Prayer is the best way to deal with suffering Essays

Prayer is the best way to deal with suffering Essays Prayer is the best way to deal with suffering Essay Prayer is the best way to deal with suffering Essay In this essay I will examine why some people say, and if prayer is the best way to deal with suffering.The dictionary definition of prayer states that it is a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contribution, or thanksgiving. Suffering however, is defined as being undergoing or being subjected to pain or disadvantageous experience. Forms of suffering can be said as either being physical or mental.Some people, particularly Christians, say that this is the best way to deal with suffering as God is the supreme being and interacting with God would easily relieve all their suffering. They believe that every way of suffering can be cured by praying to God. Christians believe that anything can happen in peoples lives but if they pray and have faith, they will never discourage themselves.They believe that prayer means that you really believe in God and you know that God loves you and that you will never be alone. Therefore, if your sure that God loves you, then you can deal with any kind of suffering. In addition, they believe that prayer is also the best way as it has no bad consequences such as other ways of dealing with suffering, such as alcohol and drugs are far worse. Moreover a quote from the Bible itself states that one should use prayer to deal with ones suffering:(1 Peter 5:7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.This quote connotes that Christians should deal with all their suffering by praying to God and unloading all their anxieties onto God. This would be quite a personal interaction.However, some non-Christians would argue that prayer is not the best way to deal with suffering. They believe this as prayer cannot be used to cure terminal illnesses such as cancer. They feel that prayer is like a placebo and that Christians only feel better after praying even though their suffering hasnt been cured. Additionally, they believe prayer is a method of forcing ones problems upon an external deity so that he or she does not have to deal with it by themselves.Some also believe that prayer is a form of meditation and can relax and calm the mind but not cure suffering. It may cure mental suffering but not physical suffering. They believe that physical suffering such as sever injuries or terminal illnesses cannot be treated by the means of prayer. Many also believe that prayer is often used by people as an excuse for not taking any proper actions against their suffering. It is often thought that people use prayer as a barrier to cover up their suffering and maybe are too afraid to face it themselves.Finally, my personal view is that prayer isnt the best way to deal with suffering. This is not because Im not a Christian. Practically thinking, it is impossible to cure suffering such as a terminal illness like cancer from prayer. Action must be taken by scientists to find a cure for it, praying wont do anything. On the other hand, it may lessen the pain by making the person feel better despite being unable to cure the suffering. Furthermore, I do however, believe that prayer may be able to relieve mental suffering to an extent. Physical suffering, though, cannot be cured by prayer. The only way to attempt to alleviate any suffering is by facing the problem head on and to put effort into dealing with whatever is causing the suffering.