If God Hadn't Answered Prayer

How do you know just where you'd be
If God hadn't answered prayer,
What trials He's helped you through
Even though you've not asked Him to,
How many burdens He's helped you bear?

What if someone hadn't prayed for you,
Hadn't gone to the Father in prayer
To petition before God's throne
For your trials, and yours alone?
What if God hadn't answered that prayer?

What would be your situation, friend,
If the God of heaven did not care,
Did not hear the fervent pleas
Of poor weak men on their knees?
What if God had not answered prayer?

How do I know just where I'd be
If God hadn't answered prayer,
What trials He's helped me through
Even though I've not asked Him to,
How many burdens He's helped me bear?

What if someone hadn't prayed for me,
Hadn't gone to the Father in prayer
To petition before God's throne
For my trials, and mine alone?
What if God hadn't answered that prayer?

What would be my situation, friend,
If the God of heaven did not care,
Did not hear the fervent pleas
Of poor weak men on their knees?
What if God had not answered prayer?

a. franklin staples
January 13, 1996

This poem does not adequately express what I want to say with regard to answered prayer.  It occurred to me just a short while ago that much, if not most, of what we are in terms of our Christian life is the result of answered prayer, prayer that is often not our own but that of some dear brother or sister who was concerned enough about us to raise our name and our circumstance to the Father, and to ask for His intervention on our behalf.  We have no idea of the effect that the prayers of someone else has had on our own circumstances.  Thank the God who answers prayer, for we know not what dire straights we would be in without daily answers to prayer.
Copyright © 1996 by A. Franklin Staples