The Confidence of the Friend: Finding Our Place in God’s Plan

Voice over by Carol San San Lwin

1Jn 5:14-21, Psalm: 149, Jn 3:22-30

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

How often do we approach prayer with a sense of uncertainty, wondering if our requests are heard, or if we are even worthy to ask? Today, the Word of God speaks directly to this hesitation, offering us a stunning gift: the confidence of a beloved child before a generous Father, and the humble clarity of one who knows his place in the grand story of salvation.

Saint John, in his first letter, concludes with words of immense comfort: “We have this confidence in God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” This is the key to a powerful prayer life. Our confidence is not in the force of our own eloquence, but in the character of God and our alignment with His heart. When we pray “according to his will,” we are not merely submitting to a distant decree; we are entering into a collaboration with the God who is love and who desires our life. John assures us that this confidence extends even to praying for sinners, because we know that God’s deepest will is for life, not death; for repentance, not condemnation. He ends with the foundational truth: “We are in the One who is true, in his Son, Jesus Christ.” Our entire identity and security are rooted in this relationship.

This beautiful confidence is perfectly modeled in the Gospel by John the Baptist. His disciples come to him, concerned that Jesus, whom John baptized, is now baptizing and attracting larger crowds. They see a threat, a rivalry. But John sees with profound spiritual clarity. He corrects them with timeless wisdom: “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.” He recognizes that his role is not his own creation; it is a gift and a mission from God.

Then, in words that should echo in every Christian heart, John defines his purpose: “I am not the Messiah.” This is the liberating confession of every saint. He is the friend of the bridegroom, the one who rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice. His mission is one of joyful decrease: “He must increase; I must decrease.” John’s confidence does not come from his own fame or following, but from the supreme joy of fulfilling his God-given role: to point to Christ. He is secure, not because the crowds are with him, but because he knows he is exactly where God wants him to be.

This is the harmony between the two readings. The confidence in prayer that John the Apostle describes flows from the same spirit of humility and identity that John the Baptist displays. We can pray with confidence because, like John the Baptist, we know we are not the center of the story—Christ is. Our joy is found in His increase. Our will becomes conformed to His will. We are “in the One who is true,” and from that secure place, we can ask, serve, and rejoice.

For us, this means embracing our God-given role with humility and joy. Are we anxious because our influence seems small or our prayers seem unanswered? Remember John the Baptist’s peace: he found his joy in the success of Another. Do we lack confidence in prayer? Remember that we pray as those “in his Son,” and our first prayer must always be, “Thy will be done.”

St. Francis de Sales, whose gentle spirit we recall today, taught that “humility makes us great before God.” Let us ask for this grace: the humility to know we are not the Messiah, and the confidence of the friend who rejoices to point to Him. Then, our lives will become a confident prayer, and our greatest joy will be to hear the Bridegroom’s voice. Amen.