Could the outcome of all prayers simply be 'probability in action'?
As an example, if I pray for someone to be made well and strengthened then the next day they are feeling better, could this just be the probability that they get well that day? So basically, when we think our prayers are answered, could it simply be probability in action? Are there answered prayers that could not be explained by probability? I've been struggling with this recently.
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Asked April 28 2015
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Dewi Madden
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Keith Kirby
I understand your struggle. First, let me be clear that I believe in the God revealed In the Bible who performed many miracles himself and through his followers. I believe we are emphatically told to pray, including prayer for others.
Unfortunately, we cannot have an experience for which we have prayed and that same experience for which we have NOT prayed to know if the prayer made a difference. Oftentimes I hear Christians talk of the "power of prayer" -primarily when they have experienced the desired outcome for which they have prayed.
Recently I had a situation about which I pleaded to God for help and asked a few friends to pray also. Two days later, my situation ended in tragedy. I asked myself "Did I not pray enough?"
I know that prayer is the opportunity for me to participate in what God is doing. But what if God is silent. Would the same outcome have happened whether or not I prayed? Does God's actions depend on what I ask?
I'm sorry that I have rambled all over the place. This subject intrigues me. I trust God wholeheartedly but the Church has largely missed it on the topic of prayer. I'm finding that many believers have the same questions and some teachers are attempting to handle the subject with truth.
Keep trusting while you are seeking answers.
Benny Chee
I guess that is the cornerstone of our belief- FAITH.
Faith in believing in the bible and what the bible said happened really happened.
Many times we try to find irrefutable evidence to our faith, and sometimes we can, but many times not.
In this excellent question, we will never know from a empirical and scientific manner things becoming better is due to divine intervention, and frankly it does not really matter, because our heart can speak to us. But don't Try to "force" this into another person who may not be ready to accept it as "blind faith."
Sometimes NO is GOD's answer to our prayers too.