“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
What does it mean that whatever we request “. . . we know that He hears us . . .?” How can God make such a promise? Often we wonder if He’s really going to give us the answer we desire.
The key is found in your relationship with Him. For example, if one of your children asks you if she can play in the street, you say no. She may not understand that because she sees that the street is a perfect location for roller blading. But you know the dangers of playing in the street and wisely tell her no. It’s much the same with prayer. While many of your requests make perfect sense to you, God wisely says no at times because He sees the bigger picture.
One of the greatest assurances God gives His children is this: “. . . He hears us.” Not vaguely, not occasionally, not only when our prayers sound polished or spiritual—He hears us every time we come to Him with a sincere heart. John writes that we can have “. . . confidence . . .” when we approach God, because if we ask anything according to His will, He listens. And if He listens, we can rest in the promise that He will respond in the way that fulfills His purpose and reflects His love.
Prayer is not a ritual; it’s a relationship. It’s the daily reminder that we are not alone, not forgotten, and not unheard. Sometimes we pray and feel nothing. Sometimes we pray and circumstances don’t shift as quickly as we hoped. Sometimes we pray and wonder if our words even reached heaven. But Scripture anchors us in truth: God hears every whisper, every cry, every word we struggle to form.
The confidence John describes isn’t rooted in our ability to pray perfectly—it’s rooted in God’s character. He is attentive. He is compassionate. He is wise. And He is committed to working in our lives in ways that align with His will, which is always good, always purposeful, and always for our ultimate growth.
When you pray, you are not trying to get God’s attention—you already have it. You are not trying to convince Him to care—He already does. You are simply stepping into the conversation He has invited you into, trusting that the God who hears you will also act for your good and His glory.
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for hearing me when I pray. Strengthen my confidence in Your love and help me trust that You are working even when I cannot see it. Align my heart with Your will and teach me to rest in the assurance that You listen and respond with wisdom and grace. I pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN!
