Does Prayer Really Change Things?

Read: Mark 8:22-25

Fresh out of college, I married my high school sweetheart. We had dated for 6 years, and even though we had had a lot of ups and down, we were finally going to be married and be happy!

A few weeks before the wedding, I ran into a family friend and was sharing with him how excited we were about starting our new life together. He said to me, “Once you get married, the real work starts.  Marriage is hard work!” 

I was puzzled by his comment.  I had seen my parents model a relationship of love, trust and respect, a relationship that was built upon their mutual faith and core values, that lasted through all the challenges of life, a total of 71 years.  They made it seem so effortless.  

After we were married, it didn’t take long for the “hard work” to begin.  The weeks, months, years and quarter of a century that followed were nothing I could have ever imagined.  The man I had married and had known since I was 14 years old was not the person I thought he was.  Like the layers of on onion, one lie, and then another, and then another were being revealed. When one shoe of deception and betrayal would drop, I as the enabler would run in and try to fix it.  I was sure that if I loved him enough and kept praying, things would change.

Things did not change.  In fact, they spiraled completely out of control. I wondered, “Where is God in all of this?  Why is He not answering my prayers?” 

It has been 14 years since that relationship ended in divorce after 25 years.  I have a new life now and am so grateful for how God did answer my prayers.  It was a slow process.  He helped me escape from that destructive life. He put people around me on every side to help me heal, including my current husband of the last 10 years.  Many of you have played an irreplaceable role in my healing.  

But even during my healing process, I have still often asked God, “Open my eyes, Lord.  Please reveal to me why this happened?  Why did you allow me to marry this man?  What purpose did this serve in my life?”

During one such prayer time with Jesus recently, I asked, “Why did I waste so much of my life bearing through all the hardship, going to counseling, hoping and against hope?  Why did I not see things clearly? Help me to see what purpose You had in all this?”

Just like the blind man in our story today, God has been healed me ever so slowly.

“My beloved daughter, I have called you to shine the light of hope and truth to those who feel helpless and hopeless.  I will show you the way.”

“My beloved Bride, my love that went to the cross for YOU was not wasted.

When You love others, your love is NEVER WASTED!” 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You do answer our prayers.  Even when the answers are not immediate, You are always working, under the surface, causing the seeds to sprout and grow, the seeds of Your amazing vision of restoration, healing and love.  May I ever be rooted and grounded in Your love as I wait in joyful anticipation of how You will reveal Your love to me next!