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The Eternal Story
C.S. Lewis once remarked that when we pray about something—like the outcome of a battle or a medical consultation—it may occur to us that the result is already decided. But that is no reason to stop praying
In a sense, the event was decided "before all worlds," yet our present prayer could be one of the very factors that brought it about. Strangely enough, this means we might, at noon, be part of the cause of something that happened at 10 a.m. (a concept some scientists accept more easily than most people do).
Our imagination quickly raises tricky questions: "If I stop praying, can God go back and change what has happened?" No, the event has already happened, and one of its causes is that you are pondering instead of praying. "If I start praying, can God go back and change it?" Again, no, the event has already happened, and your current prayer is one of its causes.
So, my choice truly matters. My free action shapes the cosmos, a contribution made in eternity, though I become aware of it only at a specific moment.
Lewis often defended the logic of believing in the supernatural, portraying the physical world as a shadow or reflection of a greater spiritual reality. The idea above can be likened to quantum entanglement in modern physics. Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance" because a change in one entangled particle instantly affects the other, no matter how far apart they are. If the physical world mirrors the spiritual one, then it is more than plausible that our spiritual ties to God's realm are just as real as quantum entanglement is in our universe. In short, science can affirm theology.
I think an analogy may be helpful. Imagine an epic film full of ad-libs and improvisational moments by the actors that influence the overall script and contribute to the meaning and outcome of the finished story.
Once upon a time, there was an epic story—a story that seemed mythological, though it was true to life through all its brilliant days and darkest nights.
The universe itself was the setting: vast, intricate, filled with props of stars and planets—and on one very special planet, human hearts. The Creator had written the essential script: the rise and fall of kingdoms, the unfolding of love and loss, and the final triumph of good over evil. Yet He left generous room for improvisation, choosing actors He knew would improvise in ways that would bring even greater depth and purpose to the tale.
The cast is full of dreamers, doubters, healers, heroes, and villains—or some combination thereof. From the actors' perspective, every improvisation feels fresh, uncertain, and risky. But from the Director's eternal vantage point, every ad-lib is already woven into the finished masterpiece. A prayer whispered off-stage at noon can be the reason a scene at 10 a.m. unfolded with unexpected grace.
From the actors' point of view, the story is still unfolding today, as we speak. From the Director's view—the Holy Spirit's view—the story is complete and ongoing at the same time.
So, pray now and pray often—it matters!
