The Lord blessed my wife and I with seven children. It’s easy enough to talk theoretically about how many children we’d like to have, as if selecting what size caffè latte I need to jump-start my morning. But once we have them, know them, love them, which ones would we send back?

I suppose we’re part of that strange breed that think children are blessings, not burdens. Even more radical, we thought our Father in heaven was the most qualified One to handle family planning. He does an excellent job.

From oldest to youngest, our seven span twenty years (venti in coffee talk). Whenever we were having another, Grandma would come to help with the little ones.

I liked to take on a redecorating project to surprise the new mom when she returned from the hospital and, on one occasion, was redoing our main bathroom.

Let me set the scene. Most of the children had persuaded Grandma they needed an outing in the car. But the keys were nowhere to be found. The search was proving fruitless.

Our little daughter Moira was in the bathroom watching me work as we listened to the drama in the living room. Finally Grandma said, “Children, God knows where the keys are, so let’s ask Him.”

We could barely hear little John’s muffled voice, his face pressed into the sofa, asking for divine help. Then, almost immediately, someone shouted, “Here they are!”

“See that?” I said to Moira. “God does answer prayer,” thinking it was time for a fatherly teaching moment. I had forgotten the adage, “Parents have children because that’s how parents learn.”

“Ye-es,” she replied tentatively. I sensed she had more to say.

“What do you mean, “Ye-es?”

“Well,” she replied, as if the study of prayer had been a life-long occupation, “sometimes He says, ‘Yes.’ Sometimes He says, ‘No.’ Sometimes He says, ‘Wait.’ And sometimes He says, ‘OK.’”

“What’s the difference between ‘Yes’ and ‘OK’?”

“Well, sometimes we want to do something, but you don’t want us to. But we keep bugging you until you say, ‘O-kay.’” She lowered her voice on the last syllable, doing her best to express disappointment and reluctance. Point well taken.

In fact, point very well taken. Referring to the incessant murmuring and petulant insistence of the children of Israel on their wilderness journey, we read:

“They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106:13-15)

I’m so old I can remember when TV shows depicted fathers as observant, wise, and caring — not idiotic buffoons. Yes, that old. Like the series, “Father Knows Best.” If only we could remember that when we come to God in prayer.

Just before giving us the blueprint for prayer, often called The Lord’s Prayer (PS, it’s really the Disciples’ Prayer), our Lord said as much.

“When you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:7-8. BSB)

By all means ask. Even ask again. (Luke 11:9-10) But don’t whine and fuss. Sometimes God’s best answer is “No” to foolish prayers.
Father does know best.

Jabe Nicholson of Starkville knows the world may be falling apart but God’s plan is falling in place. Reach him at [email protected] or www.uplook.tv