Praying against God's Will?

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During a heavy storm in India, many people became victims to heavy flooding and their livelihood is affected. My friend prayed to God to get rid of the storm. My question is, isn’t the storm God’s Will? If my friend prayed for God to push away the storm, does that mean it is against God’s will? The storm did not stop of course, it did stopped eventually but not immediately.
 
We are free to pray for the needs of others, then let God sort it out.
You’re not going to “control” God through prayer.
Just trust His mercy.

The only way you can pray “against” God’s will is if you pray for something sinful, like that a certain person will drop dead, or for the chance to have sex with somebody you’re not married to, or that you can rob a house and not get caught.
 
@OScarlett_nidiyilii You mean God will “think about it” but does not necessary approve if you prayed for Him to stop a storm which He bring in the first place?
 
God doesn’t think in the same way we do, first one thought, then another, and another.

(Unfortunately, I have to run off to work, but probably one of our other lovely CAF-ers can pick up this thread?)

Peace 🙂
 
Rutherford2 said:
During a heavy storm in India, many people became victims to heavy flooding and their livelihood is affected. My friend prayed to God to get rid of the storm. My question is, isn’t the storm God’s Will? If my friend prayed for God to push away the storm, does that mean it is against God’s will? The storm did not stop of course, it did stopped eventually but not immediately.
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This is such an excellent question.

Jesus gave us a couple of examples of how to pray. First, when his disciples asked him how to pray.

From Matthew chapter 6:

9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

And from Matthew chapter 26:

39 Going a little farther, He fell face-down and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

We pray for our needs, baring our hearts and minds to God, asking for what we desire. But we are also to submit our will to God’s will, trusting in his goodness and love for us.

Prayer changes us as we learn to surrender to the One who made us and cares for us.

There’s so much more here, including the distinction between God’s perfect will and His permissive will.

But I, too, have to get to work. Have a beautiful day!
 
I think I would see it that God has consciousness of all things but is not in them as such. I think many systems are autonomous but God of course can direct them at will. So the storm arose and if we pray for the storm to abate then God may direct the storm or for reasons too deep for me to ever know He may not.

We can’t know His will so I expect we may often pray in discord, I don’t think it’s a problem.
 
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Your friend should pray: ‘if it is your will Lord, …’
 
There’s nothing wrong with asking for the storm to end. The Psalms are full of people pleading with God for an end to their anguish.
Yes a storm is either God’s direct will or permissive will. As long as your friend is respectful and knows that God is the Almighty and His will will be done. If your friend does take a look at the Psalms and see how it is done that might be an idea, people plead and beg God to stop a calamity, or for help etc. but alongside is always the hope and trust that He is the Lord and we are His people and He has done good things for His people, takes care of them etc. So like someone suggested if your friend added something about God’s will be done, or that he/she trusts in God or hopes in God or knows God will help him/her, then that is more respectful and loving. Bear in mind the fear of God.
 
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There was an interesting bit in Faustina’s diary. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy has been traditionally associated as a prayer against storms—
Today I was awakened by a great storm. The wind was raging, and it was raining in torrents, thunderbolts striking again and again. I began to pray that the storm would do no harm, when I heard the words: Say the chaplet I have taught you, and the storm will cease. I began immediately to say the chaplet and hadn’t even finished it when the storm suddenly ceased, and I heard the words; Through the chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731)

When a great storm was approaching, I began to say the chaplet. Suddenly I heard the voice of an angel: “I cannot approach in this storm, because the light which comes from her mouth drives back both me and the storm.” Such was the angel’s complaint to God. I then recognized how much havoc he was to have made through this storm; but I also recognized that this prayer was pleasing to God, and that this chaplet was most powerful. (1791)
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So here’s an example-- although you don’t have to worry about St. Faustina if you don’t like St. Faustina, but just as an example-- where God’s inviting her to say a prayer for protection from the storm, even though God’s perfectly capable of stopping the storm without anyone inviting him to do so. But you’ll also see where the “compatibility with God’s will” is also stressed-- “Please protect us from the destruction of the storm, but God’s will be done.”
 
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