If God Answers Prayers

by David Gibson

A newspaper years ago published a photo of a man protesting the National Day of Prayer observance at the county courthouse. He is holding a sign that says, “If God answers prayers, why won’t He heal amputees?”

Here are a few thoughts:

• If God does not heal amputees, is it because He cannot? (Genesis 18:14; Luke 1:37)
• If God does not heal amputees, is it because He lacks compassion? (Judges 2:18; Psalms 86:15; Lamentations 3:32-33)
• Has God ever promised to grant all our requests? (Deuteronomy 3:23-27; II Samuel 12:13-23)
• Is it possible that God uses suffering to produce a greater good than the removal of our pains and losses? (Psalms 119:67, 71; John 9:1-3; Romans 5:3-4; II Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 12:11)
• Could it be that the One who made us knows what is ultimately best for each of us? (Romans 11:33-36)
• How can one explain why some amputees and other sufferers are neither bitter nor do they blame God, but trust and praise Him, serving Him in joy?

Suppose the man holding the sign was a genuine truth-seeker and willing to conduct a careful, unbiased study of the Bible. Would he then have a clearer understanding of God, prayer, and the problem of human suffering (Psalms 119:130)? I believe he would.