Just Ask

“The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked.” Mark Batterson.

The genesis of Jesus’ miracles is embedded in John chapter 2. John tells us that Jesus and the disciples were invited to a wedding, which the name of the newlywed isn’t mentioned. During the reception, the wine runs out. Uh oh! And Jesus’ mother shares that with Him. There are many life lessons that we can acquire from this passage of scripture. If Jesus weren’t at the wedding, He wouldn’t have supplied wine. So invite Him in your whole life. Moreover, the biggest lesson is that if His mother Mary hadn’t asked there wouldn’t be any replenishment of the wine. So, ask Him, not just when there is a lack of wine but for lack of ANYTHING.

There is something about asking that people shy away from. Some view asking as being weak and vulnerable. Some are simply afraid of hearing “no.” All of which is understandable when the request is being made to a human being. But, what I’m baffled about is why are people afraid of asking GOD.

“You have not because you ask not.” James says. We need to start asking; big or small. I believe that the time for Jesus to perform His first miracle was not at the wedding. My reason stems off His response to his mother, “Woman, my time has not yet come.” But, when we ask we can and will change things. We can’t change God’s standards and His laws but we can change His TIME. God wanted the Israelites to enter the Promised Land in 40 days. But, because of their disobedience and complaints it took them 40 years. Hezekiah prayed for God to extend his life. And He did. These are two instances in the bible where people have changed God’s time.

But understand this, when you ask, you may not get the answer that you would like. You may get a “yes,” a “no” or a “not now.” Have you ever seen the reaction of a child who asked her parents for something, though she wasn’t expecting her parents to approve? “ Thank you! You are the best parent in the whole wide world.” Rarely do we hear the same exact response when our request gets disapproved.

Quit moping about the insufficiencies in your life and ask the all-sufficient and encompassing God. Next time, you are unhappy with your life, don’t blame Him for the requests you failed to make. Ask Him. His goodness isn’t contingent on Him giving us what we ask when we ask. Even at our worst God is still incomparably good. Please, remember that. We love to quote Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” This verse serves a great purpose, to rekindle hope. It also serves the objective to let us know that God is going to outdo what we “ask.” You may ask for a home, 2 bedrooms and one bathroom. He is able to do exceedingly more than that. He can give you a home with four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms a walk in garage, a pool in the backyard with it. Asking is the way to go. Ask Him!