Praying in Confidence // 1 John 5:14

Today’s verse brings great clarity to something that can confuse us when it comes to prayer. We think that God should give us any and everything we ask for. Do you happen to remember the movie “Bruce Almighty” where Jim Carrey’s character was given the power and authority of God? In one scene, Bruce just said “yes” to everyone’s prayer, unleashing chaos in the world. It was a cute clip about what happens when one person’s desires collide with another’s. They both can’t be answered. Similarly, opponents in a sporting competition both pray to win, but there will be a winner and a loser. So, what are we to do? John wrote that we should pray to get in, and stay in, God’s will. It is true that we will (frequently) find times when we must submit our wants to God’s will. God hears us when we pray accordingly. That’s not to say God will say yes, but if we are praying in God’s will, then we can be confident that the answer is perfect even if it’s not yet or a flat no.