Parents
Should a parent give their child everything they ask for?
"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. "Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. - Matthew 7:1-12
Jesus compares the relationship with God to the relationship between parents and their children.
We are all children of God, and what parent wouldn't give good things to their children?
But as a parent, there are times when we don't want to give our children what they want. Sometimes what they ask for can do them harm or just be unsafe. You may not want your child to use your power tools or your gun, for example.
The child may not understand why he or she cannot get what they ask of you, and so it is with us when God doesn't seem to answer our prayers.
There will be times when we just don't understand the delays. This is what I need and God knows it is important to me and for me. Why won't He help me?
I don't have an answer for that.
It is the struggle we all have, just as it was when we ran off to our room as a child and cried because Mom and Dad wouldn't listen.
Maybe we all need time. Time to sulk and cry and wonder why may just make us stronger, if it doesn't make us wiser.
More to come...