What happens when you ask someone a question? Do they respond? Immediately? Or do they sit there looking at you for long periods of time without saying anything? I’m guessing they respond immediately, even if the response isn’t one you wanted to hear.
The same is true with the Lord. He doesn’t just ignore us when we talk with Him or ask Him things. In fact, He encourages us to ask Him for things. Matthew 7:7-8 says,
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
I’ve heard these verses taken out of context. more times than I can count, as justification for why someone should get exactly what they ask for when praying. The problem with that mentality is it doesn’t take into account the verses that follow. Verses 9-11 go on to explain that God is good and He gives good gifts to His children. James 1:17 says,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
The bottom line here is our Father is good and He gives good things to His children out of love for them. If that’s the case, then why do we pitch a conniption fit when we don’t get what we ask God for when we ask Him for it? Because we want what we want, period.
In reality, we really want what is best for us but many times we don’t accurately know what that is. God does!
There are times we pray for things and in His loving kindness, the Lord says, “No.” He can see the whole picture and He knows what we want for ourselves is not best for us. He desires only the best for us. If we’re honest, we’re all thankful God hasn’t given us everything we prayed for in life.
There are other times we pray for things and the Lord says yes to us, but our timing is off. There may be things He needs to work out in our circumstances before releasing the “yes” or there may be things He needs to work out in us before giving us what we’ve asked. My mother always says,
Good things come to those who wait.”
However, waiting is not something most people do well. We live in a society that thrives on instant gratification. We fail to realize a lot of really good things take time. James 5:7 says,
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”
There are things the Lord presses pause on because they just take time. He isn’t being cruel or ignoring us, He’s simply letting things play out in their proper time.
God is real and active in our lives today. He loves it when we come to Him to talk about Him, our life, our problems, our joys, and our dreams. He doesn’t ignore us or tune us out, even when it may feel like it. That’s a lie the enemy tries to sell us and, unfortunately, we buy it more often than not. We need to recognize the Lord is more than likely working everything together for our good in the proper time [Romans 8:28].
Take some time today to sit with Him and have an honest conversation. Tell Him what’s on your heart and mind. He’s eager to listen.
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