I have a friend whom relies on prayer, saying "Gods will shall be done". She has great faith resting on the belief it doesn't matter what we do.
I believe this, but will do for myself the things that are within my ability. I have great faith in knowing God will help me where I cannot help myself.
Who has the greater faith? Only God can answer that.
I would say that both of you have great faith.
The only thing that I can relay to you is that from what the scripture says, at least some of God’s will is conditional on man’s ability to have faith, and his willingness to pray. A couple of examples are----
Daniel having to pray for the release of the Hebrews from Babylon, even after the allotted time of their captivity had passed. Dan. 9:2-3 says...….
"in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes."
God encouraging the watchmen to not stop beseeching Him until “Jerusalem becomes a praise and blessing to the world in Isaiah 62:6-7 says...….
"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; And give Him no rest until He establishes And makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
God looking to and fro for a faithful person to stand in the gap, so God would not destroy the land in Ezekiel 22:30...…….
“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one."
Then we see God’s admonition in 2 Chron. 7:14 that “if my people…humble themselves and pray…” God would heal their land.
The land’s healing was conditional upon God’s people humbling themselves and praying.
The question being asked is a simple one really. Why does God not answer my prayers when I ask in faith?????
Why did my child die when he was only a year old??????
Why did my mother die so young?????
In total and complete honesty, I have been asking that question myself ever since I answered the call of God.
I do not know!!!
I can also tell you what Dr. J. Vernon MaGee once wrote about such things...……..
"Evidently God needed Bobby in heaven more than I needed him here with me".
However, I DO KNOW that God is NOT a cosmic Santa Clause.
I do know that the Holy Spirit is not someone we use to throw at people and make them fall down or laugh uncontrollably.
I also know that God answers prayer as I have seen it done over and over and over.
So the, If the will of God always happens, then why are we exhorted to pray for it??????
I will also give you this advice from John Wesley who once wrote these words...…...….
“
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth. God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”