Is it okay to ask God for things that may not be in accordance with His plan?

Question

Last night, I asked why people still die if praying for sick people is so effective.

I also asked why I should expect God to alter his grand plan for me when he doesn't for the thousands of starving people around the world. I got a few "countries why deny god brought calamity down on themselves" answers (which I think is a bunch of crap) and a few "You should do it for the comfort of the sick person" answers (which I agree with) in among the "You need Jesus" and "God doesn't exist" standards.

But lets say God does exist and has a big grand plan. Should you ever ask for things to be other than He wants? I mean, presumably, if it is happening, it is a part of the plan, so isn't asking for something that is happening to have a specific outcome asking for something that may not be in accordance with the plan?

In Wicca, they place great importance on not meddling with the free will of others - love spells, for instance, are generally considered a very bad idea. (continued)

Many Christian prayers, though, not only ignore a person's free will (Please, God, make my cheatin' hubby come home), but they also seem to deny the will of the Creator himself.

So isn't praying for someone to get well asking God to do other than His will? And how do you justify that?

Ted, I don't think that was from God. ;-)

Answer 1

In my religion, we are taught to pray by saying thanks rather than asking for something. Even if we are going through struggles, illnesses, hard time of any sort, we should primarily be thankful for the chance to grow with it. We are also taught to ask for strength, wisdom, patience and comfort during difficult times, instead of asking God to "change" the scenario. Even if we see ourselves asking God to change His plan, we should always finish the prayer saying "as you will and if I deserve it". Sometimes is not a matter of asking, but a matter of deserving a grace or a miracle.

Is it OK to ask? Yes, it is absolutely OK. Jesus prayed to God, His Father, to take the cup away, before being captured by the soldiers, but He said at the end of the prayer "yet, not what I will, but what you will". I like this verse and I am very curious to know how that came to the Bible, since Jesus was alone and the apostles were sleeping. I believe the message came to the apostles many years after Jesus was dead, what tells me that we have to know that Jesus had a moment of weakness, He asked God to be dismissed from the sufferings, but He also accepted it as God's will. After pondering about that, I came to conclusion that Jesus wanted us to know that we also can be weak, and we also can ask God to be dismissed from suffering, however God's decision will prevail and we have to accept it. Do you know why? Jesus had a mission. He came to Earth specifically to go through all that suffering. It wouldn't make sense God taking that from Him. The same way, we have our mission. We are destined to go through suffering and the same way Jesus chose to come as a human being and suffer, we also chose to come to this world and suffer, therefore there is no sense in God changing His plan, which is ultimately our plan. If I chose to come to this world to suffer to redeem my mistakes from past life, God can't make it go away, or my life would be in vain. There is no life in vain and no suffering in vain either. Is it possible to change the situation? Yes, we can always change the situation by learning the lesson and overcoming the bad tendencies before the suffering gets effective.

Besides all that, as I said in my previous answer, a prayer makes a lot of difference in the spiritual world. You expand your energy, you get help from spirits and comfort for those around you who are suffering. If someone is dying, you help his/her transition go easier.

Ultimately, when facing a problem, instead of asking for the solution, ask God for understanding and strength. But if you feel like asking for a miracle, a grace or any change in His (our) plan, be humble enough to think if you deserve it or not and show God you accept His will.

Peace!
Edit: I saw this in a movie: "God don't take the mountain away, instead help me climb it."

Answer 2

In a Christian point of view, this is my answer to you.

Look at Jeremiah:29:11-12

"For I know the plans I have for you," "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you."

We all don't know what's God's big plan for us. We are not suppose to know what is our future like. God has planned before we are born in this world. We all have choices to choose to follow His way or our own ways. Prayer is a communication with God. It's also mean the relationship with God. Sometimes we asked God a lot of things, but at the end, He did not answer our prayers. It's God to decide what is the best answer for us. His answers to us is either 'yes', 'no' or 'wait'. Trust in Him and He will guide you.

The question you post was why people still die if praying for sick people is so effective. That of course we don't know why. Because it's God's plan. This happened to me before, not once but many times. Why God didn't show some miracle. I prayed everday and everynight but still no result. Somehow, He opened my eyes by not just looking at the worldly things that had happened. God has the reason behind it that we need to know, probably something beyond what we see on just the result (the real meaning behind it). I've learned not to doubt His answers. If you are curious, ask Him (if you want to try). But it's all about faith in Him.

Answer 3

I have to agree with Budliet 2. It also wise to add "May thy Will be done."
Coming from my background which has both medical professions and family illnesses I learned early on that when we pray for someone who is ill they may or may not be cured.
When I was in my early and mid teens my mom worked at a nursing home and there was an old southern black lady who married at 16. By time I knew her she was 103 and her name was Miss Tissy, and she was a card and wise. I asked her this oneday and she gave me the same answer that a gentleman had given me who was diening from terminal brain cancer, when I briefly voluntered as a candy stripper.
"Praying for the ill to be healed does not necessarily mean that you are praying for us to be healed from our disease or old age. You are praying for us to be healed from the pain and afflictions that we have dealt with in these mortal bodies that always seem to pass far to soon by our standards."
Miss Tissy lost both her husband and daughters at the age of 22 to pneumonia. Although she missed them she was glad that they were released from the suffering that they endured. Her prayers for them to be healed came to pass because of when they passed on the were no longer suffering and in pain. That was when I realized that prayer for healing works in more than one way.

In the countries that have thousands of starving people ecologically it is impossible for the land to support them. Yes some will, perhaps many, but that is the circle of life, as painful as it may be, and the stronger bloodlines will survive and reproduce to make their decendents strong as well. There is historical and genetical basis to this. Also it is natures way to control the population so that the earth is able to provide food and life for these people. People starve here in the US, because not every community has a soup kitchen. I have seen many times elderly and very poor people buying catfood on sale (canned) in order to have 'anything' to eat.

That's the thing though, how do we know what he wants so how do we know if what we are asking is against his will? sometimes yes it is part of a plan, but humans have way of interfering or changing the paths of the plan sometimes, and asking for a specific outcome may not be in accordance to the plan, but how can we say that he may have mercy and decided to alter it if just a bit?
If it is the person's will to hang on for just a bit longer and you pray for them to get to say a last goodbye to a specific person than know you are not interfering with free will, but asking them to have a chance to cross over peacefully which a very kind and loving thing to do.
I am of the school of thought that things will happen the way they are meant to either good or bad, but it is up to us as the loved ones and those that care to have faith that in the end the right things was done although at the moment it doesn't seem that way.
That is what is called human love and compassion, and I wish you peace and hope you found the ansers that you seek in the future.
A saying of my great grandmother's that gives me much strength during trying times is, "Do what you can and leave the rest in God''s hands, because in the end he DOES watch for all althoough it may never appear that way at first. So blessed be the paths that we walk and blessed are those that we have known, and those blessing they will eventually know."

Answer 4

Sometimes His will is not clearly known. We can always ask, He may answer in the way we have asked, or He may not.
One of the keys to prayers being answered is whether or not we have any regard for iniquity in our heart. If it's there, forget it. It is double-mindedness, which according to the scripture in James, such a person cannot receive anything from the Lord.

Answer 5

It might not be in accordance with God's plan...in which case I'm confident God won't grant your request. But none of us can claim to know God's plan, so my suggestion would be to go ahead and ask as you see fit. Prayers are requests, not orders, after all. God's not compelled to fulfill them!

Answer 6

Actually it is fine to pray for things like that and basically you could say in the prayer "thy will be done"


Good and bad things happen to this physical body it is our souls that are important to us. I don't want bad things to happen to myself or anyone else but if we have taken care of our souls we will survive the tests in our lives.

Answer 7

CE,
I always include within my prayers that "If it be thy will". GOD will make the final decisions. He allows us to ask HIM for things, and to praise HIM for things. HE is certainly pleased when we acknowledge HIS Existence and study HIS WORD. I would be glad to assist you if/when you are ready to do so. Have a wonderful week and great Holiday with your friends and family!
Thanks,
Eds



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Answer 8

How could you know that it was not YHVH's will to heal that person? Asking isn't bad. Demanding is bad. by all means try to ask for things you know the Almighty wants you to have, like wisdom, and salvation.

Answer 9

Will of God:
I will have mercy(grace), and not sacrifice(law).

Asking law for sacrifice(slaughter) is suicide-all.

Grace --> Mercy ---> Peace with you all. Amen.

Answer 10

Where, when and how will you ask God, whatever is in your mind?