15 John now states that the "confidence" (v.14) for approaching God and asking him anything is absolute. A paraphrase of the text is as follows: "Since we know that he hears us whenever we ask in his will, we may also know with equal certainty that we possess the requests we have made the moment we have prayed."

That our petition is answered is not dependent on whether or not we have personally observed the answer. Some answers to prayer are recognized immediately, others later, and some are not recognized in our lifetime. But this is not the author's point. When we pray as Jesus prayed, in full accord with the Father's will, we can know that we have our requests because God has made them his own and his will must be done. What is required of us is simply the faith to believe that this is so and that his will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and then decide to live accordingly. The author is exalting faith in the will of God and its relation to our privilege to pray. He is echoing Jesus' own words in Mk 11:24.

33:3 Call … and I will answer. The prayers of God’s people invite— and assure— God’s response (see Ps 3:4; 4:3; 18:6; 27:7; 28:1–2; 30:8; 55:17; 118:5; Mt 7:7; contrast 11:14). unsearchable things you do not know. The Hebrew (with the change of one letter) for this phrase echoes Isa 48:6: “hidden things unknown to you.” As the rest of ch. 33 demonstrates, the Lord will first judge his people (vv. 4–5) and then restore them in ways that will be nothing short of incredible (vv. 6–26).

1 This parable must be interpreted with reference to the theme of the return of our Lord in chapter 17, as v.8b makes clear. The story is not intended to apply to prayer in general, as though one needed to pester God for every need until he reluctantly responds (cf. 11:5-10). The theme is that of the vindication of God's misunderstood and suffering people. God's people in OT days needed to "wait" on God as he worked out justice with apparent slowness (see Ps 25:2-3). In the final days the martyrs wait for vindication (Rev 6:9-11). Meanwhile we wrestle with the problem of evil and with issues of theodicy. Under these circumstances we should "always pray and not give up."