The Woodpecker Fallacy

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc,
That fallacy that says
“After this, therefore because of this,”

Like the woodpecker story I heard,
Where the woodpecker pecks a tree
And lightning strikes, destroying.
“Look at the power I have!”
Thought the foolish bird.

I would, perhaps, feel the same way about prayer.
I prayed for something and
God did it.
How foolish to say, “Look at the power I have!”

Except
God, you tell us “the effectual fervent
Prayer of a righteous man availeth much”
(And I assume that is true for women, too).

So is it a fallacy to say that answered prayer
Happened because of prayer, if God himself
Tells us that prayer works?
How foolish to disbelieve God’s word.

And yet we know that we cannot make even one hair white or black,
So, in truth, we have no power on our own.

Maybe it is more like this:
God marks the tree the lightning will strike,
And nudges the woodpecker there.
Obediently (unknowingly?) the woodpecker
Pecks the tree God strikes.

God does it. The woodpecker helps.
(And maybe it’s not like this at all.)

God doesn’t need our help, but he wants it anyway.
And we get the gift of working with God.
To God be the glory.