“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22, NIV).
Have you ever been puzzled by some Biblical texts that discuss the power of prayer? Whatever you ask for, if you just believe and do not doubt, you will receive. Really? Has that been your experience? What does Jesus really mean? Do we misunderstand the context or the translation?
Christian bookstores are filled with how-to books discussing the power of prayer. Some appear to be more like recipe books detailing how if you follow these steps then all your prayers will be answered. All you need to do is carefully follow the recipe and you will have a more direct line and access to God. Some of the authors of these pray books even emphasize the material blessings that come from your prayer life if you simply have the faith of a mustard seed.
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. While we sometimes struggle to recognize answers to prayer in the moment, the hand of God is often revealed when we look back and recall how mountains were in fact moved.
For the last several months, my wife and other family members have been conducting a prayer vigil each evening at the same designated time. They are praying for the healing of a 37-year-old man who resides in Rome, Italy, and has been battling cancer. The situation is dire, and we do not know how things will turn out. We have been close friends with him and his parents for years and have seen the emotional toil that comes from facing an uncertain outcome.
Is God hearing these prayers? Will we get the answers that will make things right? Why is this type of prayer not answered immediately? This is the challenge of those who believe in a Savior who has promised us eternal life and a day when there will be no more suffering or shedding of tears.
Sometimes I need to be reminded that God does still answer prayers and sometimes in dramatic fashion. A few holiday seasons back, I was walking to the train station after work when a young man greeted me at the crosswalk. I recognized him and asked how he was doing. The reply was not what I expected. “Not so good. I am homeless now, living by the train tracks and I feel like walking in front of one of the trains.” This was one of those moments that I was not prepared for. I asked if we could meet and try to figure things out. (Probably not a good response, since my expertise is in legal matters and not mental health.)
We agreed to meet Monday morning first thing. I thought about the situation over the weekend and felt that somehow, I could help him. When Monday arrived, I had not come up with any ideas. He said he was able to obtain a job with Good Will, but his paycheck would be insufficient to pay the rent of an apartment. What do you do when there does not appear to be any solution?
All I could say was, “Let’s pray about it.” When I opened my eyes, an answer to the problem came like a bolt of lightning. Immediately I recalled the name of an elderly Christian lady who I had previously defended from efforts to declare her incompetent, who since rented rooms in her home to single men. It was the perfect solution, since her residence was close to where he worked and his only means of transportation was a bicycle.
I remember meeting with this young man the day after Christmas and moving all his meager earthly possessions into his new residence. As I drove away, tears were coming down my face. I knew that God is still in the business of answering prayers and sometimes we get to be part of God’s answer.
Mark von Esch is a lifetime Adventist who has been a practicing lawyer for 43 years.