Why do prayers for parents’ health receive different responses and outcomes?

Cases can differ greatly even when all involve seeking parents’ health. Coming to pray does not justify expecting identical responses. I discussed two families seeking help for parents. From a faith perspective, besides the children’s intentions, the person’s condition, blessings, and stage of events matter. Different outcomes cannot be explained simply as one family being more filial.

In one case, children brought their mother seeking health and longevity. I recall Master Ji Gong helping and giving hope. When surgery arose, we still asked them to listen to medical assessment. They later reported improvement. The feared heart surgery did not occur as originally expected, but a small minimally invasive operation was still performed. This meant much to us and the family, but cannot be reduced to “Prayer eliminated every need for surgery.”

Another person sought help for a father already hospitalized with reduced consciousness. Considering whether the situation could still be reversed, I felt this case was more difficult. Both wanted family well, but fundamental conditions and timing differed, so approaches might differ too. This was my religious understanding of those cases, not a verdict on every patient’s fate or a claim that lack of improvement means insufficient family sincerity.

Dao Xuan observed that the first family proactively offered vows and contributions for their mother before the deity spoke. The other person urgently asked how long recovery would take, felt unable to follow suggestions of scripture or sacred-name recitation and merit dedication, and wanted a divine guarantee. We discussed this difference to encourage examining what we are willing to do, rather than only demanding results. These were reactions observed in those two cases, not the only two categories for every struggling caregiver.

While praying for family, treasure what remains possible now. Speak caring words and do things for them earlier if you can, rather than waiting until circumstances worsen and then wanting everything reversed. Faith values sincerity, while daily life also needs action. Medical assessment remains with doctors. Putting care into practice returns us to the genuine wish to look after family more effectively than simply waiting for a deity to promise an outcome.