By David Bereit, National Coordinator, 40 Days for Life

March 26, 2010 (40DaysforLife) - Everywhere I go, people ask the question: "Are our prayers really making a difference?" The answer, I am convinced, is often: "Yes, they most certainly are—and in ways you may never know. So just have faith that God is at work—somewhere!"

That answer was confirmed recently by a taxi driver in Providence, Rhode Island.

Joanne said the driver pulled his cab over to the area where 40 Days for Life vigil participants were praying outside a Providence abortion center.

"Let me tell you a story," he said. "You make a difference, you know."

The driver went on to explain that he'd been seeing people praying outside the facility for a few years. "Sometimes there's just one," he said. "I don't like that, when one of you is left alone."

It made this man think. "I asked myself why anyone would come out in the rain, the snow, the heat, the night, the morning—even when you're alone, and even when people were mean to you. I figured what you were doing meant something big. Why else would you do it?"

The regular prayer presence, and the sign he often saw with a scripture passage—"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you"—made a deep impression.

"What you do, standing and praying and holding that sign, standing no matter what—that is enough," he said.

"It speaks for itself. That's the message. It's true."

But that's only the beginning of the story.

"When my daughter called from down South to tell me she was pregnant," said the taxi drive, "I thought of you. And I never said 'abortion' to her. I just helped. Now I'm the grandfather of a two-year old. That baby is so important—no matter what."

He then related a more recent phone call, from his younger daughter. "She has lots of difficulties and worries," he said, "illness, financial problems, abandonment, everything. She told me she was pregnant.

"I thought of you people. Again, I knew. I didn't say 'abortion.' She's seven weeks pregnant. She's going to make it. We'll work it out."

This man, who was unknown to any of the vigil participants, just appeared to say that what you're doing has an impact—so don't ever wonder if the effort is worth it.

"We see you, we think about what you're doing and why, and look what happens," the driver said. "It's a good thing, what you do."

"O, my soul, bless the Lord!" said Joanne. The taxi driver's message was, she said, "a love letter from heaven. Rejoice, for here is proof that even in our darkest days, God is working wonders in answer to our prayers!'

Keep praying!