Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock, and
the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and
everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will
be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread,
will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake?
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who
ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)
When a child asks for a toy, a cookie, or the opportunity to stay at a friend’s house to play, we parents consider the request and grant whatever is in the child’s best interest. Will the toy be safe? Does it promote cognitive learning or healthy fun? Is this a good time between meals for a cookie treat? Is the child in good health? Do we know and trust the family environment promoted at the friend’s house?
A child is smart. Within the realm of her world, she can know how to take care of herself. But in the larger world into which we are helping her grow, there are dangers of which she may not be aware. We parents help her to grow into this world. We always give her the good things for which she asks. We always give her what she needs.
Likewise is it with us, as children of God. Each of us can think of times when we prayed for a specific outcome and got another. Within the realm of this earthly world, we don’t always find what we are searching for. And certainly there are times when we “knock” at God’s door and feel like God has not answered.
We are smart. Within the realm of our world, we know how to take care of ourselves. We know what we want, and we certainly feel we know what we need. We thus pray to God. But in the larger divine life into which God is helping us grow, there are dangers of which we may not be aware, things we cannot understand with our limited human understanding in this earthly world. Only God really knows what we need in the context of God’s divine purpose. God always gives us the good things for which we ask. God always gives us what we need.
If then, those of us who are human, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our God in heaven give good things to those who ask!
Dear Lord, help us to understand that you always give us what we need, and the good things for which we ask. Help us to understand that when a specific prayer request does not play out exactly as we expect, it is because it is playing out in the context of your higher divine purpose. Thank you for watching out for us as we grow into your higher divine life. Amen.