"Their Prayers are Hindering Me!"

Everyone at some point in their lives has wondered as to whether prayer does any good. It’s an easy pit to fall into because we as humans tend to go off of the five senses, and when we don’t see results, we easily get discouraged. Amy Carmichael was a missionary to India. While I don’t know that they ever honestly doubted the power of prayer, she and her fellow workers were often disheartened as they labored for a people under intense spiritual bondage.

Once, when they were praying at a village they had visited before, they heard a woman yelling, “Oh, Amma! Amma! Do not pray! Do not pray! Your prayers are troubling me!” It was the wicked mother of a girl who was interested in Christianity. The woman went on to explain that what they had told her daughter had impressed the girl deeply. As a result, the she tried to marry her off. All three tries were unsuccessful, and the mother was distraught. Finally, she begged her god to reveal the problem to her. It appeared to her in a dream and said, “Tell the Christians not to pray. I can do nothing against their prayers. Their prayers are hindering me!”

Of course, Amy and the others knew there was still much work to do, but I imagine it made their hearts glad to hear that. Let us be glad, as well; yes, we still have much to do, too, but we can rejoice that GOD truly does hear earnest diligent prayers for souls.

Blessings,
Adelaide