In the first school years, John's studies were not given to him, and this greatly grieved him. Once, after another bad grade, he could not sleep at night. He got up from the bed, went to the home icon and, kneeling down, began to fervently ask the Lord to grant him the ability to study. "And suddenly," as John of Kronstadt later recalled, "my mind seemed to open, my memory was cleansed of some husk. The lesson set for tomorrow was revealed in every detail."

From then on, John began to study only "excellently". Later he was the first student and listener at the school, at the seminary, at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.

You will say: lucky! The lad prayed, and began to study well, his most cherished desire was fulfilled! And we pray and pray, but our desires are not fulfilled for some reason. Why?

Perhaps simply because there is no sincere faith in our prayers. We pray in the hope that we will receive what we ask for. In hope, not in confidence! Do you feel the difference? The Gospel says that true faith can make a mountain move. And if there is only hope that through our prayer the mountain will one day move, then prayer is in vain. It will not move.

When John Sergiev grew up and became a priest, many of his contemporaries noted that he always asked the Lord for the healing of people who turned to him for help very confidently, he did not ask – he demanded! Sounds blasphemous? No. He demanded because he did not doubt for a second that his prayer would be heard, that God's help would surely come. And she came. For it is quite rightly said: "According to your faith, let it be rewarded to you!"

We need to learn to trust the Lord, learn to talk to Him, talk about our affairs, ask for help simply and clearly, as we would ask for the closest and dearest person. What makes us doubt? After all, He Himself once said: "And I will say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10)

The first incident that showed people the great power of Father John's prayer occurred in 1880. A dignitary in St. Petersburg invited the priest to pray for him. After praying, Father John said to the sick man: "Get up, and let us pray together!"

Bishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky) wrote about Father John: