How Does God Answer Prayers?

A think piece and answer from Neil MacQueen

Children may wonder why God doesn't seem to be answering their prayers when they ask for toys or the healing of their pet or grandma. As they grow older, that question can turn into doubt -- not only about God's willingness to answer our prayers, but whether God is actually there at all.

The problem is rooted in what we expect from God, what we think we should pray for, and our ability to recognize God's answers when they come. These expectations are often heavily shaped by the churches we grow up in, the scriptures we choose to emphasize over others, and the events in our lives when the answer we sought did or did not come.

"Give us this day our daily bread" doesn't immediately clear up the issue of "how God answers prayers" because "give us today our daily bread" seems to be a literal petition for "everything" we need. And indeed, many great theologians, including Martin Luther who taught a lot about this prayer, define "daily bread" as virtually everything we need.

The problem, of course, is that not everyone who desperately needs and prays for food or shelter or miraculous healing gets the answer they want. Indeed, it doesn't take a genius to realize that prayers for "what we need to live this day," such as the hungry person's prayer for food is a need that goes unanswered a lot. So either Jesus didn't know what he was talking about, or WE haven't understood what he was talking about! 

Try this   Simply add the word "YOU" to the beginning of "Give us this day our daily bread."  

"YOU give us this day our daily bread."

That one simple word turns a problematic petition into praise and appreciation. We thank God for giving us what we need for today -- which may or may not include relief from hardship. "YOU GIVE US" believes God is already at work, and is not sitting back waiting to be asked. 

"Give us this day the eyes to see your daily blessings,
and the heart to share them with others."

Rather than defining "Daily Bread" as a catch-all phrase to cover a shopping list of literal requests, we can recognize that "daily bread" speaks to a deeper sustenance. "Bread" in the Christian lexicon is always associated with "manna from heaven" and Christ himself -- "the bread of heaven."

For this reason, when I pray for daily bread, I literally ask for Jesus walk with me, to be in communion with him. Daily Bread is seeking first his Kingdom today ahead of my needs, and trusting that my needs will be "added unto" in God's good time and wisdom (an idea which comes about 20 verses later in Matthew 6).  

I have no doubt that God wants us to bring our troubles and basic needs to him in prayer. God wants us to voice our needs and share our burdens. And I have no doubt that from time to time our personal needs are answered in tangible (and usually unexpected) ways. But God is not some sort of prayer-directed bulldozer willing to clear difficulties upon request -- in spite of the fact that this is exactly what some churches teach. In a strange update of the very thing Jesus warned us against in Matthew 6, there are Christians who believe prayers are answered if we simply pray long enough, earnestly enough, with enough faith, and with enough other people praying the same thing -- as if God is impressed by numbers and technique. 

In my experience and tradition, God rarely rains pennies from heaven. Instead, God's answers to our requests are almost always in the form of manna -- food for the journey that sounds like "do not be afraid, I will walk through this with you." 

• Guidance? Hold my hand and listen to my word.
• Burdened? Come to me and I will give you rest.
• Weak? Lean on my strength.
• Lost? I am the way.
• Need a helping friend? Let me lead you to my people.
• Heal grandma? Her life (and yours) is and will always be in my hand.

Unlike the answer to every question we joke about hearing in children's sermons, "Jesus" really is the answer to every prayer.  He is the daily presence and strength and assurance that we need, and need to share.

Jesus is the one who promises to help carry our burdens, not magically get rid of them.

And Jesus is the one who moves us to be the answer to other people's needs.

YOU Lord, are my daily bread.
Give me YOU.

Is this the only way of looking at how God answers prayer?  No. But I hope that it helps you answer the question in your own life and in your teaching. 

(Rev.) Neil MacQueen