God exists. And He Provides.
Examining of the role God plays in one’s life is equally a rational way to engage the question of God’s existence. But what about prayers?
…for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. — Heb.11:6
The timely interventions of God have been one of the strongest reminders of God’s existence to me. I realize it often whenever I take a moment to think about my life. Having taught youth Sunday School a couple of times, I have been privileged to hear my students share occasions where God made a timely intervention in the order of their lives to meet their needs. I think that examining the role God plays in our lives is equally a rational way to engage the question of God’s existence. Why? Because the world is a great place, and if all the knowledge we have acquired has taught us anything, it is that there’s much we don’t know.
But we know a lot about our lives and that of the people close to us, and we know things don’t just happen in a vacuum. So when we experience a great event in our lives that answers a prayer, we are excited about it and give thanks. Some people call this luck, but many Christians, including me, know that such an act was God’s providence.
Therefore, God could not possibly provide if He didn’t exist. For “anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11:6). And we seek God through prayers. One might say that if God doesn't answer all prayers, then God doesn’t exist.
Regardless, unanswered prayers do not negate answered ones. I have been praying about certain things for years, and if one of those prayers remains unanswered, it does not diminish the instances where God intervened. Additionally, we can only conclude that God didn't answer a prayer if we asked for His help with a specific need and are certain that the lack of a positive response will not affect other areas of our lives.
But we can’t know that for sure. I think Paul preempted this line of thought when he wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Moreover, God says in Isaiah 55:9, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Another way that prayer brings about divine providence and intervention is indefinite solicitation. Some prayers require God to intervene continually in the affairs of believers and His Church.
I think this is the case with Jesus’ prayer for the church: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11b). Unless God answered this prayer at the time Jesus Christ asked it, then God still lives and continues to intervene.
God communicates His existence to us through His providence, and as He answers our prayers, He constantly reminds us of His sovereignty over the physical and spiritual worlds He created.1
Everything good will come!
This post is an abridged version of an essay I submitted as part of my studies at NationsUniversity. We have one of the most affordable Ph.D. programs in the world. Check us out.