Thank sa iyong point of view
I think na-mimiss understand natin ang prayer.
Marami sa atin iniisip na ang prayer ay parang "requesting" means sa mga gusto natin or sabihin nating kailangan natin. Prayer is actually talking to God, personal relationship to Him.
Second, we have to accept that He is the most powerful, knowledgeable, wisest Person in the cosmos far more better than us. Having said that, He may opt not to grant our wish the way we expect them because he knows better than we do. Third, if the prayer is against His will we should not expect Him to hear them out. Fourth, there is a bigger issue involve here than our own condition.(Someone challenged His rightful rule and the integrity of all who chose to trust him)
To illustrate my point:
A child ask his father to buy him a motorcycle. A loving father refuses the request because he know that it might hurt his son, he is not ready yet. Instead, the father drive a motorcycle with his son and show him the roads and road signs.
At first glance the father might not "answering" the request of his son but actually, he is preparing him for the things that he should know and might face when the time comes he will old enough to drive his own motorcycle. The son might repeated ask his father of the same request but he just receives a nod from from his father.
(This might not be the best analogy, but hope you get my point
)
point is: Prayer is a sign of personal relationship and trust to God, and he know better than we do.
Q: How do we know if the answer is from God?
A: There is no way to know that except you know the Person (God) qualities. That requires taking more knowledge about Him through His word. It is like a gift from a close friend who didn't put his name on it. Because you know your friend so well that even there is no name in it you you its him in the way the gift wrapped, the kind of gift, and the timing you recieved it.
Q:Is prayer only give us a placebo effect? or just another coping mechanism?
A:It is true that many pray because there seems no one to talk to lay their "burden". God encourages us to do so, throw all our burden to Him. But that doesn't end there, He want to comfort us through His holy spirit, the calmness and peace you feel after you pour out yourself to Him is actually the result of holy spirit. How do we know that? Again, you have to know the Person you are praying for. Remember when the time we bruise our knees, our parent listen to us as we told them what happen. They can't take the bruise away, but they comfort us because they know we can cope through it,
For the meantime, God allow things to happen, (because the bigger issue involve). But this will not go on forever, it will end soon.
Regarding the bigger issue involve, you may opt to contact me if you want to know what it is.
Matthew 7:7-11