Prayer Portal?

The other day, my daughter said the most amazing thing to me. She was telling me about a friend she knows whose father has progressive Alzheimer's disease. Her friend was having a really hard time, because he's getting to the point where he doesn't remember her. She said, "Mom, would you pray for my friend? She's on my heart a lot lately .... Your prayers always seem to get answered."

I was taken aback by that comment. I don't see myself as the direct portal to answered prayer, but that's what my daughter thinks. Wow. I was flabbergasted and muttered something about being sincere when you pray. She caught me off guard. I did't know what to say. Should I have said that spending time with God and reading the Bible lets you know Him and what He would want you to pray? I wish I would have just said that prayer invites God to come into the situation. We let go and let God work. Sometimes, the best prayer is just, "God, please help them." We may not have a clue what is best in that situation, but God does. Sometimes, we think we know, but our view is so limited. It's best to let God and His infinite wisdom choose the best course of action.

I have prayed specific prayer when I have a sense of what might be helpful, something God would do to help. I go ahead and ask. I figure God will know whether or not my request is helpful. He will still decide what is best in that situation. I know that my prayers do not always get answered how I want. People still die from long-term illnesses, like cancer. I don't know why. It used to anger me, because I thought maybe my faith wasn't strong enough, but that's willful and pigheaded, as if I know what's best instead of God. I have since grown to believe there's just things we on Earth we'll never have an explanation for. We just have to let go and trust.

Prayer does effect change in people and situations. I have seen Him take certain situations and create the most wonderful, unpredictable outcomes. Prayer effects change where we let Him "do His thing" in His own way. We need to pray to allow Him into our lives and to work in every situation. No problem is too big or too small.

What would I pray for my daughter's friend? It would be wonderful if the Alzheimer's disappeared and her father was restored to his original self. I'm not sure that will happen. I will pray and ask for it, because it couldn't hurt. Ultimately, it is in God's hands. More importantly, I will pray that this girl will feel the hand of God over her life. I pray that she will find God as a father that is always there for her and will not leave her ever. Although losing her father, watching him slowly disappear is devastating, I pray she will let go of the pain and turn it over to God. It is too big for her to carry alone. I pray that she will be surrounded by people who can help her by understanding her grief. If there is a support group near her for families of Alzheimer patients, I pray she can join it. Sharing the same sorrow with others in the same type situation can be healing. I pray that friends will be there for her, just to listen or do regular things together; hanging out. Please, Lord, give her what she needs to survive this horrible loss. I lift her up to You.

Amen.