According to His Will

 

Readings 011026

My brother called to wish me a happy birthday.
And—as often happens between us—
the conversation drifted toward God,
toward Scripture,
toward prayer.

He’s a smart man.
But, reading is hard for him,
yet he reads his Bible.
And once something settles in his mind,
it stays.

He believes deeply
that the Bible is God’s word,
that God would never give us anything untrue.
That conviction is beautiful.

But he also listens to voices online—
commentators, personalities—
and he brings their claims to me
like challenges laid on the table.

Yet beneath all of that—
the questions,
the convictions,
the searching—
is a man who prays.

He prays for his family,
his children,
his friends.
Especially those caught in sin,
or weighed down by doubt and worry.

And then he said something
that stayed with me:
“I may have to pray every day,
all my life,
before anything happens.”

There is humility in that.
A willingness to persevere.
A trust that God is not a vending machine,
but a Father.
And I pray for him.

This is where our Faith speaks clearly.
It tells us that prayer is essential,
that God tirelessly seeks us,
and that if we ask according to His will,
He hears us.
It reminds us that trust is tested
when we feel unheard—
yet every true prayer
is received by God.

Faith never promises
that prayer works on our timeline.
It promises something deeper:
God always hears.
God always responds.
God always gives what leads to salvation.

St. John says,
“We have this confidence in Him:
if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us.”
Not according to our urgency.
Not our expectations.
But according to His will—
the wisdom of the One
who sees the whole story.

And John adds:
“If anyone sees his brother sinning…
he should pray to God
and He will give him life.”
Not fix him.
Not argue him into holiness.
But pray for him.
Entrust him to God.
Believe that grace is already moving.

My brother’s hunger for truth,
his love for Scripture,
his persistence in prayer—
these are signs.
No one receives anything
unless it is given from heaven.
Grace is always first.
God is always the initiator.

Prayer is not magic.
It is relationship.
It is trust.
It is standing before God
for someone we love.

We are told:
the prayer of a righteous person
is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
So when we pray,
we are not praying into the void.
We are joining Christ’s own prayer.
We are participating
in the Father’s desire to give life.
We are cooperating
with grace already at work.

The journey is not finished.
Your prayer is not wasted.
And God is not silent.

Every prayer offered in faith
is heard,
treasured,
and answered
in the way that leads to salvation.

That is our confidence.
That is our peace.
And that is why we keep praying.

Prayer

Father,
You hear every prayer offered in faith.
Shape our hearts to rest in that truth,
and keep us faithful
in praying for one another
until Your work is complete. 

When answers seem delayed,
strengthen our faith.
When the path feels hidden,
steady our steps.

When we pray for those we love,
let us know we are praying with Christ Himself.

Amen.