How often do we whine in the grocery store of life about wanting this or having to have that, or tell God what would really go well in our life… only to find that what we wanted so badly was not exactly what we expected or really needed? The truth of the matter is that we ask God for many things- all based on our limited understanding of our lives and our place in God’s grand scheme of things. Even though we ask a lot, God always answers. There is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. We often think that if God does not say YES to all we want, He is not answering us. Just as parents have many answers to their children’s questions, God sometimes answers, “yes”, sometimes “no”, and sometimes, “wait awhile”. Simply because the answer is not “Yes, right away!” does not mean that our petition is not answered.

God wants the best for us, not just the good. We may be asking for the right thing, but just have to wait for the right moment. There are also times, true to the “Unanswered Prayers” song when God denies our request, knowing that what we see as good for us, in reality is not good at all. So, instead of just leaving us dangling, He says no.

More than I should, I beg the Lord in my best whine- “Please, Lord, let me go down THIS path. It looks so green. It is so beautiful and easy to travel. I will have a WONDERFUL time. Yes, Lord, this is definitely what I want and need.” If it is the best, God allows it. He may gently direct me to another path (to which I hope I don’t reply with more whine). God often replies with a “not just yet- I have to clear it out a little more before I let you loose on that road”. ALWAYS, He has our best interest in His heart. You see, God sees and knows it all- the beginning from the end, and while my vision is limited, perhaps to just the first turn in the path, God’s is not. He sees those wolves lurking behind the trees beyond my sight. He knows the dangers, and promises He will not give us more than we can handle. Perhaps the ‘no’ answers involve a path that would be more than we could bear. When God knows there is danger, He will often send someone before us or beside us to help, but that requires a wait for that person to arrive on the scene, or a wait for God to clear the path more. Sometimes we simply have to wait to mature a little more to face what lies ahead.

As mentioned before, God always has our best interests in His heart. When I relate to my children in answering their requests, I do not always have their best interests in mind at the moment. Oh, in the long run I of course do, in the important things, but if I am honest, I realize that there are moments that I deny a request because of my interest. I am too tired, so I don’t allow them to do such and such. I am in the middle of something, so I make them wait for their request- not necessarily because their request is harmful or bad, but because it is not convenient for me. I am the one with the headache, so I don’t let them have friends over. We have our children’s best interests in our hearts and minds, but there are those moments when we are overwhelmed with our own interest at the moment.

God is not like that with us. He is continually after our best and His glory. He does not respond to our requests based on his headache or what kind of a day He is having. He responds righteously with what will be best for us and form the image of His Son in us, because that will make us the happiest and most satisfied. That is how we were created. We do not always like or agree with God’s answers to us, especially the ‘no’ (just like our children). We may pout and be upset, but for a committed believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the issue is TRUST. Can we trust the One who created us, the One who loves us more than ANYONE ELSE in the universe to have our best interest in His heart? To humans who have authority over me, I can not say that they always truly do, with no strings attached. To the Creator, Lover, and Savior of my soul, I must say a resounding and firm YES to being able to trust Him with my life. So I will decide that whatever God’s answers to my prayers are, they are always His best gifts to me.

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