According to Osho, a prayer to cross the ocean of samsara can be either a demand or not; everything depends on the consciousness behind the words. From ego it is a request for comfort; from surrender it is a ripeness to vanish. True crossing means non-being: the dissolution of 'you'. Most prayers seek relief, not annihilation; a Buddha-like prayer welcomes disappearance.
If you ask to be freed but still want to stay 'you', it is just asking for comfort; real prayer means being ready to disappear completely.