Written 2003
I wonder if we could ever fathom just how powerful prayer is. If we could see the domino effect it has on us and others perhaps then we would have a glimpse of its strength. But how many times do we feel our prayers go unanswered simply because we do not recognize the answer?
The truth is God does answer our prayers but perhaps not always the way we want or expect. So His answers go unnoticed.
One night, not too long ago, a little boy had a terrible cough. His mother prayed, asking God to stop the cough so that her son might get some rest. Not five minutes later the boy was sound asleep -- the cough was gone. The mothers first thought after discovering the sleeping child was NOT, "Wow! Thank-you God!" but rather, "Boy, he must have been really tired!"
The mother's immediate explanation for the absence of the boys cough resulting in his peaceful sleep was an explanation based on circumstance instead of answered prayer. Through the prodding of the Holy Spirit she realized what she had just done and wondered how many times has she done that before?
How many times have we prayed for a miracle--a promotion, a home, good weather--actually received what we asked for and immediately forgot about our beseeching God. Instead we give credit to circumstance...
..."Sure was lucky it didn't rain on our outdoor wedding."
Or worse, we give credit to ourselves...
..."I worked hard to get that promotion, I deserved it."
Then there are the prayers that are answered in a way we weren't expecting and so we don't recognize it as an answered prayer. Instead we question why God isn't listening to us. "Why doesn't He answer me?"
God tells us in Isaiah 55:8&9 that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways. Yet we still find ourselves frustrated when God does not do what we expect or want Him to do.
Another night--another terrible cough. This time it was the boy's sister. She had been coughing all day. Medicine did not calm it. Vicks on her neck, a steamer in her room, nothing could quell it. Again, the mother approached God with the request to banish the ceaseless cough. She had no doubt He could do it, after all, she had seen Him do it before.
But the coughing continued. The mother lay awake--a prayer going up with every cough. In her sleep deprivation she became frustrated and confused. What possible reason could God have to refuse to heal her little girl?
The next morning a doctor's appointment was made, x-rays were taken and a nebulizer was bought. After the girl's first treatment with the nebulizer the coughing stopped. She was healed after all.
But why didn't God heal her the night before as she lay in bed?
I don't know.
Perhaps the newly purchased nebulizer would be needed in the future. Perhaps God wanted the mother to run into the nurse that attended their church. Perhaps he little girl learned a small lesson on not being afraid of the unknown (because the x-ray machine really didn't hurt). Or, perhaps, it was so I would have an analogy on how God answers prayer.
I don't know, may never know. The important thing is that God knows, always knows and that is what we as His children should never forget.
Written 2008
Five years later...
The 90 year old great-grandmother of the boy and girl came to visit from a great distance.
She awoke that first morning in a panic. She walked out of the guest room slowly--but as fast
as she could.
"My machine!" she exclaimed upon sight of the mom, "I forgot to pack my machine!"
The mom instantly shared her concern. It was Labor Day weekend and whatever she had
forgotten would not be found until stores opened again in two days.
"What machine?" she asked--her mind racing, trying to recall all the medical facilities,
wondering which one might be open for emergencies.
"The machine for my treatments...I can't breathe well without my treatments." her words
already labored.
The mom suddenly realized she was witnessing an answered prayer that didn't even need
to be uttered. She smiled as she asked...
"A nebulizer?"
