The Teacher says, “Ask and you shall receive….” But there are conditions.

We are taught to be careful for we ask for. The fear is that we might actually get it and thereby suffer the consequences since we did not know any better. But asking through faith is different. It is not based upon what we know but rather upon the nature and character of the person being asked. Would you being a good parent give your child a serpent if the child were to ask for bread? No. It’s not in your nature as a good parent to do so.

Similarly, the good giver is merciful, blameless, and pure. Therefore, we can be assured that not everyone gets what they ask for—not because of the inaptitude of the giver, but because this giver will only give what is good, like a loving parent to a child.

We can be confident therefore that no one (ourselves included) may ask or wish something bad on you and receive it since it is not asked for in faith; it is an ask that goes against the grain of a good giver and therefore this is not faith. Sometimes not getting what we deserve can be a good thing. Likewise getting what we don’t deserve can also be a good thing. This is the assurance of faith–asking based on the nature of the giver, not necessarily based on what we think we need, our ability to believe, religious or social status etc., since a lot of times our vision and understanding is acutely limited and falls short of what is really required. That is why it is said that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” When we ask in faith we can be assured that indeed we receive only what is good because the good giver always acts in accordance with the good giver’s nature and character and ultimate purpose, which might be hard for us to see at times but nevertheless true.

It’s Monday. Another week of possibilities and potentials. What shall we ask of the Good Giver today? It might be the most creative thing we do! I’m prompted to ask for faith. What about you?

Thanks to Photo by Joice Kelly on Unsplash!