As a frequent 'assistant' (at least, I think I'm helping!) on the NCLEX Discussion Forum, I see something posted over and over and over again. It's a very common theme, actually, and although in the past it didn't much bother me, it has been getting more and more under my skin. I know those who post it obviously don't look for discussion on that topic, but...on THIS forum, it seemed most appropriate :)
I frequently see people who have failed the NCLEX more than once (or more than twice, or more than three times) who will write "please pray for me". Are there really people out there who add to their personal prayers "oh, and G-d? Please help FailedNclex-3x to pass her exam" ?
Seems to be pretty low-brow for G-d, doesn't it? As if The Almighty WOULD have 'let' FailedNclex-3 fail yet again, BUT FOR the prayer from someone on AN...nope, that tilted the wheel the other way and now a PASS is in order!
I cannot see myself EVER thinking to ask G-d for something like that. Pray to understand why things happen the way they do. Pray to ask for strength through a difficult time. Pray to find goodness where there doesn't seem to be much....pray for assistance, but not for personal gain.
Maybe that's it. People are asking for personal gain. I wouldn't pray for someone to win the lottery, I wouldn't pray for them to get into grad school. I'd wish them well, I'm going to "send happy thoughts", I'm going to hope they succeed. But PRAY for this?? No.
I also believe that thanks are in order when one has a success such as passing the NCLEX: thank your spouse and kids and family and friends for putting UP with you while you went to school and while you studied for the exam. Thank the financial institution that fronted you the money, if you like. And yes, thank G-d for the ability to get through it all! But IMHO there's also a difference between thanking Ad'nai for strength, courage, determination, etc and thanking the Holy One for passing a test. YOU, the TEST-TAKER, took and passed the test! He might have been 'with' you in the testing center (strength, support) but He sure wasn't taking that test FOR you!
So no, don't say it was G-d who 'allowed' you to pass the test. If you passed, you EARNED it. Give thanks where it's due, but....remember the limits of what you'd "get" for your prayers, too :)
... I do not find these sincere attempts offensive or deserving of criticism.
So let's think of it another way. Suppose you believe someone's interest in praying to G-d to be ONLY self-serving? Just for the sake of discussion, how would you feel if you saw a bunch of people who usually don't give G-d more than a cursory nod, but when they NEED something....or really WANT something....suddenly it's all about the prayer?
I have seen people show up at my synagogue to request their child be given a bar mitzvah in a matter of months, when it takes years of study, committment to the congregation, considerable involvement on the part of their family. They've never given any of that a moment's thought; when they WANT something, it should happen NOW, because....they want it. They didn't suddenly find G-d, they suddenly realized Gramma was going to ask when the ceremony will be!
Do I believe them sincere? No. They are standing in a house of worship to REQUEST something they personally want. I find that offensive, and yes worthy of criticism, as I know once their NEED /WANT passes, out the door they will be, never to look back.
Same with those who don't have much of a religious bent prior to nursing school, prior to studying for the NCLEX even. But they're fine with requesting what they want in the name of.....faith. Why shouldn't I be offended?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I understand that sometimes the answer is no but I don't believe for a second that if more people than that mother had prayed God would have weighed the prayer differently.
Can you back this up with Biblical references? What if the person who is praying is in an isolated area and can't get more people to pray for him/her? That would be saying that God would be discriminatory toward people in rural areas.
Acts 10;34, 35 says "God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."
1 John 5:14 says "This is the confidence we have toward him, that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us."
I believe in God and the power of prayer. Yes, I have earned my nursing license however it would not be possible if it were not for GOD !!!!! I don't see anything wrong with praying for someone to pass the NCLEX.
Can you back this up with Biblical references? What if the person who is praying is in an isolated area and can't get more people to pray for him/her? That would be saying that God would be discriminatory toward people in rural areas.
Acts 10;34, 35 says "God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."
1 John 5:14 says "This is the confidence we have toward him, that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us."
OCN I think you misread my comment. I totally agree with you. I was responding to the person who said that the prayers of multiple people are superior to the prayer of one person. Which I think is complete bunk.
I don't think I would be able to judge the quality of someone else's relationship with God. Not sure anyone really can. I generally assume they are sincere.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
OCN I think you misread my comment. I totally agree with you. I was responding to the person who said that the prayers of multiple people are superior to the prayer of one person. Which I think is complete bunk.
Sorry; I'll try to go back and correct that. It didn't sound like something you would say.
Well it depends on what you believe. The bible clearly states that "you have not because you ask not" and that God will "give you the desires of your heart"and that "the prayes of the righteous availeth much". In a nutshell God DOES care about assisting us with our daily challenges regardless of what they are. People put a size on things but if you know who God is and believe you will understand that everything is small to him. I am not surprised at many of the attitudes expressed given that people treat the name of God like its a curse word though.
I have a big problem with this. Working in pediatric oncology, I see parents pray non-stop for a cure for their children. Guess what? If the diagnosis is something like DIPG, 100% of them die anyway. Did the hearts of these mothers really not desire their children to live? They weren't righteous enough or deserving to keep their children with them? BS- the rest of the population I serve is children whose parents don't take care of them. Their parents couldn't care less about them, neglect them and abuse them and they get to keep them in another way- the state doesn't take them even as the child prays for a safe home.
I entered nursing school a practicing Catholic who grew up going to Church every day. Seven years into my profession, I don't even believe that there is a God.
I don't think I would be able to judge the quality of someone else's relationship with God. Not sure anyone really can. I generally assume they are sincere.
I agree that generally speaking, no one can (or should) judge the quality of anyone's relationship with....well, anyone, really. But I guess I'm more sensitized to the throwing around of G-d's name in some kind of last-ditch effort to save themselves from something they themselves created.
Kinda makes me think of all those movies where someone is trapped in a building, on an elevator, under a bus, whatever....and they "find G-d". Promise to go to church every Sunday from then on, and to attend Mass, anything and everything "if ONLY G-d would help them" right there and then.
I have a big problem with this. Working in pediatric oncology, I see parents pray non-stop for a cure for their children. Guess what? If the diagnosis is something like DIPG, 100% of them die anyway. Did the hearts of these mothers really not desire their children to live? They weren't righteous enough or deserving to keep their children with them? BS- the rest of the population I serve is children whose parents don't take care of them. Their parents couldn't care less about them, neglect them and abuse them and they get to keep them in another way- the state doesn't take them even as the child prays for a safe home.
I entered nursing school a practicing Catholic who grew up going to Church every day. Seven years into my profession, I don't even believe that there is a God.
Ouch. I actually cringed when I read this. Whew.
I think it's understandable, after seeing all that you've seen, to wonder how the hell it's all supposed to be ok with G-d. I don't get it myself, it makes NO sense to me.
When I feel like there's no way this is "supposed to be", I just have to believe that there is a picture that is SO big that I couldn't understand it no matter how hard I try. I HAVE to believe that there is some kind of purpose to this whole freakin' mess, because if I allow myself to believe there simply IS NO purpose, I don't know how I could continue to get up and go to work every day, rinse, repeat.
To me, with what I've seen and experienced, I do take some comfort in knowing that it IS how it's supposed to be for reasons that little ol' insignificant me cannot understand---and will never be privvy to such understanding.
So, I have a question for you then and I mean no disrespect as I am a Christian as well. If your premise is accurate does this mean that the prayer of the mother of a dying child is less strong than the prayer of a group of people? Does God give the group more of his ear because their combined merit makes them more valuable? And when did merit even become and issue?
Matt 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matt 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
I know you're not responding to me, rather to FlyingScot, but....this verse doesn't seem to support the idea that more people praying equals better results. It says "where two or three are gathered....there I am". Ok. G-d does enjoy a party :) And in my own faith, there are prayers that are not to be said unless a minyan (ten men) is gathered. But that does not mean that their prayers ONLY carry weight because there are more of them.....it's that there is a notion that a gathering denotes greater respect, greater 'offering'. But to expect greater returns...? I don't see it.
RNsRWe, ASN, RN
3 Articles; 10,428 Posts
So let's think of it another way. Suppose you believe someone's interest in praying to G-d to be ONLY self-serving? Just for the sake of discussion, how would you feel if you saw a bunch of people who usually don't give G-d more than a cursory nod, but when they NEED something....or really WANT something....suddenly it's all about the prayer?
I have seen people show up at my synagogue to request their child be given a bar mitzvah in a matter of months, when it takes years of study, committment to the congregation, considerable involvement on the part of their family. They've never given any of that a moment's thought; when they WANT something, it should happen NOW, because....they want it. They didn't suddenly find G-d, they suddenly realized Gramma was going to ask when the ceremony will be!
Do I believe them sincere? No. They are standing in a house of worship to REQUEST something they personally want. I find that offensive, and yes worthy of criticism, as I know once their NEED /WANT passes, out the door they will be, never to look back.
Same with those who don't have much of a religious bent prior to nursing school, prior to studying for the NCLEX even. But they're fine with requesting what they want in the name of.....faith. Why shouldn't I be offended?