What does 1 John 5:14 mean?
Quick answer
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." Confident prayer rests on the qualifier "according to his will" — prayer is asking God for what HE wants.
The verse is for the praying believer. We can be sure God hears us when we pray in line with what he wants.
"According to his will" is not a hedge that empties prayer; it shapes it. The more we know God, the better we pray.
For us: keep asking. Some prayers God answers yes, some no, some "wait." All are heard. None are wasted.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.