“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Father Knows Best

I heard a man telling about how he would regularly spend individual time with each of his grandsons. On their special day, the grandfather would ask the child what he wanted, or what he wanted to do. The response was the usual kind of activities like going to the park or a movie, roller-skating, getting ice cream, etc., so they would spend their time doing that together.

One of his grandsons, when asked the question, would always respond with, “I don’t care; what do you want me to have?” One day the grandfather asked him why he never gave his own requests like the others did, and the child simply answered, “Because you always give me more than I would think to ask for.”

Isn’t that so much like our heavenly Father? So many times I ask for things that are so far below what He would like to bless me with. I think of the many times I have limited God and His promises with my own low expectations, causing me to be satisfied with a mediocre walk.

I’m not just talking about asking and receiving material blessings, although He does want us to come to Him with all our requests. But if I ask for something specific and He denies or answers my prayer differently than what I had in mind, I can be more than satisfied with His answer because I know that He loves me, is in control of all things, and can be trusted to supply what is best for me in the long run. This results in great peace of mind and keeps me from dwelling on the disappointment, which is probably His objective—and actually better than the thing I asked for in the first place!

Someone said: “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him.” So, Lord, what do You want me to have?

“Father, You are able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of. Thank You for showing me that my life with You is so much better than anything this world has to offer. Amen.”