“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

Why does Jesus say that when we all know it doesn’t work that way? We don’t have perfect jobs. Our loved ones don’t always regain their health. I doubt that any of us will ever win the Power Ball jackpot.

Sometimes it’s our fault. We pray for a better marriage but think all the changing needs to take place in THEM. We close our ears to the answer God has for that prayer, “Wake up. Love your spouse as much as I love you. Guess what? You’re not doing that.”

Often the answer to our prayer just costs too much. God answers, “Money and power will make you so falsely secure in yourself and in this world that your spiritual life and your attentiveness to me and my Word will wither and die, and so will your soul. I can’t have that. I need you with me now, so I can have you with me then.”

God’s answer to our prayers gets to the heart of all of our troubles in life. Jesus took the problem of sin head on when He sacrificed his life on a cross to destroy the effects of sin. The flawless life he lived on earth replaced the flawless life that God demands of us. We are free from guilt. We are free from God’s punishment. Now that’s an answer to our prayers!

We are confused about God’s answers to our prayers because he is concerned about what’s best for us…spiritually. We like to think we know what’s best for us. God can see miles ahead. He credits his perfection to us. We can only see a day at a time. The more we look into God’s Word and see what life is really about, the more clearly we will understand God’s answers to our prayers.

Dear Jesus, I am tired of all of the difficulties that life hands to me. I am sorry for my tendency to blame you for my problems. Open my eyes to see the most important blessings that you give me daily: forgiveness, peace, and unconditional love. Give me the faith to know that you really do what is best for me and help me to be content with the answers you give. Amen.