This is a question asked by many young people on their journey of growth.
No cap—let’s be real: Sometimes, it appears that people who don’t acknowledge God are thriving more than you. They land the job, drive the nice car, take those trips, achieve their goals, build successful businesses, have their finances in order, and seem to avoid major struggles.
And here you are—fasting, praying, quoting scriptures, going to church—and still struggling. It’s frustrating. And maybe deep down, you’ve wondered:
Why does it feel like I must wrestle in prayer and fasting for blessings that others receive without even turning to God?
You are not alone… in feeling this tension between your dedicated faith and the seemingly effortless blessings others experience. It’s a deeply human question that touches on our understanding of God’s ways, fairness, and the very purpose of our spiritual disciplines.
The following perspectives might shed some light on this:
We often say, God’s principles of prosperity are universal—available to all, regardless of belief. They’re built into the way He designed the world to function (see Proverbs 10:4, 11:25, most chapters of Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes; Galatians 6:7). Diligence, generosity, and wise sowing always produce fruit. So do integrity, humility, and self-discipline. Patience, good stewardship, and seeking wise counsel, etc.
Now let’s break down the actual content.
1. seeking god: not just for material things
Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
This isn’t a formula—it’s a foundation.
The goal isn’t to hustle for “things.” It’s to align with God’s heart and way of doing life.
Because the real win is peace, wisdom, stability, discernment and purpose—not just stuff.
His righteousness, God’s standard of what is right, just, and holy. It’s not about our own self.
Prayer, bible studying, and fasting are not just tools to get things; they’re about building relationships, realignment, and reliance. When we pray and fast, we’re not just asking—we’re surrendering, tuning in, growing in intimacy with God. Even if non-believers obtain material things, they might miss out on the divine peace, purpose, and the feeling of God’s presence that prayer cultivates.
Jesus’ words resonate: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Individuals can attain worldly wealth, fame, or success and still find themselves unfulfilled and empty, as the human spirit inherently seeks more than earthly things. Aligning with God, directs you towards a lasting reward—eternal harmony with God’s purpose.
When you prioritize this relationship over results, you begin to live from identity—a secure sense of who you are, freeing you from the need to constantly prove your worth through achievements or lack.
God already knows what you need. But do you know who you’re becoming?
When you seek God first—His heart, His presence, His righteousness—He already knows what you need. Jesus said in Matthew 6:32 that “your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.” The focus shifts from chasing things to chasing Him, and the things follow, because he will guide you on how to put in the work in His standards.
2. Yes, Non-Believers get things, but what’s the tradeoff?
It’s God’s general mercy that provides for all, believers and non-believers alike, just as the rain does. Yet, material provision alone won’t satisfy the deeper, spiritual void. A life without God might be shiny, but it can also be:
- hollow at its core.
- …ultimately lack true purpose.
- …devoid of lasting peace.
- …built on a foundation that won’t endure.
- …a pursuit of fleeting pleasures.
- …missing a vital dimension of existence.
- …surprisingly fragile in the face of true hardship.
- …a journey without a true north.
- …a quest for satisfaction that never truly arrives.
- …a story missing its most important character.
- Draining
- Full but not fruitful
The difference? You’re not just chasing things—you’re becoming someone.
Pagans may get provision by worldly systems, but your (who is in God) life becomes a masterpiece when you live by God’s ways.
Fasting and prayer shape you more than your circumstances. They’re spiritual disciplines that refine your heart, boost discernment, and build spiritual muscles. While non-believers might get the job or car easily, you’re becoming someone who walks in wisdom, peace, purpose, truth, freedom and power, and depth.
In God’s kingdom, faith, discipleship, trust, and love are currency, not just hustle or luck. You live by a higher calling, so your processes may look different, sometimes slower, even “unfair”—but they carry eternal weight.
Shift your perspective: God isn’t reluctant; He’s a loving Father you’re in relationship with. When that connection is your focus, provision follows naturally from your trust and alignment.
3. Prayer: Not Begging-Becoming
Too many young believers approach prayer like a transaction:
“God, if I fast for 3 days, You’ll give me X.”
But that’s not how a Father works. Prayer is about becoming—stronger, clearer, wiser. It’s communion, not negotiation.
Fasting isn’t about lack. It’s about focus. It isn’t a hunger strike. It’s soul alignment.
Prayer should flow from who you’re becoming, not from fear, pressure, or spiritual routine.
Prayer isn’t about begging for what’s already yours (He has already given us abundance and all spiritual blessings)—it’s about learning how to walk in it, steward it, and not settle for counterfeits.
When you don’t pray, even abundance can become idolatry. You may end up:
- Chasing money instead of meaning.
- Confusing your wants with needs.
- Living in fear of lack, even when you have plenty.
Prayer recalibrates your soul. It’s not to twist God’s hand, but to align your heart to trust, discern, and respond rightly.
4. A Deep and Personal Connection with God
It’s more than religion, that you should know—it’s a real, living relationship with the Divine. It’s the quiet confidence of knowing you’re seen, heard, and deeply loved. In God, you find a steady anchor—a source of strength, comfort, and belonging that goes far beyond any human connection.
Through this relationship, life takes on deeper meaning. You begin to align not just your goals, but your entire purpose with God’s greater plan—impacting the world in ways that matter beyond titles and timelines.
Your identity isno longer tied to trends, achievements, or applause. It’s rooted in something unshakable: God’s love and the truth that you are His. That becomes your foundation.
As you grow in Him, you face challenges with a quiet trust. You’re no longer tossed by uncertainty, because faith gives you stability. Emotional strength is built not in the absence of hardship, but through God’s presence in the middle of it.
You begin to reflect His nature—walking in love, patience, kindness, and honesty. You start becoming more like Christ, not just in belief, but in how you live and love others.
And through His Word and Spirit, you gain wisdom for life. Scripture becomes your guide, offering clarity in confusion and light in dark places.
Most of all, you walk forward with hope. Not wishful thinking—but a confident expectation that your future is held in God’s hands. Even in the tough times, you know He’s working all things together for your good.
5. Most Christians Pray from Lack
Truth: Many fast and pray because they feel behind or have unmet desire. But lack can become an idol, too.
Many believers today approach prayer like a desperate cry for survival. It’s like they’re constantly reaching out from a place of emptiness, fear, or insecurity, rather than confidence, relationship, God’s sufficiency and trust.
You pray more out of anxiety than trust, often thinking more about outcomes than alignment with God’s will.
You’re more interested in getting the next blessing than in becoming the kind of person who can carry it well.
When your prayers are always about what you don’t have, you miss who you already are in Christ.
Instead of: “Lord, bless me with money.” Try: “Lord, shape me into someone who handles provision with wisdom.”
Shift your focus from having to becoming.
God, I feel so lost—open doors now.” Try: “God, grow my discernment to know which doors are from You.
You’re not a spiritual orphan—you’re a child of the King. It’s time to stop praying like you’re unworthy or on the outside looking in. You’re family. Walk in like it. Shift your mindset from begging to belonging, from fear to full access. Prayer hits different when you know you’re royalty—when you understand that heaven isn’t withholding anything from you, and your Father delights in hearing your voice and everything He does is for your own good.
You ask boldly but trust deeply—even when the answer is delayed.
If anyone didn’t “need” to pray, it was Jesus. Yet He prayed constantly—not to get stuff, but to stay close to the Father, stay strong in purpose, and fulfill His mission.
6. Not every open door is god’s door
Some doors lead to:
- Pride
- Burnout
- Emptiness
- compromise
- Unnecessary delays and pain
- spiritual decline
- distraction
- deception
- fear
That’s why discernment matters. God might manage a door because He’s protecting your soul.
You don’t want success that comes at the cost of peace.
1 John 4:1): Not every prompting or opportunity comes from God. Evaluate the open door in light of Scripture, godly counsel, and the fruit it produces. Does it align with God’s character and principles?
What kind of long-term consequences might this door lead to? Does it produce fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
God’s Word is our ultimate guide and standard.
Sometimes, the godliest path involves waiting for the right door or accepting when a door closes, even if it seemed promising.
Why then would God allow such doors to open for his loved ones
Sometimes, what looks like an opportunity is actually a detour. God, in His wisdom, allows certain doors to open—not because He wants us to walk through them, but to test our discernment, deepen our dependence, or teach us something vital.
He gives us free will, not to confuse us, but to grow us. Just like in a relationship, love matures through choice—not control. And sometimes, the wrong doors are loud and appealing, but they reveal what’s really in our hearts: our motives, our trust, our hunger for validation over purpose.
God doesn’t always block the door—but He does send whispers, red flags, and a restless spirit. And even if we walk through the wrong one, His grace doesn’t abandon us. He uses even our missteps to lead us back to His perfect will.
So, the real question becomes: Are we close enough to His voice to tell the difference between any door and His door?
7. What unbelievers can’t get without god
They can get:
- Fame
- material comforts
- Influence
- Moral Behaviour and Good Deeds
- Intellectual and Creative Abilities
- A Measure of Peace and Happiness
But they can’t get:
- Peace that passes understanding
- Grace in hardship
- Wisdom for eternity
- A legacy that outlives trends
- Inheritance in God’s Kingdom
- Spiritual Gifts for Serving God and Others
- The Fullness of God’s Presence – Holy Spirit
- Forgiveness of Sins and Reconciliation with God
- True and Lasting Purpose in God’s Kingdom
- Spiritual Understanding and Discernment
- The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- Eternal Life and Salvation
The “can get” category is finite and bound by this world, whereas the other category is infinite and extends into eternity.
What would pagans admire about you?
When you live Kingdom-first, what stands out is:
- You’re calm in chaos
- Your purpose-driven life
- Your wisdom and boundaries
- Your joy that’s not attached to things
- Your grace under pressure
- Your identity in God, not performance
They might not say it, but they’ll notice. Some may even come to you in private when their systems fail.
Your life, when aligned with God, becomes a light in a confused world.
8. Redefining fruitfulness
Success is loud. Fruitfulness is lasting but can also be loud. The “loudness” of success can be superficial and temporary. But the “loudness” that sometimes accompanies fruitfulness is different – it’s the undeniable sound of lasting impact, genuine change, and a life lived in alignment with God’s purposes.
God is not anti-wealth. He’s anti-idolatry.
He wants you to grow in:
- Character
- Wisdom
- Unconditional Love
- Divine Peace
- Eternal Purpose
- Christ’s identity
- Trust and faith
That’s the kind of fruit that speaks loudest—even in a material world.
Be fruitful, not just successful.
Here’s the difference:
| Success | Fruitfulness |
|---|---|
| Impresses people | Transforms lives |
| Temporary results | Eternal rewards |
| Driven by goals only | Rooted in God’s will |
| May bring burnout | Brings peace and growth |
| Chases outcomes | Follows obedience |
9. The ultimate win:
The Promise of Eternal Life:
Knowing that your relationship with God extends beyond this earthly existence into an eternity of joy, peace, and perfect communion with Him. This provides a powerful perspective on the temporary nature of earthly struggles and rewards.
FINAL WORD: Common Grace vs. Consecrated Growth: Your Path of Refinement
Don’t compare your process with someone’s highlight reel. God is shaping you for more than what money can buy. For purpose. For peace. For eternity.
And that is worth every moment of prayer, every quiet fast, every hidden season.
You are not just chasing favor. You’re becoming someone the world can’t ignore.
Now that’s the kingdom living.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
My heart sometimes feels a pang of confusion, Lord, when I see those who don’t acknowledge You seemingly receive blessings and ease without the effort of prayer, Bible study, or fasting that I embrace. It can feel like I’m working harder for less, or that I’m somehow behind.
But Your Word reminds me that Your ways are not my ways, and Your thoughts are higher than mine. I pray for a deeper understanding of Your perspective, Lord. Help me to trust that this path of seeking You, though it may feel challenging at times, is not a sign of being overlooked, but a process of precious refinement.
Thank you for the assurance that You are shaping me, molding me for purposes far beyond what earthly ease or fleeting success can offer – for true peace, for a meaningful purpose in Your Kingdom, and for an eternity with You.
Grant me the strength and perseverance to continue in prayer, to diligently study Your Word, and to embrace seasons of fasting, knowing that these are investments in that eternal reality and in becoming the person You desire me to be. Help me to focus on my relationship with You, trusting that provision and blessing flow from that alignment.
May I not be distracted by the highlight reels of others, but keep my eyes fixed on You, knowing that Your refining hand is at work in my life, making me into someone who reflects Your love and truth to a world that desperately needs it.
In Jesus Christ’s name I pray,
Amen.
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Hey, I’m Angeline, your RN also a Counselor and founder of Finally Am Found. With a heart for mentorship, I’ve been guiding teens and young adults since 2017. As a Registered Nurse, I blend medical expertise with personal experiences to create a Christ-aligned space for self-discovery. Connect with Angeline on Facebook and let the journey to self-discovery begin!
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