That’s Not Fair…Or Is It?

Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” -- John 15:7 (HCSB)

Have you ever had a child you love stand before you, eyes wide and hopeful, asking for something they were convinced they needed?

I remember one afternoon when my daughter, Rebecca, at 12 years old, stood in front of me, asking for a cell phone. “Mom, everyone else already has one,” she said, her voice filled with urgency. To her, this was not just a want. It felt like a need.

I paused and considered her request. Is it appropriate? Could it expose her to things she is not ready for? Is this the right time? When I told her no, her face fell. Frustration quickly took over. She stomped off to her room and said, “I’m the only one who doesn't have one.”

If I am honest, I have said something very similar to God. Maybe not out loud. Maybe not with the same words. But in my heart, I have questioned His answers. I have looked at what others have and wondered why not me. I have wrestled with His no and struggled with His not yet.

In that moment, after she walked away, I realized something humbling. My daughter could not see the full picture. She could not understand the weight of what I was considering for her good.

And neither can I when it comes to God.

We come to Him with sincere prayers, believing what we are asking for is right and good. Sometimes it is. However, God sees what we cannot. His answers are not based only on our desires, but on His greater purpose. He is working in our lives and in the lives of others in ways we may never fully understand. Above all, His response is rooted in what will glorify Him.

Jesus gave us clarity when He said, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, HCSB) At first glance, it sounds like a blank check. But the key is remaining in Him. When we stay close to Christ, our hearts begin to reflect His heart. Our desires start to change. We begin asking not just for what we want, but for what He wants.

Scripture reinforces this truth in 1 John 3:21–22 (HCSB), “Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from Him, because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight."

I know that if my children consistently asked for what they knew would please me, they would hear yes more often. In the same way, when our prayers align with God’s will, we begin to understand His answers more clearly.

Even when the answer is no or not yet, we can trust His heart since, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, HCSB) God is not withholding from us. He sees the full picture. He knows what we cannot yet understand.

So, when His answer feels unfair, when it feels like everyone else has what you are asking for, remember this: you can trust Him. He is a good Father who always chooses what is best.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Have I ever responded to God the way my child responded to me?

2. Do I trust that God sees what I cannot?

3. How can I align my prayers more closely with His will?