The Prayer You’re Afraid To Pray… And Why God Is Waiting For It
TODAY'S TEACHING
This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.
—1 John 5:14
Walk into God's presence like you’re welcome there. Because you are.
Prayer isn’t a pop quiz. It’s a conversation with the One who loves you, not a performance with scorecards and spotlights. God wants you to enjoy prayer.
Yes, as today's scripture points out, we are to aim for His will when praying. We keep our prayers close to His Word like a car staying between the guardrails. But fear shouldn’t be driving.
What if you ask for the “wrong” thing? The worst outcome is a kind “no,” and even that bends toward your good. God isn’t out to trick or punish you (He loves you).
He reads your heart better than you read your own notes. If you miss the target, He redirects, the way a GPS calmly says, “Recalculating.”
Let me tell you about Nora. She begged God for a promotion at the clinic because the numbers were tight and the fridge sounded louder than usual at night. She didn’t get it, and it stung.
Two months later, her clinic merged, her old department got cut, and the new manager slid her into a steadier role with better hours. Nora laughed in the parking lot with tears in her eyes. She realized the “no” had been a shield she couldn’t see yet (God always knows what He is doing).
That’s how God works. He’s not trying to catch you asking wrong or too big. He’s teaching you to bring the real you to the real Him, then trust His hand on the brakes or the gas.
Here’s the way I approach prayer. Really, it should come as no surprise—I keep it simple. I ask for what I want and what I need, as honestly as I know how. I keep my eyes on Scripture and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Then I add this simple line: “Father, if anything I’ve asked for isn’t Your best for me, block it. I trust You to keep it from me.” That’s freedom.
Pray like a child at the kitchen table, not a lawyer in a courtroom. Bold, simple, unfiltered. God knows how to sort the shine from the sand.
Go to Him in faith, expecting an answer (Mark 11:22-24). Green light, red light, or wait at the light while He times it just right. Either way, you’re guided and kept in His will.
So go on. Just ask and pray for what's on your heart, even if fear says you shouldn't.
God's waiting for it.
If this resonates with you, here's a short prayer you can say today:
"Dear God, sometimes I catch myself shrinking my prayers, like I don’t want to bother You with my stuff. Then I remember You’ve carried me through storms I never thought I’d survive, so why would I think You’d flinch at me asking You for what's best for me? I don’t need fancy words, just the courage to lay it all out and trust that Your goodness is bigger than my nerves. Even if my voice shakes, I know You hear me. I won't let fear win. I'll just ask. Amen."
God bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Daniel
Daily Effective Prayer™
P.S. - Thank you for allowing me to connect with you through email. If you ever want to UNSUBSCRIBE you can do so at the bottom of any of my emails - no questions asked. God bless you.
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DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS
1. What are Christians actually afraid will happen if we pray the hard thing out loud?
If we’re honest, we’re not just concerned about hearing no—we’re concerned He’ll say yes and our lives won’t look the same. Maybe it means a move, a call, a mission trip, a change we’ve avoided for years. That’s real. But He’s not reckless with us. His answers fit His character: good, wise, and kind. So we can name the fear, breathe, and ask anyway.
2. What does our hesitation say about how we see God?
Sometimes we act like He’s counting pennies or waiting to catch us messing up. But our own history argues against that. He stood with us in ER rooms, in tight paychecks, in the nights we couldn’t sleep. He didn’t fail us then. Why would He start now? If He’s generous and strong, we don’t need to edit our request to make it “easier” for Him. Just ask, and trust His answer.
3. Where is a Christian clinging to control and calling it wisdom?
Let’s put it on the table: the plan we won’t release, the timeline we keep protecting, the habit we defend. Control feels smart until it makes us small. Wisdom isn’t ducking change. It starts with fearing the Lord, and that can begin with trusting God enough to say, “You lead. I’ll follow.” We can start by naming one non-negotiable and handing it over, even if our hands shake.
4. If God answered this bold prayer, what step would we take this week—practically?
Not someday. This week. One action that matches what we asked for: schedule the appointment, send the apology, update the budget, say yes to serving, or finally rest because He told us to. Put it on the calendar and tell a friend. Progress usually looks ordinary at first. That’s fine. Obedience before outcomes.
5. How can Believers pray bold prayers together in a simple, clear way?
We can gather (living room, break room, after church), speak plainly, and keep it short and true: “Father, here’s what we want. Here’s what concerns us. We’re saying yes to Your will.” Write it down. Thank Him daily while we wait. Share the small updates. If we hit a wall, we bring it back to prayer—not performance, not pressure, just family around the same table, trusting the same God who is always good.
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SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
—Psalm 23:2-3
