Your Asking, His Will

Most of us know the scripture verses that refer to God giving us whatever we ask for.  Or perhaps you are familiar with the “name it and claim it” phenomenon.  Yet we often dismiss that on the backend of that verse is the reality of it being according to His will.

So often we think we know the answer or what it should be.  It only makes sense that our friend is healed from cancer, right?  It only makes sense that a family member’s marriage is restored, right?  These bigger questions are the ones we really wrestle with when they aren’t answered the way we thought they should be.

So is it a matter of God not answering?  Or could it be that our asking is completely separate from His will?

So then that leaves the question…why would God ever will a death or a broken relationship?  It doesn’t make sense.  I thought He was supposed to answer my prayers!

But when it comes to other prayers, “smaller requests” if you will, when they aren’t answered the way we thought they should be it’s easier to accept “It wasn’t God’s will.” 

That’s because we think in human ways when God is divine.  We try to equate what happens in the natural with the supernatural.  We see things through our fleshly perspective when God has a heavenly one.

Some things we will just never know or understand this side of heaven.  And I think there is a reason for that.  What is faith after all, if it is never tested?  What is belief in an unseen God if everything happens according to our wishes?  What is trust in the One who holds the world in His hands if we can somehow manipulate it to work our way? 

Your asking, His will…they don’t always line up.