March
Does God answer prayer? It is a well known fact that a large percentage
of the population be they Christian, agnostic or no faith at all send
up the occasional prayer particularly in times of need, but I just wonder
what they expect by way of return - instant healing? A lottery win?
I am by nature a sceptical person, probably due to my scientific background.
I'll believe most things if they can be proved - if someone can show me
physical evidence that something has happened - but when it comes to miraculous
happenings or actions that seem to have no rational explanation then alarm
bells start ringing. I get these bells sometimes when I tune in to the
TV God Channels - and watch numerous individuals testifying on stage to
the power of God working through the TV evangelist, and the promise of
healing to all who go forward to the podium for the laying on of hands.
I'm sorry, but that's not my experience of miracles and healing and it
worries me that the TV marketing of God's healing power is likely to leave
many disappointed and disillusioned.
Of course I realise that I lay myself open to accusations of being short
on faith, but my experience of miracles is a little more low key. I want
to share particular prayers of mine with you for a reason. That maybe
this will encourage someone who feels that there's no-one listening when
they pray.
I'm sure that as a child many prayers passed my lips, but one uncomfortable
period in my life will probably always live with me. I found myself as
a teenager sending up desperate calls to whoever was 'up there' to help
because of persistent physical and mental bullying at school. I prayed
a lot, day after day. Nothing happened. In fact nothing happened for some
time until I went to a teacher and explained what was happening to me,
something I'd previously not had the confidence to do. Then it was sorted.
The next prayer that I remember, and we're talking over thirty years ago
was one for healing. A young boy I knew was suffering from Leukaemia and
with a poor prognosis from the hospital consultant. It was an odd prayer
as I recall because it was so intense, passionate almost, not at all my
usual short-and-to-the-point efforts. The boy recovered within months
and was declared free of cancer.
A few years later, and unhappy in my employment I prayed for a change
of job with just one proviso, that I wouldn't go back to where I'd been
at college - on the cold east coast. The only job offer that came up trumps
was.... on the cold east coast!
Seven years ago our daughter was very ill and subsequently diagnosed with
a chronic and incurable illness. As you can imagine many prayers went
up for healing, not just from us as parents but from the wider fellowship.
She was not healed.
Yes, there have been lots of other prayers said in-between, but I share
these because I believe they show something of the reality of answered
prayer. Sometimes there is apparently no answer to prayer because the
answer actually lies within us - in doing something for ourselves or for
someone else. If I had reported that bullying months before desperation
crept in it could have been sorted, but for some reason that thought had
not entered my head until I became desperate. In taking that positive
step I enabled a resolution to the problem to take place. If you are praying
for a change in circumstances for someone (or yourself) examine the situation
first and see if you are actually a part of the answer. Often this can
lead to a blessing all round, and that's as real as any miracle.
There is no other explanation for the boy's healing other than it was
a miracle, and I'm happy to accept that because I knew him and saw the
transformation in his life. So yes, God does heal and he can do it spectacularly!
The job opportunity I think is an interesting one, because Christians
will recognise God's sense of humour in the way that one was answered.
As it happened, although the job was not successful long-term we were
used greatly in a Church situation and can see that we had skills that
were needed at a particular moment. Two prayers were answered; one for
the Church who were experiencing problems, and one for me. It also showed
me that you don't lay down preconditions with prayer!
