That God answers prayer is seldom challenged—at least by those who believe the Bible.  But the manner by which God answers never falls into neat categories or boxes.  I'm thinking of the story which circulated on the internet about a poor woman who was desperately in need of food.  Her neighbor, an affirmed atheist, knowing of her prayers decided that it would be great sport to buy a basket of food, put it on her porch, then ring the doorbell and hide.  And this he did.  But as soon as the poor woman saw the food, she began praising and thanking God for it.