Russell A. Cardwell Online

Imagine that you go to your friend’s door, long after midnight. The lights are out, the door is locked, your friend says, “Do you have any idea what time it is? We’re trying to sleep in here. Come back tomorrow.” And you say, “I need your help. Company has come from out of town. They’re hungry, the stores are closed, I don’t have enough to feed them all. If you have any extra food in the house let me have it for tonight.”

What is your friend going to do? He’s going to give you what you need. He may be grumpy about it, but he’s going to give you whatever help he can. Why? Because he’s your friend. And he’s going to appreciate your boldness. Your boldness in waking him in the middle of the night will convince him more than any words you could say of the urgency of your need. Not only that, he’s going to feel honored. You have honored him, you have shown him how much you believe in him and what kind of character you believe he has. Who does not feel honored when your friend asks something of you like that? What does it tell you about the way they feel about your character? They’ve shown you that they believe you are a person of value. And if you value their friendship you’re going to do what’s needed.

So this is the way it is with God. Do we value our relationship with God? And do we show God how much we value Him? How often do we refrain from asking God for the things we need , for the things we want, expecting that God knows what we want, God knows what’s going to be needed? How often do we simply turn it over to Him and say, “Thy will not mine be done,” and hope for the best? Is not a sort of pride involve in this?

What Jesus is telling us here is that God appreciates boldness. If we boldly step up to the throne and say “God, this is what I need. I have these needs. You are my God. Take care of me. Help me.” It’s not that God

How does this work? I don’t really understand how this works? What happens if we don’t ask God for what we need? Is God going to not provide for us? This is something I don’t wuite understand.

Here is one possible answer. God has created us. God does care for us. We are His children. But He has created us as free agents. He has turned us loose in the world to do as we see fit. just as when your children grow up, you will turn them loose into the world to do as they see fit, to live or die by their own decisions.

But when they leave home, that doesn’t mean that you’re no longer available to them for help if they need it. If one of them needs help, you say “If you do need help, just call, and I’ll be there.” But you’re not going to be meddling into their affairs all the time. Or I certainly hope not. That would not be welcome. Or good parenting.

Anyway, that’s the way with God. He has turned us loose, sent us off into the world and said, “Here. I’ve given you stewardship over your life. I’ve given you stewardship over the earth, and it’s up to you to do what you should do or not. If you get into trouble, call me and I will help. Ask and you’ll receive.”

But He’s not going to be poking around in our business all the time. Even if He does care for us. He will honor His agreement. This is a contractual agreement He has made with us. I will be your God. Skip all this stuff and I’ll get back to that part.

I think that what this is saying is that unless you call upon Him, He is not going to intervene. And He is not going to intervene because you are not calling upon Him for assistance. That is an indication to Him that you have decided to take care of this problem on your own. And you have rejected God’s assistance in this matter.

So what do I need to do about this? I guess I need to ask for God’s help in the things that matter and not keep doing things on my own. Maybe that’s a question for further thought: “Are there any things in your life that you have chosen to handle on your own and not ask God for help?”

• Obedience and Favor