Answered Prayers

Even during the times when I wasn’t focused on growing spiritually, I would say my prayers every night before going to bed. Most times, they were pretty basic. I’d recite The Our Father, ask for forgiveness, say good night and tell God I loved him. When I would be going through a difficult time, I’d pray for God’s help. When a family member was sick, I’d pray for their healing.

I’d like to share a handful of the answered prayers that strengthened my faith.

·        My Dad’s appendix burst when he was vacationing at my Aunt’s house in another state. He had emergency surgery and was on a ventilator. I was beside myself with worry and terrified of seeing him in that state. During the entire 4-hour drive to see him, I prayed for Dad to be off the ventilator when I got to the hospital. Upon arriving at my Aunt’s house, I learned that he was off the ventilator. I was relieved and happy to see Dad sitting up and smiling when I walked into his hospital room.

·        My Ma had surgery to remove a meningioma the diameter of a grapefruit. I prayed the entire time she was in surgery and, thankfully, it was successful. Unfortunately, in the evening after the surgery, a complication arose, she had a stroke. The next day when I visited, she couldn’t talk or move her right side. I prayed that whole night. The next day when I visited, she could squeeze my hand. Although she still has some problems communicating and the use of her right side is limited, Ma is able to do many things that most wouldn't believe possible.

·        A co-worker of mine was upset because she lost her engagement ring. She looked all over her home and couldn’t find it. I said a prayer that she would be able to find the ring. Within a few minutes of me finishing my prayer, she received a phone call from her fiancé who had found the ring under the bed. Someplace my co-worker had checked multiple times that morning.   

·        A couple of years ago, I moved 2 hours away from where my Ma lives. I was driving one Friday night to visit her for the weekend. It was dark and raining so hard I couldn’t see more than a couple of feet in front of me. Even though I reduced my speed significantly, I could still feel the car tires hydroplaning on the road. I was terrified that I was going to slide out of control and crash. I said a prayer for my safety. Within seconds of finishing my prayer, the rain abruptly stopped. It was as if I drove through a waterfall or a car wash. One second, I was engulfed in torrential rain, the next, there wasn’t a single drop falling from the sky. That is no coincidence.

·        One night, while staying at my Ma’s, my nephew was having trouble lighting one of the burners on the gas stove. He asked for my help, and I tried a few times and couldn’t get it to work. We could hear the clicking of the pilot, but the flame wouldn’t ignite. I decided to try using a lighter. Scared that I might blow up the house by doing so, I said out loud, “Please God, don’t let me blow us up." The very next time I turned the knob on the stove, the burner lit without the assistance of the lighter. My nephew busted out laughing and said, “He heard you."

My prayers are no longer limited to a bedtime ritual. I pray whenever I feel the need during the day. Whether it be for help in figuring out a difficult problem, for guidance in making an important decision or just to say thanks for the blessings in my life.

No prayer is too big for God to answer or too small or insignificant not to pray. God is always listening, and, if we ask in Jesus’ name and with faith, he will always answer.

 John 14:13-14

Jesus' words: “And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”