Ask Dr. Youssef: "Why pray if God is going to do what He wants anyway?"

QUESTION:

"Why pray if God is going to do what He wants anyway?"

"We need to trust God completely, in obedience, knowing that prayer changes things."

ANSWER:

There are some things that we will not understand until we get to heaven. On the one hand, we know that the sovereignty of God is very clear in the Scripture. Paul says in Ephesians 1:11 that God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, . . ." On the other hand, God’s Word says that He responds to the prayers of the faithful ones (see 1 Peter 3:11-12; James 5:16). And so, while those things may seem in tension with one another, they are not.

We need to trust God completely, in obedience, knowing that prayer changes things. God said so. He promised so. He has given us prayer as an opportunity to cry out to Him to see a change in our culture and our society—and God will answer our prayer. Trust Him as the sovereign God, and pray in obedience.

Visit the Ask Dr. Youssef page for more Biblical insights from Dr. Michael Youssef.

GET YOUR FREE DAILY E-DEVOTIONAL

Link copied

Recent MY Journal

Candid Conversations - Jonathan Youssef and special guest Collin Hansen

Where Is God in a World Filled with Evil? (Candid Ep. 286)

August 3, 2025

The Last Mile: Carrying the Gospel Where Few Dare to Go

August 1, 2025

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Marketing Permissions

Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

Yes, I would like to receive ongoing updates about how God is moving through my support. No, I do not wish to continue receiving mailings at this time. I would like to completely opt-out and have my information to be forgotten.

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at: uk.ltw.org/connect/contact-us. For more information about our privacy practices please visit uk.ltw.org/privacy By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.