evolution,
I agree that this 'helping one's self and/or doing and accomplishing things for, and by, one's self' is unrivaled.
It is isn't it. Recently I've been in a bit of employment law difficulty. I can't afford a solicitor, so after doing some research and reading, I formulated a complaint of my own making, which did not achieve everything that I wanted to, but it got me out of the situation without huge damage to my reputation, which was my opponents goal I believe. I've been using these forums for a good few years now, and I can tell you that being articulate is a very powerful tool, don't underestimate what you have in that sense.
On topic, as much I would welcome 'divine help' in my life, the satisfaction of helping oneself in my view outweighs it. Because anything we learn can only strengthen us and cause us to develop further. I don't need God for anything, I just need too feed my brain with information/knowledge, and watch it go.
I also had a problem with heartburn, did a bit of research, changed my diet, and bang,100% better. If God had healed me, I would be none the wiser. Therefore, how do we know that it isn't God's will that we go through these things? He/She may not be as the texts report, they could be like "a divine gardener", who just provides the nutrients for us to grow. But unlike flowers, how we grow totally is up to us.
My apologies for not responding to other posts, I'll try to get to them when I can.
Theists believe, agnostics ponder and atheists analyse. A little bit of each should get us the right answer.