He Answers Prayers

What would you say if I told you that I knew the secret to having your prayers answered?

How many times have you prayed and then felt as if God didn’t hear you or answer you? Eighteen years ago I was there. I asked God to heal my son, I asked God to save my marriage. And I absolutely felt as if I had prayed in vain. My marriage fell apart and I was a divorced mother of two small children, one of whom with very significant special needs. Clearly God didn’t exist, or if he did, he wasn’t in the business of answering my prayers.

Fast forward to today. I can’t think of a single prayer I have prayed that I haven’t known God to answer – so what is the difference? Does he love me more now?

Don’t ever for a single moment think that God doesn’t hear your prayers or that they won’t be answered, but the secret isn’t giving God a wish list of things you think you want or need, it’s praying for him to help you through a situation and at all times acknowledging that his will be done. Sometimes what we are praying for isn’t actually what we need. If God had saved my marriage I wouldn’t be living my best life right now. I wouldn’t have found the love of my life, my soul mate, I wouldn’t have my Dave. And if God had healed my son, he wouldn’t have touched so many lives and again, I absolutely would not be where I am today. God had a plan for my life and it was infinitely more than I could have asked or imagined 20 odd years ago.

Yes, it’s true, God doesn’t always heal the sick and the dying when we pray – we don’t always get a “lame shall walk” miracle. I have lost those I cared for deeply to tragic accidents. God doesn’t promise us a pain-free existence, but he does promise to walk through the valleys with us. You can’t know joy without experiencing sorrow. You can’t appreciate health, without knowing sickness, and although we might not see it at the time, God can always turn things for our good.

I’d like to end with a story of our weekend miracle – our weekend answered prayer. Last Sunday my sister’s cat went missing. They searched everywhere for him to no avail. We have of course offered up prayers for Rocky’s safe return. This Sunday morning, while we were in church, praying for his return, Rocky came home. God loves his children and wants to give us every good thing and in this case our answered prayer was a filthy, smelly, much beloved kitty. Thank you, Lord.