The above image is from https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/prayer-nation.
Some people say that it is useful to pray, while others disagree.
However, you don’t need to hold to one extreme. There is no need to insist on an absolute in this world. I would like to share with you a very remarkable story.
Dr. Abraham is a well-known lung cancer expert. He once went to a city to attend an important meeting, mainly to receive an award for his medical research. Since his treatment method for lung cancer has been so effective and has helped so many patients, the scientific community vouches for its effectiveness. He is very excited to receive this award because only a few doctors in his field receive it.
However, on his way to the venue that day, the plane flew for only two hours before it needed to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. An inspection was needed due to technical problems. Fearing that he could not make it to the meeting, he immediately went to the reception desk at the airport and asked about the next flight.
Upon learning that the next flight to his destination would be in about ten hours, he immediately rented a car and drove to the meeting by himself. The journey was estimated to take four hours by car. Soon after he left, the weather began to change and grew increasingly foul. The sudden downpour made it difficult for him to see the road ahead of him, and he missed a turn.
Driving along a deserted road in the heavy rain, he began to feel hungry and tired. Frantically, he began to search for any sign of civilization. He saw a dilapidated house dimly through the rain, so he immediately went to knock on the door. A beautiful lady opened the door. He explained his situation and wanted to borrow the lady’s phone, but she didn’t have a phone because she was too poor.
However, she asked him to enter the house to take shelter from the rain and wait until the weather improved before he moved on. The hungry and exhausted doctor accepted her proposal. The lady gave him some bread and a cup of hot tea. At this time, the lady asked him to accompany her in prayer, but he refused.
Due to his experiences and form of logic, he believed in the results of hard work, and not in prayer.
The doctor sat at the dining table, drinking tea, and watched the woman continuously praying by her child’s crib. He thought that the woman might need help due to her unfortunate circumstances. The doctor asked her what she needed from the Lord Jesus and asked if God had heard her prayers.
The woman explained that her son had lung cancer. Some people had suggested that they see a doctor named Abraham. He could cure her child, but she did not have enough money to cover any medical expenses.
She said that God has not yet responded to her prayers, but she said that Jesus would give a solution one day. She also expressed that she would not let her inner fear overwhelm her confidence!
The doctor was shocked and began to cry involuntarily. He was moved to say out loud: “The Creator is great!”
He told the woman what had taken place when he went to the meeting to receive the award: The plane had a malfunction, there had been a thunderstorm, the flight had been delayed, he had needed to rent a car, and then he had gotten lost.
All of this happened because God answered her prayer!
God gave him a chance to treat a poor and helpless woman’s child in a way that freed him from materialism and career constraints.
She had faith in the power of prayer, and so the child was treated for lung cancer in time to save him. The doctor also covered all of her medical expenses.
God may not answer your prayers in your way, but He will respond to you in His way. And all you have to do is to maintain faith in Him.
祈祷到底有没有用呢?
有人说有用,也有人说没用。
但别太执着不信或没用,世事无绝对,分享一则很奇妙的故事。
亚伯拉罕医生是一位出名的肺癌专家。
他有一次前往一个城市出席重要的会议,主要是领取一个医疗研究奖。
因为他对肺癌的治疗方式有明显的效果,并且帮助了非常多的病患,这种治疗的方式也获得到学理上的证明确实有效。
他对得到这个奖项感到非常的兴奋,因为并不是所有的癌症医生都能够获得。
但是当天在他前往会场的路途中,飞机飞了两小时便因技术问题在最近的机场紧急迫降进行检查因为担心赶不及会议,他立刻前往接待处询问。
得知下一班飞机飞往目的地,要等大约十个小时,所以他立刻租了一辆车,自己驾驶前往会议的城市,车程估计要四个小时。
当他离开不久,天气开始转变,暴风雨越来越强。
瞬间倾盆大雨,他很难看得清楚前面的道路,因而错过了一个转弯的路口。
大雨中,他在一条荒凉的道路上驾驶,他开始感到饥饿和疲倦,他疯狂似地开始寻找任何文明的迹象。
就在一片模糊的视线当中,他看到了一间破烂不堪的房子,他立刻前去敲门,一位美丽的女士打开了门。他解释自己的情况,想借用女士的电话,但她因为家境贫穷连电话都没有。
然而,她请他入屋内暂避风雨,等到天气好转再继续前行。
饥饿和疲惫的医生接受了她的提议。女士给了他一些面包和热茶。
这时女士请他陪她一同祷告,但他拒绝了。根据他的逻辑与经验,他相信努力工作所获得的结果,而不是透过祷告!
医生坐在餐桌旁喝茶,看着那妇人在婴儿床旁边多次祷告。他感到妇人可能需要帮助,医生问她究竟需要从主耶稣那里得到什么,并问神曾否听到她的祈祷?
当他询问孩子的状况时,妇人解释说,她的儿子罹患肺癌,有人建议他们去看一位名叫亚伯拉罕的医生,他能治好这孩子,但她没有足够的钱负担费用。
她说神目前还没有回应她的祷告,但她说耶稣有一天一定会给出解决的办法。她同时表达,她不会让她内心的恐惧,压倒她的信心!
医生吓呆了,开始不由自主的哭泣!
这不得不使他大声说出来 :「创造主是伟大的!」
他把今天前往会场领奖所有发生的事件,依序的告诉妇人 :
在飞机上发生故障、一场雷雨、班机延误改换租车,然后迷路…….
所有这一切发生了的事件,是因为神回应了她的祷告!
神给他一个机会,摆脱追求物质和事业的束缚,给一个贫穷无助的妇人一些时间,来帮助她的孩子。
她什么都没有,但有信心的祷告!
这孩子最后肺癌得到了医治,并且所有费用都由医生主动来负担!
神未必会以你的方式回应你的祷告,但祂会用衪的方式来回应你。
而你所要做的,就是保持对祂的信心。