Misunderstandings Part 2: The Power of Prayer

"Prayer doesn't work. Try praying for a red sports car. Go on. See? Nothing happened. God doesn't exist."

The above is (loosely, because I can't find the website) taken from a page I stumbled upon with several hundred reasons why God doesn't exist. This was one of the first - I didn't get very far before finding it rather tedious and moving on. I actually rather enjoy a good debate with an atheist who has a well thought out point of view, and can actually see some of the discrepancies and troubles that the Church has. But militant atheism based on nothing more than blind faith (ironically) that sets up straw men and knocks them down just ticks me off.

So here we go: my best attempt at explaining a few things about the power of prayer.

Firstly, and probably most importantly, the above writer appears to have confused wishing with praying. Go ask your parents for $100. Or some crack. Or maybe just a really big ninja sword? Do you think they will say yes? I doubt it somehow. Go ask them for some help with your homework, or to teach you how to be patient, or ask them for a lift to the old people's home so you can go visit and cheer them up a bit. Far more likely to say yes right?

God answers our prayers, all the time: and not just the little one. At the start of this year a fresher reminded me I needed to pray big! God will often answer our genuine heartfelt prayers even when they seem impossible. But the point is that the prayers should be in line with his plan. Ask Him to be hot, or for money, or power... chances are you're not going to get anywhere. Ask Him for humility; for peace and tranquility; for the patience to persevere; for strength in your struggle against the devil... these are prayers that He will answer.

Secondly people often come to God with lots of requests. They don't realise that prayer is not a one way thing. We can't say GOD HELP ME!!! And then run away. When we come to God it should be with a humble and contrite heart.

God, I am lost, and without you I can't carry on. Show me how to.

And then we wait, and watch and listen. And sometimes you don't know the answer has come, but sometimes it's like a lightning bolt. Those are the days when you don't need faith - it's just so obvious that there's no jump in the darkness.

Thirdly many people, and often they're the people who need God most, don't understand why prayers for a relative to get better, or somebody to love them back, or the bad things to stop happening aren't answered. Graduate gave me a wonderful metaphor for that. Sometimes you see a piece of tapestry - and all the threads are crossed and it looks like a big mess. Turn it over and you see the pattern. God can see the big picture: we just get the tiny stitches that make no sense. We have to trust that we're in His hands, and that sometimes our prayers are not answered in the way we expect.