Many years ago I worked for an old lawyer. He once told me to add the phrase "or otherwise..." to a contract. "What does that mean?" I asked. He emphatically replied, "It means whatever I want it to mean." "Is that your loophole?" I queried. The look on his face answered my question. Those two little words had the potential to negate the whole document. Sometimes we do that in our prayers when we add "if it be Thy will" as we pray for healing. Please forgive me if I step on any toes. The things I have learned, I often learned the hard way. I used to pray those prayers. When we pray "...if it by Thy will, heal so and so." We are giving God a loophole he does not need. We are taking Luke 22:42 out of context. Jesus never prayed that way for healing. He only asked God that one time and it was about the hardest assignment he was given, going to the Cross.
The Bible says "Pray in Faith believing".
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
(Anything! And He didn't say I might do it)
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Mark 9:20
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
And these signs shall follow them that believe (KNOW); In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
— Mark 16:17,18 (read also 1 Tim. 5:22 - before you lay hands, ask some questions)
If we are not seeing positive results to our prayers we need to ask why, just as the disciples did. Is something blocking like a generational curse? Is the person we are praying for believing? Do we need to do some fasting? That does not always mean not eating. We may need to fast from unhealthy TV or other things that get in the way of our mission to pray for the our brothers and sisters in Him. We may need to read and memorize more scriptures on healing so we can pray them for the sick.
Faith is knowing, it is not hoping or wishing. I know I am saved. I know I will see Jesus. I know I will be reunited with family. When I met my future husband I looked at him one day and said, "I am going to know you for a long time." God put those words in my mouth and it was sometimes a bumpy ride and I would think "really?", but that was over 50 years ago. I must admit there are some things I do not know, but I hope for. However, I can ask God to strengthen my faith in those areas, so I know.
As a teen our daughter was very ill for a year with Epstein Bar Virus. It attacked her with chronic fatigue, fainting spells, bouts of nausea, and strep throat. She lost a lot of weight. We went weekly to the doctor. One day the doctor told me there was no cure for a virus. I went home and prayed to the One who had the cure. My daughter asked me if she was going to die. I said "NO!" Then I cried out to God and she recovered. As believers, we need to be sure when others are depending on us for answers only God can give. If not, we need to spend more time in the Word and in prayer.
Knowing or believing-faith equals Peace. Peace in Hebrew is shalom. Shalom means hello, goodbye and as well as peace, the Peace that brings wholeness; the Peace that passes understanding.
May the Prince of Peace give you Peace today.