Many people struggle with faith in God because of unanswered prayers. However, with a more careful reflection of life’s issues, someone with faith in God might realize that unanswered prayers are actually answered in different ways. The key is aligning yourself to receive what you ask God for. What’s that mean? An expecting mother tries to prepare a room for their newborn before the baby is born. A teenager takes Drivers Ed and a test before they begin to drive. A wise person plans for retirement before they actually retire. Basically, they are aligning their life to accommodate what they are hoping to be blessed with: a child, a car, a relaxing retirement.
The same holds true in our faith. We ask God for blessings of all shapes and sizes. We ask because, at least to some degree, we’re hoping He will hear our request, our wish. Psalms 34:12-14 (1 Peter 3:12), “After all, who doesn’t have a desire for prosperity and good things in life? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from lies. Turn away from evil, and do good; search for peace, desiring it with all your heart. Because the eyes of the Lord are on those like that.”
Jesus reassured His followers of that basic idea about God. Luke 11:11-13, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Or John 14:13, “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
The spoiled brat in all of us might be tempted to throw a temper tantrum if God doesn’t jump right on our request like a fearful servant. However, with maturity comes a broader view of our request and His answer.
When my view of my life is secondary to the expansion of God’s kingdom, I’m probably in the right mind-frame. This doesn’t mean we hate ourselves or neglect ourselves for the kingdom of God. Rather, we can see how our unmet desire--when handled properly--may do more good for others to hear about God’s kingdom (where eternal peace is extended to those who trust in Christ) over something more temporary.
The Bible is filled with situations where people weren’t able to think past today and right now in order to see tomorrow and the future. From people like Cain who went ahead and killed his brother-- a decision he later regretted--all the way to Judas who valued 30 pieces of silver for today more than the kingdom of tomorrow. Therefore, choosing to trust in God’s kingdom for tomorrow is the mature and wise approach in dealing with what we do today.
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