Praying with Confidence in God's Sovereignty Uncertainty

Prayer, understood as direct address and intercourse with God, is a fundamental aspect of Christian life ^[3]. It involves "beseeching the Lord," "pouring out the soul," and "drawing near to God" ^[3]. The efficacy of prayer, however, presents a theological mystery, particularly when considered alongside the belief in general laws governing the universe and the concept of human free will ^[4]. Despite these complexities, Scripture consistently commands prayer and offers guidance on its practice ^[8].

A key element in prayer is confidence, or boldness, which stems from a believer's assurance of eternal life and knowledge of God's will ^[9]. This confidence is not a presumption that God will grant every desire, but rather a trust that aligns with His purposes ^[9]. The Apostle James instructs believers to "ask in faith, with no doubting" (James 1:6 NASB), emphasizing belief in God's existence, His promises, and His power to fulfill them ^[11]. This faith also involves trusting that what is asked for, if it aligns with God's will and promotes His glory and the good of His people, will be granted ^[11].

The concept of God's sovereignty, His supreme authority and control over all things, deeply influences how believers approach prayer. While God's sovereign plan is unchangeable, prayer is not presented in Scripture as an attempt to alter God's will, but rather as a means of participating in it and expressing dependence on Him ^[9]. For instance, Abraham's intercession for Sodom demonstrates a holy boldness in approaching God, prompted by God's own revelation of His intentions ^[13]. This interaction suggests that God's word can furnish believers with material for prayer and incite them to pray ^[13].

The Bible provides numerous examples of prayer offered with confidence in God's character and power. David frequently expressed his confidence in God, praying that he would not be put to shame for his dependence on Him ^[10]. He sought sustaining grace, acknowledging his inability to persevere in duty or avoid sin without divine help ^[12]. Similarly, the Psalms encourage all to repose confidence in God, recognizing Him as a "help and a shield" ^[14]. This confidence is rooted in the understanding that God hears and answers prayers ^[8].

However, the Bible also acknowledges human uncertainty and the need for watchfulness in prayer. Mark 13:33 (BBE) exhorts believers to "Take care, keep watch with prayer: for you are not certain when the time will be" ^[1]. This highlights a tension between confident prayer and the recognition of unknown future events or divine timing. The "full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22) is described as a fullness of faith that leaves no room for doubt, and the "full assurance of understanding" (Colossians 2:2) as an unwavering conviction in the truth of Scripture ^[6]. This assurance is not a guarantee of specific outcomes in prayer, but a steadfastness in conviction about God's truth ^[6].

The Apostle Paul's request for prayer in Colossians 4:3 (KJV) — "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ" — illustrates how believers pray for specific opportunities and divine enablement within God's overarching plan ^[5]. This kind of prayer recognizes God's sovereignty in opening doors while also acknowledging the human role in seeking those opportunities through prayer.

Even in times of affliction, prayer is encouraged, with specific requests for God's consideration of trouble, His presence and support, divine comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance ^[7]. These prayers are offered with the understanding that God is able to respond to human need, even as His sovereign purposes unfold. The call to "fear God" in Ecclesiastes 5:7 (NASB) serves as a reminder that while many words and dreams can be empty, reverence for God is paramount in all aspects of life, including prayer ^[2]. This fear is not terror, but a profound respect and awe that shapes how one approaches the divine.

Sources

Mark “Mark 13:33 (BBE) — Take care, keep watch with prayer: for you are not certain when the time will be.”
Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 5:7 (NASB) — For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
Colossians “Colossians 4:3 (KJV) — Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 5:14: the confidence--boldness (Jo1 4:17) in prayer, which results from knowing that we have eternal life (Jo1 5:13; Jo1 3:19, Jo1 3:22). according to his will--which is the believer's will, and which is therefore no restraint to his prayers. In so far as God's will is not our will, we are not abiding in faith, and our prayers are not accepted. ALFORD well says, If we knew God's will thoroughly, and submitted to it heartily, it would be impossible for us to ask anything for the spirit or for the body which He should not perform; it is this ideal state whic”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 71:1: Two things in general David here prays for - that he might not be confounded and that his enemies and persecutors might be confounded. I. He prays that he might never be made ashamed of his dependence upon God nor disappointed in his believing expectations from him. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace; for God will never disappoint the hope that is of his own raising. Now observe here, 1. How David professes his confidence in God, and with what pleasure and grateful variety of expression he repeats his profession of that c”
James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 1:6: But let him ask in faith,.... Not only in the faith of the divine Being that God is; but in the faith of the promises he has made; and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them; and in the faith of this, that whatever is asked, according to the will of God, and is for his glory, and his people's good, shall be given. Nothing wavering; about the thing asked for, whether it is right or no to ask for it; for that should be settled before it is asked for; nor about the power of God to do it; nor about his will, in things he has declared he will do; nor ab”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:116: Here, 1. David prays for sustaining grace; for this grace sufficient he besought the Lord twice: Uphold me; and again, Hold thou me up. He sees himself not only unable to go on in his duty by any strength of his own, but in danger of falling into sin unless he was prevented by divine grace; and therefore he is thus earnest for that grace to uphold him in his integrity (Psa 41:12), to keep him from falling and to keep him from tiring, that he might neither turn aside to evil-doing nor be weary of well-doing. We stand no longer than God holds us and go no further”
Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:23: Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it. When God has spoken to us, we must consider what we have to say to him upon it. Observe, I. The solemnity of Abraham's address to God on this occasion: Abraham drew near, Gen 18:23. The expression intimates, 1. A holy conc”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 115:9: In these verses, I. We are earnestly exhorted, all of us, to repose our confidence in God, and not suffer our confidence in him to be shaken by the heathens' insulting over us upon the account of our present distresses. It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that do trust in them, a help to furnish them with and forward them in that which is good, and a shield to fortify them against and protect them from every thing that is evil. Therefore, 1. Let Israel trust in the Lord; the body”

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