When God blesses us with what we ask for we shout, dance and praise! We hear phrases like, “That’s my God” and “Won’t He do it!!”

But, what happens when we don’t get what asked for? One of the greatest test of the Christian faith is when we don’t get what we asked for, but we can still say, “Thank You, Lord!”

As a youngster, I thought God was some kind of spiritual Genie and vending machine. “Your wish is my command,’ says the Lord.” I found that concept in Genie 1:1, but later discovered there was no such book written in the Bible. Perhaps, I was misspelling the book of Genesis😇 However, I truly thought that if I wanted something bad enough and if I prayed about it hard enough, that God would give it to me.

Call it, ‘trial and error’ because I discovered real quick, that’s not how it goes down! Why? Well, ultimately, it boils down to perspective. You could be asking for something right now, but God knows better. Perhaps this particular thing that you petition isn’t good for you, isn’t suited to you, or it’s just not the right time. We all could demand God grant us a million dollars right now. And indeed, God could choose to grant that request. But He probably won’t. Why? Not so much because there’s a lack of faith on our part, but more so becsuse God knows that it’s not in our immediate best interests to do that. Rather, it would be more worthwhile for us to earn our money slowly, to appreciate the hard work and effort it takes to make a living.

Some reading this devotional might be turning to I John 5:14-15: “And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.” In context, the Apostle is a.) speaking to those who believe in Jesus Christ (v.13) and b.) to those who are selflessly petitioning for God’s will to be done!

Inarguably, humans often crave the easy route. We want fame, popularity, wealth…but as many of us are aware, there are consequences that come with such things. Honestly, sometimes it’s better to not have these things in the first place. Look at it this way, if you can tell God what to do, you’re God Graciously and mercifully, God only gives what is good for His children to His children.

Now that I am a little older and hopefully a little wiser, I can honestly testify that if I got nothing I had asked for, I got everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself all of my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men, most richly blessed!!