There is a potentially true (and IMO most likely true), very logical answer to all this. It doesn't suffer from contradiction. It usually doesn't cause false hope in anyone, which often leads to despair, guilt, and confusion -- even suicide sometimes. It doesn't require atheism. It can be compatible with forms of Christianity (but will have a lot of trouble co-existing with Pentecostalism -- sorry.
).
The potentially true answer is this: God never intervenes. Ever. He doesn't stop anyone from doing anything. He doesn't help (actively) anyone get through difficulties. He doesn't speak to anyone, neither audibly nor with a still small voice. He doesn't heal (actively).
If this is correct, then there are other explanations for all the claims to the contrary.
Still small voices are easy to explain: we have brains. They work in mysterious ways.
They can process data when we don't even know it, and we may not even know we have the data: we don't always consciously perceive things, but they're perceived, just the same. The background process can suddenly come up with surprisingly accurate answers, and just when they are needed. But, if you like, God can get the credit for this. It's His design at work!
Audible voices? Visions? Steering wheels moving on their own? Well, our minds work
too hard, sometimes!
Miracles are almost always easy to explain, too. Some of us want miracles to happen, to be true, so badly, that we're ready to claim them for just about anything. You know this is
really true for
some people! Oh thank you Jesus for that parking place!
Sometimes, our minds work overtime
trying to see miracles. And they're not all as trivial as a parking place. People are healed of cancer, quite often, without miraculous intervention. People's hearts stop, and start up again. And there is sometimes a
Dr. Crandall who "hears" voices telling him to pray, and sometimes to shock him one more time. It's impressive, but it doesn't
have to be God's active intervention. Now, if I ever witness an arm growing back before my eyes, I'll post an update to my viewpoints.
What about help getting through hard times? Recovery from a trauma, such as abuse or rape? Well, again, God's amazing design kicks in. We are a resilient race. With the right inspiration, we can "get through" a lot. The inspiration may be prayer and faith. Sadly, that doesn't always work. Some people can't get through, and they live the rest of their lives in defeat, and some even end their own lives. Now, IMO, it does
not (always) help to give people false hope, claiming that God will, if you have enough faith in Him, actually and intentionally step in and do something for them -- heal their minds or their bodies, make a way, etc. Especially when this advice is
all that's offered, and it doesn't work, the person is worse off than before. Real, tangible help from you might help much more (and yes, I know that many of you do this, which is awesome!): maybe some money (if appropriate), help with house work, advice, or even just being there for them. Listening, caring, crying with them. Even that doesn't always work, I admit, but when it doesn't, it's not likely to make anyone wonder why God doesn't love them, or feel guilt and despair for not having enough faith.
It's been said that
God's hands are
our hands.
We can work "miracles", whenever we lend a hand, without expecting anything in return -- when we obey Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves.
(To be continued. I think.
)
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