Could economic collapse bring us closer to God?

[BeNotAfraid]

I'm not basing this on scripture, just throwing it out there. Could economic collapse in the US bring us closer to God? People in impoverished areas and dire circumstances often report that God speaks to them in dreams and such. It doesn't seem like there is a lot of that (reliably) going on in the US. We hear of people in Muslim countries, entire towns, coming to Faith because Jesus came to them in a dream. Perhaps believers and nonbelievers alike will cling to Him? Maybe He will say, 'okay, i've given you a chance to come to repentance in good times, now let's see if I can get your attention with hard times'. Just maybe, in His mercy (not necessarily punishment or judgment), it is the Lord's will for an economic catastrophe to happen here in the US.

Thoughts? Am I nuts? Is there any scripture to support this? Like I said, this is pure speculation. I do not pretend to know the mind of God unless He tells me !

[yogi3939]

Could economic collapse bring us closer to God?

Only those of us who know which way God is and where to find him in our hearts.

[Nova]

There are plenty of scriptures that say-Yes, God can use adverse situations to refine believers.

[anath]

In my own personal experience ,adversity has drawn me closer to Him. My walk has been hard sometimes but oh so sweet. I thank Him for the valleys!
There is another side, the unbelievers.
This grieves me very much to even speak of this but after Katrina, our people were so very broken and I had hoped and prayed they would turn to the Lord in their direst moments. I am sure some did but for the most part, I have witnessed more people blaming God & shaking their fists in His face. :ohno

[seekingtruth1]

I think to lose yo home and be completely uprooted as they were...and lose your jobs etc....its a process to heal from that and totally normal for some to be angry taht God woudl allow that in their lives....you just dont want to stay there for ever in your response to Him but God can take it and I think that woudl be normal....

In my own personal experience ,adversity has drawn me closer to Him. My walk has been hard sometimes but oh so sweet. I thank Him for the valleys!
There is another side, the unbelievers.
This grieves me very much to even speak of this but after Katrina, our people were so very broken and I had hoped and prayed they would turn to the Lord in their direst moments. I am sure some did but for the most part, I have witnessed more people blaming God & shaking their fists in His face. :ohno

[Glory]

The Lord dealt with Israel that way. He heaped blessings on them and over time they forgot Him. So He took it all away. So my answer is YES. I think He will allow it here. Perhaps this isn't the time...yet. But eventually.

I'm sure if He does, it will be a real shaking of America, and a sifting of "Believers". Some will lose faith, grow angry, maybe even curse Him. Others will draw even closer to Him, dependent on Him with complete trust in Him; that He is able.

Hopefully, many will be saved because of the hard times. Perhaps even the fullness of the gentiles will come in. :)

Let's see how the balance weighs.

Maranatha!

[Glory]

In my own personal experience ,adversity has drawn me closer to Him. My walk has been hard sometimes but oh so sweet. I thank Him for the valleys!
There is another side, the unbelievers.
This grieves me very much to even speak of this but after Katrina, our people were so very broken and I had hoped and prayed they would turn to the Lord in their direst moments. I am sure some did but for the most part, I have witnessed more people blaming God & shaking their fists in His face. :ohno

That's very understandable. None of us can say for certain how we would react to such horrors. I agree that maybe over time, some who are so angry and bitter, may turn their hearts towards the the Lord over time. Others may never.:(

I know the night my baby grandson died, I was angry with the Lord. Yes, I know it sounds so awful. But I so believed in my heart because of my faith in Him, that He would heal our little Philip, and not take him. We wanted him to stay here with us! There were so many praying for him! Christians across the globe (through Mike Mickey from RaptureAlert.com), were praying for 2 months for my son's baby Philip.

So when God took him, I was angry. I felt He let us down when we had so much faith in Him. But my anger only lasted through the night, through my sobbing tears and aching grieving heart. Come morning, my anger was gone. The thing is, I believe my Lord understood my anger, and forgave me. He wasn't angry with me for being angry with Him.

Many hurricane victims, tornado victims, fire victims, flood victims, etc. have lost everything. Homes, belongings, loved ones. They may just need time to heal and get back on their feet. I pray so.:pray Katrina was a nightmare for me just watching the coverage on tv! I can not even imagine the sheer horrors of being there! And YOU were there.:hug

[I'm all 67X]

I think so, yes. I'm really glad you brought that up...for some of us it may be a re-direction as well as a refining, and for others yet, a sorting event. It works on me!

Good post!

[BeNotAfraid]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I definately think there we be a sorting of sorts, where those lukewarm Christians or those on the fence are pushed one way or the other. But what do you guys think about nonbelievers? My take is that most of them will blame God, but some will come to repentance...almost like a last ditch effort to bring in the fullness of the Gentiles.

I know God does this with Israel. Can anyone think of specific Scripture to support this with the gentiles. Not a punishment as much as mercy? I think it is important to think about and pray about if this country falls on hard times. This is a big IF, but IF this happens, it will be difficult to witness to people who blame God for disasters. We all hear this to some degree now, but we should be prepared to show them God's love and mercy and desire for their hearts.

I have to admit, I want to see God's miracles too! He answers my prayers and has even literally interceded and saved my life at one time--I am so blessed with the Lord's provision and love. But I have never had dreams or seen visions or the things that are bringing people to faith around the world. I love reading the stories of these brothers and sisters and our missionaries. I would really love to see those things happnening here! But of course, the Lord's will be done and I will be happy with His plan!

[terrilynn]

Unfortunately we Christians have a tendency only to grow during hard times. When things are bad we look to the Lord, but when things are good we give him only a passing glance or two. I think a way to get peoples attention would be a major economic problem. Start messing with peoples finances and pursuit of all the trappings that go along with that and I think the Lord would get some attention. I talk to Christians all the time who are oblivious to what is going on in the world and our economy. They ALL say "Oh that will never happen"--or "our government would never let that happen". How do you combat that mentality?