Confidence

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. (I John 5:14-15)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

          Confidence. Con-fideo-ence. With-faith-state-of-being. So according to Hebrews 11:1, faith is with-faith-state-of-being… Not much help, but how often have I prayed, “Father, cause me to see what is in front of my eyes that I don’t see?” Cause me to recognize faith. Cause me to see. David said that he would have despaired if he hadn’t had confidence that he would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  It makes one want to throw up one’s hands in exasperation. Faith involves not seeing, so one shouldn’t pray to see, but the result of faith is potentially seeing.

          In today’s primary passage, we are told that confidence if the key. We’re to be confident that we will receive what we ask for. But that asking must be according to His will. This is the reason some people pray, “Dear Lord, if it is Your will, blah, blah, blah, in accordance with Your will…” But when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He said, “Give us… forgive us… lead us not… deliver us…” Not a please and thank you or an if it’s Your will in sight. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be polite, but that the addition of polite words is not magic that makes the prayer work. 

          Those four requests give a good indication of God’s will. First, a request to meet today’s actual, basic needs, as a servant would rightly request of a master. This isn’t high on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. We’re discussing nourishment, not self-actualization. Second, a request to forgive our sins. Third, a request for direction. Fourth, a request for protection. Of course, the prayer Jesus taught His disciples was a first lesson in prayer, not a grad school lecture.

          When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, however, what were His prayers like? “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Granted, He was under great stress, and that would likely focus any prayers narrowly. But there are two basic ideas. The first is that Jesus didn’t want to go through what He was facing. The second is that He chose to go through the crisis.

          So, how do we know what God’s will is, so that we can pray with confidence? From the two examples Jesus gave us, it would seem that we can ask for that which we need in order to make it through the day: our daily bread. We can pray for forgiveness, for direction, and protection from evil, and for deliverance from great struggles even as we affirm not just our willingness, but our preference to go through those struggles if that be God’s will.

          So what do we pray about COVID-19? Lord, I’d rather not get it, and if I have to get it, I’d rather get the sort that doesn’t interfere with my life much, but if it’s Your will that I go to the hospital… or die, then not my will but Yours. And then we go about our business of the day based on that prayer. How would that sort of confidence change your life?