Is Prayer The Answer?

Or Just a Shortcut To Problem-Solving?

I prayed! Fervently. Day and night, with fasting and supplications.

I prayed for my marriage, my sick son, my eluding promotion, my messed-up daughter, my debt-ridden situation and for my church pastor whose marriage was in jeopardy. My life was a mess of one problem after the other and the only way out was through God, who answers prayer. Or did He?

I was born in a Christian home. They taught me from a tender age that “with God all things are possible”. Although you can call it being brainwashed, it is not so because the Holy Bible prescribes it.

And what is the Holy Bible? It is the word of God, written under the influence of the Holy spirit by inspiring prophets of old. These are the guys who talked to God one on one, who played the part of a middleman, between God and the people.

Now, what is prayer? It is communication with the higher power. The Christians pray to the trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They talk to the Father in the name of His son Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that whatever they ask from God, their father, in the name of Jesus His son, shall he accomplish? Some Christians go to an extent of praying in tongues that are premised on the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. They regard the tongues as a heavenly language.

Another aspect of prayer is faith. Christians believe they can only get answers to prayer if they pray in faith. This, they say, explains why some prayers get answered while others do not.

Armed with the above teaching and orientation, I embarked on a prayer marathon to address the challenges in my life. I started with a concerted prayer for my pastor. A 3 day dry fast pioneered by Queen Esther’s fast for the Jews. She asked her uncle Mordecai and all the Jews too fast for her, and to — “neither eat nor drink for 3 days, night and day”. According to the Bible, Esther received her answer in the affirmative.

My first day of fast was difficult, but the second and third day flew by. I was excited about the prospects of my Pastor’s marriage restored. They separated and the wife and children had moved in with her parents. Following the last day of the fast, I visited the pastor’s wife. I was confident the prayer and fasting had worked. As we shared the goodness of the Lord and His providence, she cried.

The Pastor has asked for a divorce! The very day I completed my third day fast. It devastated me and the counsellor in me wanted to counsel my sister to face reality. But the Christian in me ran to the Bible and prayer. Besides, “With God, all things are possible”. As I prayed, she did not resound the “Amens” that I am accustomed to. She quietened like a morning breeze. I left dejected but still hopeful that God the Father will answer. He is a faithful and all-compassionate God who “hates divorce”.

The seven-day prayer and fasting started. This one was a “wet fast” incorporating the drinking of water only during the day and a glass of juice in the evening. It was a tall order, and I took compassionate leave to address the concerns of my Pastor’s challenged marriage, the sick son, the messed-up daughter, my eluding promotion and my debt situation in no particular order.

The fast strategy called for reading the Holy Bible every hour and a 30-minute prayer every other hour. The last prayer item for the day was at 8 pm. But I believed a lot in the midnight prayer that ran for 2 hours because it is then that I break the gates of hell and claim my freedom from the devil practices. Since the seven-day fast followed the 3-day Esther fast, I managed the first three days with ease. The fifth day was a problem since I was too tired to wake up for midnight prayer. I pressed on. Besides, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17; NIV) I kept on sending the Pastor’s wife messages of encouragement, but her response was not good. The Pastor was refusing to meet with the wife and the family to iron out their differences. I doubted his sanity. How can a man of God, whose sermons and prayers deliver people from demons, do what he is doing? He is not in his right mind.

I was more inclined to the Pastors’ marital challenge than mine. Mainly because he was a test of my belief in the power of prayer instead of a mere challenge. I prayed with vigour for the Lord’s intervention in my Pastor’s challenge.

Two days after my seven-day fast, I visited the pastor’s wife. She was wearing a bright red dress with yellow and blue flowers. Her blue shoes augmented her attire. Her usually back-combed hair was literally flowing as she dashed to hug me and kiss me on the forehead. I felt relieved and under my voice; I hissed “Praise God”!

She invited me into the dining room and as I sat; she dashed to the kitchen. The aroma was captivating. She brought with her eye-popping chinaware, authentic cutlery that reminded me of Queen Wendy to match and piping hot ginger biscuits! What is the occasion? I quizzed her. She beamed, cupped her face, and threw herself on the seat. God is good, she murmured. Your Pastor did me a favour. There are no favours in God’s kingdom, I retorted. What happened?

Why is she excited about the turn of events? The Pastor had negotiated a sick settlement. They will not go to court for the annulment of their marriage. Their lawyers will do the honours. The pastor will pay for all legal expenses and the wife will have custody of the children. He will pay maintenance for the complete family and they will have the family home. The pastor issued only two conditions, that he gets the family car and that the wife promises never to bring up Barbara. She was the Pastor’s girlfriend, three months pregnant with his child!

I left her mother’s house disillusioned. Where is God when all this is happening? I started addressing God in person. Why, Lord, why? Didn’t you promise? If this is happening to your protegee, what about ordinary beings like us? Will my issues get your attention, Lord?

I was beating the steering wheel of my car as I shouted at God, oblivious to the ongoing noise from the hooter.

I rushed into my sitting room, only to be met by my radiant daughter. She was enjoying a watermelon with her father. What? I asked. They both acknowledged my presence with a hug! I am sorry, mom. Sorry that I put you through hell! I turned to her father, who chipped in. I am responsible. I should have been there for her.

He handed me a letter which had a bold logo from my place of work. They dropped it off in the morning. I did not even know you were on leave for an entire week. Are you okay? He asked as he tilted my chin towards him, planting a kiss on my lips.

May I open it for you mommy? My daughter did not wait for my answer but grabbed the letter and with that, frantically opened it. I was still in deep conversation with my husband when she led a loud shriek. We both rushed to her, thinking she had hurt herself. She started jumping up and down, flagging the letter and pointing at me.

They promoted me on transfer to the United Kingdom as an ambassador! I was astounded. How did this happen? I cried. My husband assured me it was because of the hard work that I got the promotion.

It was then that I remembered the fasts. Really? But why not the Pastor? I had some misgivings as I readied myself to go to the office of President for the orientation service. I cried aloud as I recall the pain of losing the biblical principle of “until God does us part”. I whimpered as I recalled God failing to answer a genuine request. The Pastor is a lost soul- Why can’t God deliver him? How will he deliver God’s flock in his prodigal stage? Was prayer the answer in this case or should I have counselled instead?

As the family escorted me to the car to attend the 3 o’clock orientation, I thanked God they were okay and that we will all go to the UK to stay for at least 5 years!

But as for my pastor… he is a lost cause and his wife should know better.