Sometimes I find it helpful to think of God’s will like a river, wide and deep, flowing with a powerful current. Nothing can stop it from flowing where He wants it to flow.

However, this river has little rivulets on the edges and runnels along the banks. Sand bars are sometimes formed, later to be washed away. Things can float along on the surface or swim below.

God’s will is flexible in that way too. The direction, power, and ultimate destination are unchanging, but He allows additions and adjustments, nuances and subtle variations.

“This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭14,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

When I spend time with God, reading His word, praying and contemplating His works, I become attuned to the flow of His river, the flood of goodness, healing, and unrelenting love.

And when I pray, in the same direction, He promises to hear me. He allows me to set my desire afloat, to be carried along by His will. Or He may let me create a sand bar for a time.

Prayer that goes upstream, contrary to His perfect plan, gets an answer too. The answer being one of redirection. Stubborn refusal to be redirected leads to frustration and weariness, which you’d recognize well if you ever tried to swim upstream in a raging river.

Dear God, thank you for your perfect will. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers in light of your perfect plan. Teach me to trust your replies, even when they are no. Guide my prayers to coincide with your work in the world. Open my eyes to my prayers that are heading in the wrong direction, ones with selfish motives or incomplete information. Gently redirect my desires and my prayers, and thank you for allowing me to participate in your beautiful river.