. But God did. And since I had no power of myself I had faith in God to do what was best for my grandson and prepare him in whatever way He saw fit. He took that weight off my shoulders. I'm still sad when I think about mgs, but I know God will keep him safe and bring him home because I have witnessed the power of prayer and I pray for my boys always in my heart! Have FAITH! It works. Its been proved to me in my own personal experiences. Probably yours, too! Remember that! Have Faith in prayer and pray always! But pray HIS will be done, because that's what's best for everyone in the long run, even if it hurts for now.

our faith is like holding on to God’s finger. It is never enough. The faith of Christ is like God wrapping his hand around our hand. That is what God wants for us. That is salvation.