the problem of prayer:

how can a prayer be answered. id ont understand. if i pray for my headache to go away, and after an hour, it goes away, is that an answered prayer? what about if it comes back two hours later? and if i am not supposed to base the power of prayer in immediate and direct results, then what the hell am i supposed to root my faith in prayer in? in other words, how can i determine the efficiency of prayer? how can i know that these words have any meaning to god? how can i know that he hears me??

the answer must not be faith. i do not know what i hope for. i have no idea where i am supposed to be.