Really Need

A few weeks ago, we were talking about the letter A and how we can ask God anything. While talking through the things we might ask God, we also talked about the various answers that God might give us. Once again, I was blown away by my son’s response.

Me: Caden, what kind of answers do you think God might give us when we ask of Him?

Caden: Well, He could say, “Yes.”

Me: You’re right; He could. What else could He say?

Caden: He could say, “No.”

Me: Yep, you’re right; He could say that, too.

Thinking I would have to help him with the next one but still wanting him to think for himself, I asked…

Me: Do you think there is any other way God could answer us?

Caden: Well, He could say, “You don’t really need that right now.”

(insert the sound that might be heard when your mind is blown)

(insert the sound when your seasoned faith is being rocked)

My 32 year-old mind was seriously caught off guard. 

Why?

Because not only did I assume that this spring chicken of mine wouldn’t have an answer, but my ears were also not hearing the rote answer they have heard for last 20+ years of my life.

WAIT. 

He was supposed to say, “Wait.”

Preacher/Teacher/Christian Screecher: “How does God answer prayer?”

Sunday School Answer: “Yes, No, or Wait!”

WAIT. 

The answer has always been, “Wait.” 

But this wasn’t the answer I was hearing on a Monday afternoon in our tiny family room. No. I was hearing something completely…FREEING.

“You don’t really need that right now.” 

So why does that feel more freeing to my 32 year-old soul than the WAIT I’ve always heard?

Because it’s not operating under the assumption that God has simply decided to arbitrarily dole out a “cosmic wait,” which only leads me to wonder, and doubt, and question all the things–the why’s, the when’s, and the how’s.

No.

It operates under the belief that God knows what we REALLY NEED and that’s what drives His answer. 

It’s His unrelenting love that dictates the wait; 

It’s His unending care that determines the wait; and

It’s His sovereign understanding of what we really need that decides the wait. 

Child, I know that you want financial security, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want that person’s approval, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want a new job, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want a baby to rock, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want a ring on that finger, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want that illness to leave, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want that prodigal to return, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want that spouse to change, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want that addiction to end, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Child, I know that you want _____________________, but that’s not what you really need right now. 

Oh, Lord…

May you make us hungry for the things you want;

May you lovingly conform our will to your direction;

May you graciously turn our hearts from things we want to the things we really need; and

May we be still and trust that you are good, and you are God.