Praise be to our Lord!
I believe that the Bible teaches us that God answers every prayer. Sometimes "yes", sometimes "no", sometimes "go" and sometimes "wait". The key is learning how to hear the answer. In John 10, Jesus tells a parable of the Good Shepherd. This story teaches of a shepherd that knows his sheep and sacrifices to protect them. It also says that the sheep know him. Do you know the shepherd? Can you hear his voice?
As we walk out this journey we call "life", we need all the help we can get. The moment we forget that is the moment that we lose direction. It funny because I am so ashamed to ask for directions when I'm lost - Thank goodness for GPS!
I remember being in Milan, Italy a few years back. We needed to buy bus tickets to go into town that day. The hotel where we stayed was outside of the town center and also outside of English-speaking shops. We went into the tobacco shop - because that's where you buy bus tickets - and asked if anyone spoke English. No one did. Not one! I was the only one who studied a little Italian so I tried in futility to ask for help. After completely failing our task, we turned around, tail between our legs, and headed back to our hotel to beg for help. The concierge spoke some English and gave us a small note to give the man at the ticket counter. When we got to the shop, I was so embarrassed from my previous foible, I wouldn't even go in.
What if I approached God like that? What if I was embarrassed to send my requests heavenward? What if I fail to confidently enter the throne room with my petitions? The only one who would lose is me! If Donna and our friend Kande hadn't gone back in that shop with that note, we would have never seen downtown Milan. We would have been stuck in the suburb of the hotel looking at apartments and factories. Instead, we saw the grand gallery and the Duomo Milano (cathedral). Over the past year, I applied to dozens of churches and para church ministries around the country. I interview with a few. I am glad my heavenly Father said, "No". I'm glad He told me to wait. He so lovingly gives us what we need. I'm thankful that He also lovingly withholds what we don't need! Had I taken one of those other positions, I would've missed out on "Great" for the sake of settling for "Good".
Asking God for things is fine. Asking God for His will to be fulfilled in you is awesome! It's not about getting what you want. It's about getting what He wants for you!
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name, ask now and receive that your joy may be full" John 16:24
