1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

1 John 5:14: Confidence That God Hears Our Prayers

Introduction

Prayer is one of the central practices of Christian faith. Yet there are times when we may wonder whether God hears us. We may pray repeatedly about a situation and still see no immediate change. We may struggle to know what to ask or whether our prayers are consistent with God’s will.

1 John 5:14 gives believers a foundation for confidence in prayer. John writes that we can have confidence toward God when we ask according to His will because He hears us.

This verse does not teach that prayer gives us everything we request. Instead, it teaches us to approach God with confidence while submitting our prayers to His will. Christian prayer is therefore an expression of trust, dependence, and relationship with God.

The Bible Verse

1 John 5:14 says:

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Three ideas stand out:

Confidence toward God.
Believers are invited to approach God with confidence.

Asking according to His will.
Our prayers are not about persuading God to fulfill every personal desire. We are called to bring our requests within the framework of His will.

He hears us.
The foundation of prayer is the assurance that God listens to His people.

The next verse continues the thought by saying that if we know He hears us, we know that we have the requests we have asked of Him (1 John 5:15). The emphasis is therefore on trusting God’s response rather than demanding a particular outcome.

Biblical Context

First John was written to Christians facing serious challenges concerning their faith and understanding of Jesus Christ. Throughout the letter, John emphasizes truth, obedience, love, fellowship with God, and confidence before Him.

Near the end of the letter, John speaks about prayer and God’s will.

Immediately after 1 John 5:14–15, John discusses praying for a fellow believer who commits a sin that does not lead to death (1 John 5:16). Earlier in the letter, John has also emphasized that believers who keep God’s commandments can have confidence before Him (1 John 3:21–22).

The broader context therefore shows that prayer is connected to a life of fellowship with God and obedience to Him.

John is not presenting prayer as a mechanism for getting whatever we want. The phrase “according to his will” is central to understanding the verse.

Christian prayer involves bringing our desires and concerns before God while trusting His wisdom and purposes.

Meaning of the Verse

The verse begins with:

“This is the confidence that we have toward him.”

John describes prayer as something that can be approached with confidence. Christians do not need to approach God as though He were unwilling to listen.

This confidence is not arrogance. It is confidence in God.

Then John gives the condition:

“If we ask anything according to his will.”

This phrase protects the meaning of the verse from being misunderstood as a guarantee that God will grant every request exactly as we make it.

God’s will is greater than our limited understanding. We may sincerely ask for something that we believe would be good, while God knows circumstances and purposes that we cannot see.

Jesus demonstrated this kind of prayer in Gethsemane. He expressed His desire honestly to the Father while submitting Himself to the Father’s will (Matthew 26:39).

Finally, John says:

“He hears us.”

This is deeply encouraging. Prayer is not speaking into emptiness. God hears those who come to Him in faith according to His will.

What It Teaches Us About God

First John 5:14 teaches us that God is approachable.

He invites His people to bring their requests to Him. Scripture does not portray prayer as an interruption to God’s attention.

It also teaches us that God has a will that is worthy of our trust. His wisdom is greater than ours, so Christian prayer includes submission to His purposes.

God’s willingness to hear also demonstrates His relational character. Prayer is not simply a religious ritual. It is communication with the God who knows and cares for His people.

Through Jesus Christ, believers are given access to God. Hebrews 4:16 encourages Christians to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence so that they may receive mercy and find grace for help.

What It Teaches Us About Faith

Faith in prayer means trusting God even when His answer is not what we expected.

Sometimes God answers a prayer with yes. Sometimes the answer may be no. Sometimes we must continue waiting without knowing exactly how God is working.

First John 5:14 does not give us permission to treat prayer as a way of controlling outcomes. Instead, it teaches us to align our requests with God’s will.

This requires humility.

We can tell God honestly what we want while still saying, in effect, “Your will be done.”

Jesus taught His disciples to pray in precisely this way: “Your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10).

Faith therefore does not mean certainty that we will receive everything we request. It means confidence that God hears us and trust that His will is good.

Applying It to Daily Life

This verse can transform the way we pray.

When facing a difficult decision, ask God for wisdom rather than simply asking Him to make your preferred outcome happen.

When praying for another person, bring their needs honestly before God while entrusting them to His care.

When you have a strong desire for a particular outcome, tell God what you hope for but remain open to His direction.

When you do not know what to pray, begin with God’s revealed will in Scripture. Pray for wisdom, holiness, love, forgiveness, faithfulness, and strength to obey Him.

James 1:5 encourages believers to ask God for wisdom, and Jesus taught His followers to pray for God’s kingdom and will.

Prayer can also become a regular part of ordinary life—not only something we turn to when there is a crisis.

When Facing Difficult Times

One of the hardest experiences in prayer is waiting.

You may pray for healing and remain sick. You may pray for reconciliation and still experience conflict. You may pray for guidance and remain uncertain. You may ask God to change a difficult circumstance and find that the circumstance continues.

First John 5:14 does not promise that every difficult circumstance will immediately change.

Instead, it gives us something we can hold on to: God hears us when we ask according to His will.

That means unanswered or delayed prayer should not automatically be interpreted as God’s absence.

The Christian can continue praying, trusting, seeking wisdom, and remaining faithful even without knowing the outcome.

Jesus Himself prayed in a moment of profound suffering and submitted His desires to the Father’s will. His example shows that honest prayer and surrender to God can exist together.

Reflection Questions

Do I approach God with confidence when I pray?
What does “according to his will” mean for the way I pray?
Am I willing to trust God even when His answer differs from what I want?
Is there something I need to surrender to God rather than trying to control the outcome?
How can I make prayer a more consistent part of my daily relationship with God?

Matthew 6:9–13 — Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, including the request that God’s will be done.

Matthew 26:39 — Jesus prays in Gethsemane and submits His desire to the Father’s will.

John 15:7 — Jesus speaks about asking in prayer while abiding in Him and having His words abide in His disciples.

Philippians 4:6–7 — Paul encourages believers to bring their requests to God through prayer and thanksgiving.

Hebrews 4:16 — Believers are encouraged to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.

James 1:5 — Those who lack wisdom are encouraged to ask God, who gives generously.

1 John 3:21–22 — John connects confidence before God with obedience and doing what pleases Him.

A Short Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You invite us to come to You in prayer and that You hear us. Help us approach You with confidence, humility, and faith.

Teach us to pray according to Your will rather than simply seeking our own desires. Give us wisdom when we do not know what to ask. Help us trust You when Your answers are different from what we expected or when we must wait.

Through Jesus Christ, help us grow closer to You and learn to place every concern into Your hands.

May our prayers reflect trust in Your wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness.

Amen.

Conclusion

1 John 5:14 gives Christians a strong foundation for prayer: we can have confidence toward God because He hears us when we ask according to His will.

The verse does not promise that God will grant every request exactly as we desire. Instead, it teaches us to pray with faith while submitting our desires to God’s wisdom.

Prayer is therefore not about controlling God or guaranteeing a particular outcome. It is about bringing our hearts, needs, hopes, fears, and decisions before Him.

Through Jesus Christ, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He hears His people. When we understand His will clearly, we can pray according to it. When we are uncertain, we can ask for wisdom. And when the answer is not what we expected, we can continue trusting the God who hears us.

God hears. God knows. God is faithful. Therefore, we can pray with confidence and leave the outcome in His hands.