My son really enjoys pineapple things, because of a running joke in a favorite television show. So, in 2018, I gave him a pineapple mug. It became what he exclusively drank out of when he was at home. Because he enjoyed it so much, I bought a couple of extras to have on hand for the future. Earlier this year, one of our cats knocked his mug off of the counter and it broke. My son asked me if I could get him a couple more so he’d have more spares in the event of future accidents like this – because he really likes that mug.

He asked me to get them for him, even though he knew that Walmart carried them; he has the Walmart App; he has a car with insurance and gas to get to Walmart; and he has a credit card on my account. Even with all of this knowledge and resources, he asked me to get the mugs. He could have easily done it all himself, but because I love him and want him to have good things, I agreed to help. I used the app to locate a local Walmart that had them in stock. The one closest to us had them, so I placed a pickup order for the two they had in stock, because shipping was not an option. I paid for them and put my son as an authorized pick-up person, under my name. I then told my son the details and that he had one week to go get them. Even though my son could have done this all by himself, based on what I had already done for him and given him, I still took the time to help him and make it easier. Yet, after the week was up, he still had no pineapple mugs.

Is it because it was not my will for him to have them? Is it because I failed him? Is it because I did not hear or respond to his request? Is it because it was too difficult or the price was too high? Is it because he could not get to where they were? Is it because I didn’t think they were what was best for him? No, no, no! I heard him. I answered. I gave instruction. I made provision. I wanted him to have them! I supplied him with everything he needed to have what he asked for. All provision was actually made before he even asked. He had everything that he needed to get the pineapple mugs without ever asking me, but I was kind enough to remind him of the provision and give him a little push anyway! The mugs were his – completely paid for – but he did not do what was necessary to receive them. He didn’t do his very small part.

Can you imagine if I were to overhear my son talking to someone and telling them that he is so confused and just doesn’t understand why I won’t let him have pineapple mugs? Would it make it any better if he proclaims that he loves me and trusts me, even though I didn’t give him the pineapple mugs? What if, in trying to understand, he begins telling everyone that he knows there is a reason he doesn’t have pineapple mugs, “but Mom is in control”? Is he ever going to receive those mugs if that is his belief? Did me being in control, or not, have anything to do with the outcome? No! The outcome was in his hands the entire time! They were his for the taking.

Do you recognize some spiritual parallels here? Do you ever relate to God in this way? Is there an area in your life where you are asking, “Why God?”, but you simply need to apply the Word – take action! We do this with God in all kinds of ways and miss out on so much.

This is an example of why it is so imperative that we abide in the Word and get to know God’s nature and character, as well as His promises, AND our responsibilities. We need to understand how spiritual things work, and the Holy spirit teaches us those things by the Word. If we are not in it, we will be left with many unanswered questions, and it won’t be because God did not answer, does not want us to know or even because it’s unknowable, but simply because we did not do our part. I have recognized so many places in my life where I was waiting for God to do something that He had already done, or I was begging God to do something that He had already done.

We might question why God doesn’t hear or answer our prayers, when the reality is that He already made provision for every need, but we have not bothered to know or follow His direction. It’s in His Word.

God is the ultimate authority and His overall plan will be accomplished, but His plan and will in our lives require our cooperation. God is in control, but He will not control us. He leads us by His Spirit and by His Word, but we must follow that direction. (Read Romans 8.)

God’s will is knowable, and He wants us to know it, but we have a part to play in that will. Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” God changes the way we think through His Word. Abide there and discover the incredible goodness that God has made available to you!