When God says No

My sweet five year old is never afraid to ask a question. “What’s your name?” “Who are you?” “What are you doing?” Any question to anyone. He’s the second child.

Tonight at my oldest son’s swim practice the coach was handing out candy to each swimmer for their hard work. The five year old, bravely and actually very respectfully, walked up and asked the coach, “Can I please have a piece?”

She said no.

He was devastated.

He immediately ran and hid his face in my coat and the tears started flowing.

She had explained very kindly that it was just for the swimmers, and that someday he could be on the team, work hard and get a piece of candy too. It didn’t help.

At first I was kind of annoyed– how dare she deny his simple and kind request for a measly piece of chocolate? But then I saw it, the golden opportunity parents search for in their quest for bringing the gospel to life.

This is us! WE ask and ask our Father in Heaven for what we need, want, and hope for. We expect–because we follow the commandments, work hard to pray and read the scriptures and do the work He has asked of us– that He will answer our prayers in the way we lay out for Him.

It very rarely ends up the way we’ve planned out in our minds. Instead, God gets down on our level, gently says “no” and explains that if we continue on the path of righteousness, someday we too will get a piece of candy, the job, the relationship, the answer.

But thankfully, and because our Father knows us perfectly, we can rest assured that our answer will be much better than what we need, want and hope for. Our answer will bring us closer to Him, make us more like Him, and help us remember His goodness.

So let’s never be afraid to ask.