“I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things.”
>
– Mother Teresa
This profound statement from Mother Teresa captures a powerful evolution in spiritual understanding. It marks a journey from a transactional view of prayer to a transformational one. Many people begin praying with a list of requests. They ask for health, success, or solutions to problems. However, this quote suggests a deeper purpose. It reveals that the true power of prayer is not in altering our circumstances directly. Instead, its power lies in altering us.
The Initial Belief: Prayer as a Tool for External Change
Many of us first learn about prayer as a way to ask for things. We might pray for a good grade on a test or for a loved one to recover from an illness. This perspective is completely natural. It comes from a place of hope and a desire for a better world. We see a problem, and we turn to a higher power for a solution. This view frames prayer as an external force that can intervene in our lives.
In this initial stage, prayer can feel like a direct line to a cosmic problem-solver. The focus is on the outcome. Did we get what we asked for? If so, the prayer was answered. If not, we might feel disappointment or confusion. While this approach can bring comfort, it can also lead to a fragile faith. It depends heavily on external results rather than internal growth. Mother Teresa’s words invite us to move beyond this initial understanding.
The Turning Point: Prayer Changes Us
Here lies the heart of the transformation. Mother Teresa realized that prayer’s primary function is internal. It is a process that reshapes our character, our perspective, and our heart. When we engage in sincere prayer, we open ourselves up to change. We are not just speaking; we are also listening. This act of quiet contemplation and connection fosters essential virtues.
For example, prayer cultivates humility. It reminds us that we are not in complete control. Furthermore, it develops patience. We learn to wait and trust, even when answers are not immediate. Prayer also builds empathy and compassion. As we reflect on the suffering of others, our capacity to love and serve grows. This internal shift is far more significant than any single answered request. It changes the very core of who we are. Researchers have even explored the psychological effects of prayer and meditation on personal well-being. Source
How We Are Transformed
The transformation happens subtly. Prayer helps us align our own desires with a greater purpose. Instead of asking for the world to bend to our will, we start asking how we can better serve the world. Our focus shifts from our own needs to the needs of those around us. This change in perspective is the true miracle. We stop seeing prayer as a magic wand and start seeing it as a spiritual gym. It is where we build the inner strength, wisdom, and love necessary to face life’s challenges effectively.
The Final Step: We Change Things
This is the powerful conclusion to Mother Teresa’s insight. The internal change that prayer sparks is not meant to remain within us. It is meant to flow outward into action. Once prayer has changed us, we become the instruments of change in the world. A person transformed by prayer does not simply wait for problems to be solved. They actively participate in solving them.
Someone who has cultivated compassion through prayer is more likely to feed the hungry. A person who has developed patience is better equipped to mentor a struggling colleague. Someone filled with a sense of purpose is driven to create positive change in their community. Mother Teresa’s own life is the ultimate example of this principle. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, and her prayer life directly fueled her tireless service to the poorest of the poor. Her work was not a substitute for prayer; it was the result of it.
Therefore, the outcomes we initially prayed for often come to pass, but through a different mechanism. They are achieved through the actions of people whose hearts have been softened and strengthened by their spiritual practice. We become the answer to our own prayers and to the prayers of others.