Asking for the Small Things

By: Lauren Thomas 

I ask God for what I need when I’m struggling. I ask God for what I need when I’m faced with a situation that is bigger than my ability. I ask God for what I need when I am full of desperation. But I’m afraid that, from time to time, I forget to ask Him for the rest. 

 

I could convince myself that this is because I have faith that God will meet my needs.

 

But I’m afraid it’s something more insidious.

 

Entitlement.

 

Bear with me for a little story.

In the last two or so years, we’ve had some challenging vacations. One trip to Colorado involved one of our kids coming down with a virus and fever for a few days that seriously affected our plans. And over New Years we took a trip where both my husband and one of my kids ended up confined to a bedroom with flu, which then spread to the rest of the family and the family we were vacationing with. These are just the two worst experiences among others. But recently we had an incredible vacation! No one was sick, no one got sick, weather was beautiful, everything worked out smoothly. Driving home from this trip, my husband and I reflected that you can’t take a vacation like this for granted. 

 

And it hit me. 

 

I had been taking our vacations for granted. I felt that I deserved good, pleasant, smooth vacations, and that that was enough to result in having the vacations I wanted. But before this trip I had been humbled by our previous vacation experiences, so that I covered this one in prayers – prayer for good weather, prayer for health, prayer for God to restore us physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

 

I had asked. 

 

And God had given. 

 

The Father loves it when we ask. The Father loves it when we ask for the big things and for the small things. Because asking is correlated to humility and is opposite of entitlement. Asking, even for the small things, shows that we don’t feel entitled to any of the good gifts the Father gives us. Asking, even for the little things, shows that we don’t expect the good that we don’t deserve. 

 

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7-11 ESV

 

Reflection:

Has an unhealthy entitlement ever crept into your relationship with God?

What do you need – big or small – that you could ask God for today?

How do you think a Good Father responds to our requests?