Introduction: Trusting Jesus at His Word
When people talk about God and the Bible, they often use big ideas and complicated systems to explain what they believe. These systems, called theology, try to make sense of everything the Bible says. But sometimes, these systems make things more confusing and even weaken the clear promises Jesus gave us.
This essay argues that we should take Jesus’ words seriously and literally—especially what He said about prayer. In verses like Matthew 21:22 and John 14:13–14, Jesus makes bold promises. He says that if we believe and ask in His name, we will receive what we ask for. This essay says we should believe those promises exactly as He said them, without adding extra rules or conditions. Faith is the key, and trusting Jesus is how we follow God’s will.
I. Why Human Traditions Get in the Way
The problem starts when people try to explain Jesus' promises using human-maded systems. For example, Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” In John 14:14, He said, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” These are strong, clear promises. Jesus didn’t say “maybe” or “sometimes.” He said, “I will do it.”
But many theologians—people who study God—say these promises can’t be taken at face value. They say things like, “God might say no,” or “It has to be His will.” They often point to other verses, like 1 John 5:14, to add conditions that Jesus didn’t mention. This changes the meaning of His promise. It turns it into something like, “You’ll get what you ask for, but only if God already planned to give it to you.”
II. What Is God’s Will? It’s in the Promise
Many people think God’s will is a secret plan that we can’t know. They believe that even if we pray with faith, God might say no because it’s not “His will.” But this essay offers a different view: God’s will is already revealed in Jesus’ promise.
When Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it,” He is showing us what God wants. Jesus perfectly represents the Father. So when He makes a promise, He is revealing God’s will. That means if we meet the conditions—faith and asking in His name—then our prayer is already in line with God’s will.
In the traditional view, people think God’s will limits what we can ask for. But in this new view, God’s will is what gives power to our prayers. Faith is not just hoping for the best—it’s obeying Jesus by trusting His words. If a prayer isn’t answered, it’s not because God secretly said no. It’s because the condition of faith wasn’t fully met.
This way of thinking changes everything. It gives us confidence instead of confusion. We don’t have to guess what God wants. We just have to believe what Jesus said and act on it.
III. What If I Struggle to Believe?
Let’s be honest—having perfect faith is hard. We all have doubts. But the Bible shows us that struggling with doubt doesn’t disqualify us. In Mark 9:24, a father asks Jesus to heal his son. He says, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!” He admits that his faith isn’t perfect. But Jesus still heals the boy.
This shows us something important: God honors honest faith, even when it’s not perfect. When we say, “Help my unbelief,” we are still trusting Jesus. We’re asking Him to help us believe more. That kind of prayer is powerful. It’s not weak—it’s real.
In fact, this kind of faith is exactly what Jesus wants. It shows that we are depending on Him, not on ourselves. When we ask for help to believe, we are doing God’s will. We are obeying Jesus by trusting His promise, even when it’s hard.
And when Jesus answers that kind of prayer, all the glory goes to Him. It’s not about how strong our faith is—it’s about how strong He is. The miracle shows His power, not ours.
IV. The Freedom and Responsibility of Believing Jesus
Believing Jesus’ promises without adding extra rules is freeing—but it’s also serious. If we take His words literally, then we also take responsibility when our prayers aren’t answered. We can’t blame God’s secret plan or say, “It just wasn’t His time.” Instead, we have to ask ourselves, “Did I really believe?”
This might feel uncomfortable, but it’s actually a good thing. It pushes us to grow in faith. It makes us depend more on Jesus. It also keeps us from making excuses when things don’t happen the way we hoped.
When we fully believe Jesus’ promise—“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it”—we open the door to amazing things. In John 14:12, Jesus says we will do even greater works than He did. That’s only possible if we take His words seriously. If we limit His promises with human ideas, we also limit His power in our lives.
Rejecting human traditions and trusting Jesus fully is the only way to see the fullness of His power. It’s not about being reckless—it’s about being obedient.
V. Final Thoughts: Standing on the Word Alone
Theology can be helpful, but it should never replace the clear words of Jesus. When human systems try to explain away His promises, they become a problem. Jesus didn’t speak in riddles when He talked about prayer. He gave us a clear, powerful promise: “Whatever you ask… believing… you will receive.”
We don’t need to guess God’s will. We don’t need to wait for a sign. We just need to believe what Jesus said and act on it. That’s what it means to do the will of the Father.
When we pray with faith, even if we struggle with doubt, and ask Jesus to help us believe, we are doing exactly what He wants. That’s real obedience. That’s real faith.
This is the freedom of the Gospel: a direct, powerful relationship with Jesus, where His promise is true, the condition is clear, and the act of believing is the highest form of obedience.