Question Marks

I read a question a couple days ago on Facebook that completely left me speechless.

“If God said “Whatever you asked me for, I will give you”, what would you ask for?

While I didn’t know what request to write first, I knew I wanted to write something so I waited for the comments.  Soon enough the requests did come flooding in asking for peace, healing, restoration, and unity. One comment had me pondering.

“Today, I’m not asking for a thing. I am learning that everything is as it is to be.”

While at first the comment left a noble taste on my pallet, the aftertaste seemed to be bitter.

It was almost to say, “No thanks God. I don’t want anything. I know you said you would give it to me, but uh no thanks.”

A couple weeks ago I was asked a similar challenge.

“Number your paper 1-10. You have 10 million dollars, what would you do with the money? Go.”

The first couple of numbers included paying tithe, giving to the church, funding other people’s dreams, and sowing into people that have impacted my life. That part was easy. By number 5 I was completely dumb to what to write next.

It’s almost the same questions. “What are your desires? What do YOU want? Okay…I know you gave me what you thought I wanted to hear….. But….  What do you REALLY want? Ask me anything.”

How often do we say the things we’re supposed to say instead of what is really on our hearts?

I remember reading that if we delight ourselves in God, He’ll give us the desires of our hearts and so often we’re told to suppress our desires because we can’t trust our hearts because the heart is deceitful and there is no truth in it. Or something like that. But if Jesus lives in our hearts, would our heart still be evil? Or can we trust our desires? Can we really ask for anything? I’m going on a limb here and I’ll say yes.

What if Papa really wants to hear our desires? And what if He really does want to fulfill those desires with no dangling carrots?
Sometimes I think we might be thinking lies that don’t line up with Papa’s character to match His actions with our experience.  Not only does He want us to tell Him our passions and desires, but He wants us to ask Him for those desires to be fulfilled and gives us promises that He will fulfill those desires.

“The Lord perfects that which concerns me.” Psalm 138.8

So my question is why is it that we shy away from the opportunities of asking? What causes us to retreat into silence?

Jesus said “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. (John16.24)

What would cause someone to not ask for anything?

Maybe a delayed response perhaps would cause someone to stop asking. Or maybe the answer might not be what we think it should be. Or maybe even the chance that there could be no answer at all.

“Call to Me and I will answer you.”

I remember reading about a lady who not only had a request, but was bold enough to drive a judge crazy with her persistent pursuit. Why would Jesus say to take note of that woman if He didn’t want us to implement her behavior?

A simple question resonates through my thoughts as I write this… “You mean You want me to drive You crazy with my continued asking?” The Father says yes.