My brother and I received a ball for Christmas that year and as nine-year-old boys we wanted to play ball. We went to a nearby field, taking turns throwing the ball and hitting it. One hit went awry and flew into an area of tall grass. We looked for that ball and could not find it.
Mother was a praying woman and she had taught us to pray. She said that God cares and answers prayers. God could say “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait,” words that seemed strange for answered prayers.
We wanted to find the ball! So we knelt down in the field and said, “Dear Jesus, please help us find the ball.” We got up and continued to look to no avail. As we talked, we came up with an idea. We would lay down on the field of grass with our feet touching and roll over the ground in a pattern that covered the field. After about five minutes one of us felt a bump under him and sure enough it was the ball.
We were elated. We told mom that WE had found the ball. She calmly reminded us that GOD had put the idea in our heads. That was a sobering realization and an understanding of how God’s care responds to us. Answered prayer was real!
That was over 80 years ago and, in the ensuing years of life, prayer has been an activity that has guided, comforted, and provided me with wisdom through the many decisions of my life.
Growing up as a teenager, it seemed we were preoccupied with, “Who would we marry?” “Where would we live?” Life required many decisions. In high school, our Bible teacher gave us guidance, telling us to go to God in prayer.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” These words were always in the back of my mind.
I got married to my high school girlfriend at 19. We were married for nine months and then I was drafted into the Army. Was God leading? What a devastating interruption to my life! After basic training, I was fortunate to be assigned in the United States for the first year. My wife came and we lived off base.
But then orders came to ship out to Korea. I prayed and trusted, but questioned. Two months after I arrived in Korea, my son was born. Was God still with me? I was discharged from the Army when my son was four months old. Now we had to decide life’s activities.
I went back to my job before I was drafted, building cameras on an assembly line. We lived from paycheck to paycheck. I was reminded that as an Army vet I could get the G.I. Bill and go to school. I would be paid! I was accepted to La Sierra College and planned to start in September 1955.
On August 31, it was my son’s first birthday and we were still in Oregon. I came home from work at midnight and went to the crib to see my son. He was awake and whimpering. He was trying to push up, but his little arm would not move. Polio had struck him and he was rushed to the hospital and placed in an iron lung. Where was God?
For the next three weeks – between work, the hospital, and worrying about our plans for school – it seemed all was about to change. Then prayer came to the rescue. Not mine, but that of our pastor who visited often and prayed and talked and guided our thoughts. I was advised to not change plans for school. Talk about stepping out in faith!
So to California I went. I came down and got a part-time job at Loma Linda Foods and rented an apartment located in what is now the parking lot of the La Sierra University Church. After enrolling in college, I went back to Oregon and moved my family to La Sierra. Prayers were guiding me.
My goal was to become a dentist, so I enrolled as a biology and chemistry major. It was in my junior year that a professor in one of my classes asked me to stop by after class. In our discussion, he asked me about my future. After I told him my plans, he paused and asked if I would be open to considering other options. Of course I was curious and asked what he had in mind. He pressed me to consider taking courses that would lead to teaching and shared with me reasons for his suggestions that included his observations about my personality and interests.
Wow, he really upset my plans, but what he said made a lot of sense! So, again, I had no alternative but to put this to prayer. I would put God to the test.
We prayed. I decided that IF I could get an A in a particular course, I would change majors. I got the A and that led to a career where I spent over 45 years teaching and administrating in Adventist schools. God was guiding!
Looking back at these life-changing events I have to admit that prayer has been a life-guiding activity. Prayer has helped me gain an understanding of God’s loving nature and willingness to guide us when we ask.
Prayer has been…
A help in finding direction in my life’s career.
A comfort as life’s challenges brought heartache and the death of my first wife to cancer.
A guide to joy in my life by meeting Virginia 24 years ago in Sabbath School.
An activity that brought a sense of belonging to the family of God.
Yes, Philippians is right, “…in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving” my requests were presented to God.
And I discovered that God answers prayers.
Wally and Virginia Minder have been members of the La Sierra University Church for 59 years.