This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
We can always pray with confidence. Prayer is communication and communion with the God of the universe and we can ask him anything and for anything. The promise here is that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us - and we have what we ask for (if we are asking according to his will).
Why can this reassure us? If it has to be something that is already according to God’s will, why pray at all?
It can be reassuring because we don’t have to worry about asking for the wrong thing. If we approach prayer with humility, dependent on him, desiring his will over all ( “your kingdom come and your will be done”), we can ask for what we think accords with his will. But if we approach prayer in that way, we know that his will is better than what I am asking for if they are different - and I truly desire his will over mine when they are different.
Prayers of petition are statements of our heart, our need, our desire, our hopes, our fears - all in submission to our loving Father who wants what is best for us. If what we ask for is according to his will, we have it - and we know that it has come from him. If it isn’t, we aren’t going to mess anything up by asking for what is second best - or if it isn’t close to second best.
Is there anything you are afraid to ask for? Ask. But ask in submission to his will - which is sometimes mysterious or confusing to us. Ask and rest in faith that God will act for our good and the good of the world, even if we don’t understand what that is.
Action: Pray
“Father in heaven, I know you love me more than I can love myself. Give me the faith to trust your will and remind me to seek your will over mine. Please grant this request ____________________, and give me the faith to wait for your will to bear fruit.”