I know that you are reading the title and thinking, “Okay. Now her brain is going bonkers because I was sure she believed in prayer.” Why, yes, I do. That is why I was pleasantly surprised to find an email this morning from an author named Heather Taber. She is new to me, but based on her philosophy about prayer, I know that I would enjoy her books since her thoughts are refreshingly honest.

Here is the link to her substack post about prayer:

https://open.substack.com/pub/heathertabers/p/why-prayer-doesnt-work?selection=d3f6090e-23f0-4d80-99c1-0b92c48a9304&r=8f2gn&utm_medium=ios

Pondering her conclusions, I decided that she is right. Prayer doesn’t work because it isn’t meant to “work.” It is a conversation with God, not a way for me to talk God into doing exactly what I want when I want it. Once the relationship with God is established, then my will becomes more aligned with His and my prayers become what they are meant to be, a way to tell my Father what is going on in my life and to ask for His help in solving problems. Read the post from Heather and let me know what you think. Honestly, I had never thought of it this way. I have often said to myself and others that God is not a genie in a bottle that we take out and talk to when we feel desperate or have lost hope in everything else. Heather says things in a way that is understandable and that I could definitely relate to.

Having said that, let me tell you about another answered prayer. I had my MRI on my back yesterday. I was understandably nervous since I knew I had to lie down in a supine position and was told that the test could take up to an hour. An hour in what I call the thumping machine? Well, we went to the afternoon service at church (with our daughter and granddaughters, which was a real blessing) and then Harry and I headed to the hospital for my MRI. The technicians could not have been more compassionate or caring. From the time they loaded me into the wheelchair in the ER to take me to the MRI suite, they treated me as valuable and worth their time, even though it was Easter and they were not with loved ones. The test itself was the easiest one I have ever undergone. I went into the machine feet first, so the usual claustrophobic feeling wasn’t there since my head was barely in the tube. The test only took about fifteen minutes and done! I had prayed for nice technicians…answered. I had prayed that I wouldn’t be claustrophobic and panic in the machine for so long…answered times two since the test was much shorter than expected. And I had prayed that I would feel God close beside me as I was tested. We sang a song in church right before we went to the hospital and the chorus was “The Lord is with me.” I kept singing that to myself in the chamber…answer number three in a totally unexpected way. God has a way of surprising us with answers that we didn’t expect at all. I am not sure what I expected but answers were not it. I was just kind of “along for the ride” and hoping that God was driving. He heard and He answered; after all, the most important part of prayer is establishing a relationship before you really, really need an answer, right?

I hope that my testimony has stimulated your faith to ask for the small things and then expect them to happen, in God’s way and in His timing. God will surprise you with His great love for you and His desire that you trust Him.