God Answers Prayer…Not People: Prayers That Align with God’s Will

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

As Jesus and His disciples were leaving Bethany, He became hungry. He noticed a fig tree by the road, but when He approached it, the tree had only leaves—no fruit. Jesus declared, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you,” and immediately the tree withered. The disciples were stunned. They asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” If we’re honest, many of us would have reacted the same way—but with a little fear mixed in. My personal thoughts would have been… “If He can dry up a fig tree, what could He do to me?”

Jesus used this moment to teach the disciples (and us) about faith. He said that if we believe and do not doubt, we will not only witness miracles but participate in them. “Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

This is a powerful promise. Yet many believers wrestle with the tension between this verse and their personal experiences. We've prayed fervently, faithfully, and tearfully, yet the answer didn’t come, or it came in a way we didn’t expect. Even Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if You are willing, let this cup pass from Me… nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done.” His prayer teaches us something essential: "faith-filled prayer" is not about getting our will accomplished but it is about aligning our hearts with God’s will.

Here are a few principles I have learned from this passage:

1. God’s Promise Operates Within His Wisdom

God answers prayer according to His divine purpose, not our demands. He is not moved by volume, emotion, or repetition. He is moved by surrender.

2. Faith Is Not in the Request—But in the God Who Hears Our Request

Jesus said the condition is faith without doubt. Not faith in the thing we want. But we MUST have faith in:

• His power to do exceedingly and abundantly, more than we can ask or think.

• His wisdom: We must have confidence in knowing that He already have the answer.

• His unconditional love: Knowing that nothing in this world will never separate us from Him.

• His sovereign, permissive and moral will provide us with eternal security.

This kind of faith grows only through an intentional relationship with Him.

3. Effective Prayer Requires Trust

Trust that God knows what is best. Trust that He sees what we cannot see. Trust that His “no,” “not yet,” or “not this way” answer...is still a response and is an expression of His goodness.

4. Alignment with God's Will Unlocks Assurance

Matthew 21:22 is not a blank check for believers to yell out to God what we want. But it is an invitation to pray in harmony with God’s character and purpose. When our desires align with His will, our prayers carry divine authority.

Remember to do the following in prayer:

• Ask God to align your desires with His.

• Pray with confidence in His character, not in your own understanding.

• Surrender outcomes to Him—even the painful ones.

• Trust that He is working for your good, even when you cannot see it.

Let us pray….

Father, teach us to pray with faith that rests in who You are, not in what we want. And when we pray for what we desire, please align our heart with Your will the same way You aligned Jesus’ heart in the Garden of Gethsemane. Help us to trust Your wisdom, Your timing, and Your love. Help us to surrender every desire, every fear, and every outcome to You. And when we are concluding in our prayers, will You remind us to trust You for the results, no matter the outcome. I pray that from this moment forward, that our prayers reflect Your heart and bring glory to Your name. Amen.

For His glory…

Written by Sandra Kelley (2/12/26)