Yes, I suppose that can happen, but I'm certainly happy to be a part of the prayer chain at Faith.

Sometimes we need to admit, however, that prayer is not "putting coins in a vending machine." It is not putting our prayer in the right slot, pushing the right button and waiting for the vending-machine God to spit out exactly what we want. God is not a vending machine. God is "Father" or "Daddy." Prayer is a relationship - an intimate, loving, caring parent-child relationship. But do children who have abusive fathers understand and pray to their loving heavenly Father? While doing chaplaincy work at the jail in Walker a woman said she could not, would not use the name Father because of her abusive situation. "Can you think of a person you could call on?" I asked her. "Yes," she said, "My probation officer." That worked for her.

I imagine that many of you parents can remember the first time your child uttered "da-da" or "ma-ma." As the child gets older, "Daddy" or "Mommy" may often be followed by "I want." Sometimes we answer, "Yes." Sometimes we answer, "No." But most often (as any child will attest) the answer is "We'll see." Does God answer prayers with a "We'll see?" I think so.

One preacher I enjoy, Brian Stoffregen, says, "Maybe daddy doesn't know right now if he can afford what you want - although that logic wouldn't apply to God. Perhaps daddy doesn't know if you are able to correctly handle or understand all the implications about what you ask for - be it a new rifle or bicycle or makeup kit or motorcycle or paint-by-number picture or a pet dog or cat or bird or $1,000. Often God's answer of "we'll see" is precisely this. God knows that we can't handle whatever it is we are asking for. Although I've seen a T-shirt with prayer something like, "God, let me win the lottery to show that it won't spoil me!"

Prayer, most of all, is a relationship: a child with parents, friends talking with each other. Sometimes we are able to meet the needs of our friends. But, there are many times - and perhaps their most important requests - where we can do nothing to change the situation. "I'm out of work, I've got cancer, I'm so depressed, can't you do something to help me?"

Yes, we can pray with and for that person because prayer is the presence of God - not that God will always change the situation, but knowing that God is with you, that God is going through the tragedy of suffering or depression or even death with you and is not a far off God, way out in space, but your very close and loving father.

Editor's note: Marlys Korman is the pastor at Faith Lutheran Church.