One day when my son was little, I asked him what he wanted for lunch. “Chips,” he replied quickly and confidently. I asked what he wanted with his chips, and he answered, “Dip.” Unfortunately for him, I didn’t think chips and dip were good choices for lunch, and I didn’t give him what he asked for.
I think of that day when I feel like God is answering my prayers. Just as my son asked for what he thought would make a good lunch, I ask God for what seems good to me. I’m expecting God to get on board with my fantastic plans. But it doesn’t always turn out that way. Did He not hear my prayer? Was He unable to provide? Or did He just not want to?
Psalm 66:19 tells us that God listens to our prayers. Psalm 135:6 teaches that God does everything that He pleases. And Matthew 7:11 shows God’s desire to give good gifts to His children:
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)
If God hears our prayers, if God is able to give us everything He chooses, and if God delights in giving good gifts to His children, why doesn’t He always say yes to our requests?
When God withholds that which we think is good, we need to trust that we actually asked for chips and dip. God knows what is truly for our good. He gives good gifts and withholds what isn’t for our good. Sometimes this doesn’t make any sense at all from our limited, earthly perspective. But we can trust Him to always give us what’s for our best.
No matter what you face this week, God will give you what is good.
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