As for your wife’s prayers, although she does not doubt the sūtra, I am afraid her faith in the Lotus Sūtra has not been strong enough. I have often come across people who think their faith matches what is preached in the sūtra, though this is not the case in reality. You, too, must be aware of this.

The mind of a woman can be harder to grasp than the wind in the sky. The reason why your wife’s prayers have not been answered can be likened to a strong bow with a weak bowstring or a sharp sword drawn by a coward. It is not due to the lack of power on the part of the Lotus Sūtra.

Ōshajō-ji, Town of Rājagṛha, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 128

Having abandoned a practice that turned the Lotus Sūtra into a cheap wish-fulfilling gem, I admit that I struggle when the three hindrances and four devils arise.

As a postscript I’ll add Nichiren’s suggestion of where Shijō Kingo’s wife falls short:

Though your wife believes in the Lotus Sūtra, I am sure she does not feel as strongly about the enemies of the sūtra as much as she would about as a prostitute who seduces her husband.