Bible Question:
If nothing travels faster than the speed of light how, can God answer all prayers?That is, it would take many hundreds or thousands of years for the answered prayers to arrive here on earth if God happened to be in another part of our galaxy - or even more remote, in another galaxy. If you answer that God can be at all places at the same time, that is not good enough or at least back that up with some evidence. Put another way, “Is God subject to the laws of this universe or has limitations what so ever?”
Bible Answer:
Why do you think the answers to our prayers are limited by time and speed? Have you assumed that prayers must travel some distance along a path from you to God and then back? Have you considered the possibility that God knows your thoughts instantly and does not depend upon time and speed? An infinite God is infinitely beyond our imagination. The gospels tell us that Jesus, who is God, knew the thoughts of those around Him.
But He knew their thoughts . . . (NASB) Luke 11:17
The Psalmist declares that God knows our thoughts.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (NKJV) Psalm 139:2
We read this in the book of Ezekiel,
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and he told me to say, “This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.” (TL) Ezekiel 11:5
Only God knows our thoughts. If He reads our minds instantly, then He does not need to wait for a prayer to arrive and He is not limited by the speed of anything. An infinite, all powerful God is not limited by anything. An infinite God is infinitely capable. He has promised us that He hears the prayers of the righteous. I believe Him. Do you?
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. (NASB) Prov. 15:29
He knows everything instantly and perfectly. In fact, the scriptures tell us that He knows the future before the events even occur. He already knows what you will ask before you pray. Notice that the third passage below says that God knows everything between the end and the beginning. God knows everything that will occur, including your prayers.
And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future . . . (NASB) 2 Sam. 7:19
Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy. (NASB) Dan. 2:45
Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure” . . . (NASB) Is. 46:9-10
You have perhaps assumed that God, the Creator, is bound by His creation. What mistake would the Creator have to commit to be bound His own creation? The answer to your question is that God is not bound by the laws of our universe since He made them. When I was a little boy, I made mud roads in my back yard. My miniature toy cars were constrained to move along my roads because I decided that was how the cars would move from one location to another. Therefore, is it correct to assume that I, the maker of the mud roads, was also constrained to move along those roads in order to get to one of my cars? Why would God be constrained by time since He made it (Genesis 1:1)?
Conclusion:
Are you looking for God? Read this,
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us . . . (NASB) Acts 17:24-27
God has left us some mysteries to explore. He wants us to seek and find Him. If you are serious about God, then you will seek Him – and He will be found if you are serious. You may want to start by reading, “Searching For God.” We would also encourage you to study “Who Is God?“, “Jesus Our Savior“, and “The Holy Spirit.”
Suggested Links:
Searching For GodWho Is God?
Jesus Our Savior
The Holy Spirit