Yes, you can lay your requests and desires before God, but his sovereignty has the final say. Pray for healing for your friends but leave the outcome in the hands of your sovereign God.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. When Hannah was diagnosed with cancer, her friend Sylvia was sure God was going to heal her. But when Hannah went to be with the Lord, Sylvia was bewildered. She thought, now wait a minute, God is supposed to be full of compassion; doesn’t he always want to heal? Her unanswered questions drove her to a powerful truth in James 4. She read there: “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” Friend, did you hear that? If it is the Lord’s will. And that’s a big if! In other words, God places certain conditions on our prayers. Yes, we can lay our requests and desires before him, but his sovereignty has the final say. Sylvia gets it now. The lesson here? Pray for healing for your friends who are sick but leave the outcome in the hands of your sovereign God. His reasons for answering the way he does are always wise, specific [and most importantly], good.
© Joni and Friends