What If Trump Is God’s Answer to Somebody’s Prayers?
by Bob Schwartz
It is National Prayer Day. It is not worth repeating the hollow and hypocritical nonsense that Trump said today on the occasion.
A theological thought did cross my mind.
If God answers prayers, as many Trump supporters (and many non-supporters) believe, we can assume that a number of those supporters prayed for Trump’s election and for his continuing leadership of America. Those who do faithfully pray for outcomes know that sometimes those prayers appear to be answered and sometimes not. Almost all of those people will admit that how this works, whose prayers are answered and which prayers are answered, is a mystery.
What if Trump’s election and his continuing leadership of America are answers to somebody’s prayers?
Just a thought on this National Prayer Day. As many people, believers and non-believers, pray for this sad madness to end.
Bob Schwartz 
Hi Schwartzi I have a question. What did god do, tally up all the prayers as one would votes (for Clinton/Trump) for president and then let his winner win? I am just curious.
QP
Thanks. Yeah, my point exactly. This is kind of an extension of my thoughts on praying for sports teams and games. God is unlikely to care about the Super Bowl or about our elections. Though if you happen to be someone who DOES think that God intervenes in our political process, you might first consider practicing and promoting some of the basic principles (honesty, humility, justice, mercy, compassion, etc.) BEFORE you pray for help.
Ok then you say he does not care about our elections or sports teams but I guess he supposedly cares about us. But where does one draw the line? Does he care about the violence our governments commit on our behalf? Much like in the book of Numbers?
QP
This is a topic deserving of volumes of commentary, which it has received from those more studied and capable than me. Let me offer a tiny riff off of your comment. Caring is not the same as intervention. Any parent knows this, sometimes painfully. Even if one posits that God cares about this or that, or doesn’t care about this or that, it is a separate matter to think that the caring or uncaring translates to intervention. It is a numbingly overused cliche that God helps those who help themselves, but still wise. Prayer, like so many spiritual “exercises”, is supposed to be workout. You’re supposed to sweat and feel a little discomfort. Just joining a gym won’t do.
I know what you mean about a parents experience with caring and intervention, that makes sense. But if you want to say that”god” is our parent wouldn’t he want us to grow up sooner or later. Or do his believers just have to keep begging him for stuff? Then the wisdom of helping yourself means you don’t need “god”any more. As far as prayer being an exercise you are partly right; instead of asking 99% of the time one might try practicing listening. This is where the contemplative practices have an advantage.
QP