October 22, 2025

God Doesn’t Play Pranks – October 22, 2025

3 minutes

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20251022fam.mp3

Listen to Devotion

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence that we have before him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we also know that we receive the things we have asked from him. 1 John 5:13-15 (EHV)

God Doesn’t Play Pranks

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Does your family ever play pranks or tricks on each other. Maybe it’s something funny like:

Taping the fridge handle shut.

Hiding a toy in someone’s pillowcase.

Taking the spring out of a pen so it doesn’t work right.

They’re harmless little tricks as everyone tries to one-up the others. At first, everyone laughs. But after a while, you start wondering, “Should I open the door? Will someone jump out at me? Is there a hidden trick that’s going to surprise me?”

A game that started with giggles ends with everyone feeling a little nervous, wondering what’s coming next, waiting for the next trick.

Sometimes people feel that way about God—like maybe he’s tricking them or not telling the truth. “Am I really forgiven? Does Jesus really love me? Does God really hear my prayers?”

That’s where John speaks up in the Bible. He writes: “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life . . . if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:13-14).

Did you hear that? John doesn’t say, “I hope you know” or “Maybe you’ll know.” He says: “You may know.” That means you can be sure!

Sure that you have eternal life.

Sure that your sins are forgiven.

Sure that when you pray, God hears you.

God isn’t playing a prank. His promises are solid. His truth is unshakable. And that gives us confidence—a bold trust that Jesus is always with us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you that you never play tricks with your promises. Help me to be confident in your forgiveness and to trust that you always hear my prayers. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Name one thing you know for sure about God.

If someone says they are “confident” in Jesus—what does that look like? (How would they act or speak?)

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Name two more things you know about God.

How can a Christian show confidence in their everyday life?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Name three more things you know about God.

Why is being “confident” in Christian truth such an important part of faith?

Download Family Devotions

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

...more

View all episodes

By WELS

77 ratings