A Testimony That Prayer Works

As a native Philadelphian, I grew up a huge Eagles fans. This year's Super Bowl Sunday, I was supposed to be in the Diocese of Gary Indiana for some work with Rebuilt. About ten days before the game, my nineteen-year-old son Nate texted me a question: where are you planning to watch the game? I texted back that unfortunately I would be out of town and that we wouldn’t be able to watch the game together. He texted back, “That stinks.” A few minutes later I got a text saying that the event I was attending had to be postponed. I texted Nate that I had good news that we could watch the game together.

Shortly after that text, I had to run to an appointment. I prayed something along the lines of, “God, it would be awesome for my heart if you could provide tickets for me and Nate to go to the Super Bowl together.” It was not a wishful thinking prayer. It was a heartfelt prayer.

Three days later I received a text from a friend saying he might have tickets for me and to call if I was interested. Of course I called right away and he said had two free tickets if I wanted them, I just had to figure out accommodations and travel. I said I’d figure it out.

Then, in looking for a place to stay, I reached out to a Jesuit friend of mine who connected me to a place to stay in New Orleans. While all the hotels in New Orleans were booked or had astronomical prices, I stayed relatively cheaply.

Of course the Eagles dominated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. And I got to go with my son to see the Eagles win a Super Bowl. Through the whole experience, God just opened door after door after door. There is no doubt in my mind that God made that happen.

Seven years prior, I had the exact opposite experience. I tried to get to Super Bowl LII but kept having near misses and closed doors. I had prayed and hoped for tickets but none came. Absent another plan, I decided to drive up to Philadelphia and watch the game with my dad. The Eagles defeated the Patriots in that game to win their first Super Bowl. As I mention in our book Seriously God, the win was a little bittersweet. I loved that they won, but so badly wanted to be there and thought I was supposed to be.

However, in retrospect I came to see God’s hand in the closed doors. My father passed away the following August. Growing up we watched countless Eagles games together, but our very last one we watched together was the only Eagle’s Super Bowl win in my dad’s lifetime. I got to watch it with my dad and my son Nate.

It's interesting that we often feel on the defensive about prayer as Christians. Someone’s prayer isn’t answered and we feel like we have to make a whole apologetics about the efficacy of prayer. And certainly there is a place for that. However, I think it is far more important to just point out all the times that prayer works. We develop our own personal testimonies where we see that prayer changed things.

My experience with those two Super Bowl events is that God answered both my prayers. One he said No. The other he said Yes. And in both instances he did it for my heart. He answered out of love for me. Those instances are a reminder that there is nothing too big or too small that we can’t bring to God in prayer. God is not offended by anything we bring to him in prayer.

Prayer works. Prayer changes outcome. Recently I was talking with a friend and the question came up about whether prayer changes God’s mind. I don’t know the answer to that and I’m not sure it's even the right question. Prayer may or may not change God’s mind but it always invites his action and grace. It invites God to come.

God comes where he is wanted. His wisdom, his power and his strength come when we invite him into our lives, our hearts, our homes, our families, our work, our parishes. Keep on praying and don’t give up prayer. It works. And when it works, share the story with others no matter how big or small it was. It will encourage your faith and the faith of others.

Rooting for you,
Tom