When I was young, my loving grandmother took care of me while both my parents were on vacation one year. One day, as the Bakery truck drove through our neighborhood, selling bread and other baked treats from the truck, I asked my grandmother, “Will you give me money to buy a piece of banana bread?” She said, “No.” I was surprised that she denied my request. I knew how much she loved me, and I couldn’t understand why she would say, “No.” I asked again. Again, she replied, “No.” Then she turned to me and said, “I have something better for you. We will go into the kitchen and bake a big banana cake.” She was willing to do more for me than what I asked because she loved me.
My dear sisters and brothers, God is even more loving and caring than my grandmother. God always answers our prayers, and sometimes God says, “I have a better idea.” Then God gives us more than we expect and more than those things for which we have asked.”
Sometimes it is easy for us to think that God is ignoring our prayers; however, we know that this is not the case. God answers our prayers and gives us what we need. God knows what we need and what we don’t need. God may not give us every single thing we ask for, like the piece of banana bread I wanted, because what we ask for might not be what we need at the time or might not be according to God’s perfect plan.
Perhaps, today may be a good day to take some time in silence to do two things. First, ask yourself: do I trust God? Do I trust that God loves me unconditionally? Do I trust God will help me when I need Him? Am I willing to accept God’s answer to my requests? Second, remember a time when you truly felt God’s presence. What was the situation? How did you know God was there? Keep this memory in your mind. You trusted God and God did not fail you.
During this Lenten journey, ask God for what you need and desire. Stay vigilant and be aware of the presence of God in your life. God is with you. God is walking with you.