Editorial: “Whose Prayers Get Answered?”
A few nights ago a big storm system moved across the central United States, from Kansas and Oklahoma through Ohio and Michigan: tornados, high winds, river-flooding rain, and the kind of hail that destroys farmers’ crops.
Having grown up in North Dakota, I’m no stranger to thunderstorms. When it moved through Columbus, and while sensible people were in their basements, I went outside to watch. Storms, as long as they don’t destroy things, are spectacular.
Someone wrote on Facebook that evening, “Had a severe storm go through here. We prayed for safety, and the tornados hit the county north of us. We thanked God.”
Oh dear.
So yeah, I’m glad these people didn’t get hurt or lose their home.
But what about those people north of them, who did? Why didn’t God answer their prayers
I remember a sermon story about a pastor and his family rushing to the airport, when they were stopped by a patrolman who delayed them long enough that they missed their flight. And that very flight crashed, killing everyone on board! The pastor talked about how his family always prayed for safety when they traveled, and concluded that God had a purpose in keeping them alive.
I shared his gratitude that his family was spared; and having been spared, I hope they made good use of their lives.
But wait: God had no purpose in mind for any of the 500 people who did get on the plane?
I don’t diminish the importance of prayer. But I think we have to be very careful about how we talk about it. Should I assert that no tornados hit my house this week because I was praying, I would sound extremely callous to those praying people whose houses were hit.
Bad things happen, even to praying people. We learn from those events if we can, and move on. But please be careful about attempting to discern God’s purpose when you are spared, and not others.
Loren Seibold
AT Executive Editor
11 May 2024
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