The power of divine coincidences

Two stories Philip Yancey shared in his excellent 2006 book, “Prayer Does It Make Any Difference?” moved me deeply. In the mid-1990s, Yancey traveled to Budapest, Hungary, and discovered he had left his laptop charger at the airport. His laptop containing notes for several speaking engagements was now nearly useless.

To make matters worse: most stores in the city were closing in an hour, the following day was Sunday when most stores would not be open, he had no idea which store might have the power cable he needed, and he was unfamiliar with the city’s public transit system. He said a quick prayer and began frantically looking for someone who could speak English. No one did. As he grew more and more desperate, a young man and his mother approached; the boy asked, “Can I help you?” As it turned out, the family was headed to a train station near a mall that had a computer store; one of only two stores in Budapest that had the part he needed. His crisis now past, Yancey asked, “Was that coincidence?”

A short time before this, the author had spoken at a conference of 1,200 attendees. Because of his demanding schedule, he ate only one meal with others at the conference. He walked past several tables before choosing a seemingly random seat.

As he sat down, he discovered the five people already seated were from Michigan and all from the same family. They shared how their father was home and in the final stages of esophageal cancer, being cared for by two other family members.

For the previous six months, the mother had refused to leave her dying husband’s side, but had come to the conference hoping to speak with Yancey because she knew his wife, Janet, was a hospice chaplain. The woman had prepared a list of questions in case she got the chance to talk with him. This was the chance she had prayed for.

Yancey noted that “we believe a prayer has been answered, not because of any scientific criteria proving cause and effect but because we have faith…” Twelve-step groups sometimes toss around the saying, ‘coincidence is God’s way of protecting his anonymity.’”

Archbishop William Temple once observed, “When I pray, coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.” Jesus’ half-brother made a similar statement, writing, “…you do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2, NIV)

Does God always answer our prayers the way we want? Absolutely not; however, as Yancey and James both point out, our prayers do change things and can make a radical difference. Each of us should ask for God’s help and then look for how his answer may surprise us.