Most of us Christians were taught that if we ask God for something in prayer, we shall receive. But why is it that many of our prayers seem to be unanswered? Why do we ask and not receive?
I think that it is a dangerous thought to spread the idea that God will give us everything we ask. Why? Because it is not true. For even if God is good and God is powerful, He cannot and will not give us everything we ask.
Must a good father always give in to the wishes of his children? No. And it is the same with God. God, in His wisdom, knows what is best for His children. And because He loves them, He wouldn’t give them things that are not good for them. Even if they ask.
Let us remember some of the Bible verses that remind us about asking God:
“…delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
– Psalm 37:4, WEBBE
“Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” — John 16:23–24, WEBBE
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” — Luke 11:11–13, WEBBE
In the first Bible passage, we are told that the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts if we delight ourselves in the Lord. It means that we must first align our desires with the will of God.
In the second quoted verse, we are told to ask in the name of Jesus. And what does it mean to ask in His name? What does the name of Jesus stand for? It stands for truth, for purity, for wisdom, for love and for every good thing. That is the perspective in which we are to ask. For how could we ever dare to ask for anything evil in His name?
Lastly, we are reminded that asking God is like asking a good father, a father who will not give bad things to his children. Were we not also assured that the Father will give us the Holy Spirit if we only ask?
Let us never feel frustrated whenever we feel our prayers are not answered. Let us trust instead that God hears us and that He loves us so much. Does He not know the deepest cries of our hearts? And will He deprive us of anything that would be for our eternal good?
God is so good that even His silence is filled with wisdom and His “no” is better than our grandest desires.
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"