Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
The other day my daughter was out and about with
my mom. They stopped at a local drive-thru restaurant for JUST a drink. My
daughter begins to ask from the back seat, "Nana, ask them for a toy. I
want a toy too." My Mom begins to explain to her that they were not
getting a toy, just a drink. My persistent daughter still stated, "Nana,
ask them for a toy because I want a toy too." My mom again, reassured her
that they would not give her a toy because they did not order one and they did
not pay for one and they were ONLY getting a drink. Well.....my daughter is
very persistent. (That is a very strong point in her little personality). My
daughter began to tell Nana what to say when she pulled up to the
window. She said, "Nana, when they come up and ask you how many toys you
want, tell them you want 2 - one for me and one for my brother." My mom,
was trying to let her down gently so she wouldn't get her little heart broken
or disappointed. She explained for the THIRD time that they would not be
getting a toy! My daughter just couldn't believe that, so began to
"prep" her brother on what to do! She said, "When we get to the
window, roll your window down and just put your hand out, and when they bring you a toy - tell them you need 2!" So, the kind,
little brother that he is - he did exactly what she told him to do and he put his
little hand out the window. When they got to the window for just the drink
they ordered, the employee walked up and placed 2 TOYS into my sons' hands! Yes,
2 toys! My daughter and son was so excited that their
persistence paid off and their request was answered! A few days passed by and we
were at the drive through window again for JUST a drink! My daughter begin to
roll her window down and place her hand out the window, while giggling, because
she remembered what happen the last time she did that. Once again, we tried to
reassure her that it probably wouldn't happen again and that she shouldn't expect too much. Would you believe that the employee walked up with ANOTHER toy
and placed it in my child's hand!!! We couldn't believe it. After all of that,
for about a month, every time we would go and get a drink at the local drive-thru window, my children would roll their windows down and put out their
hand. Their little hands didn't get a toy every time but they still would
roll their windows down because of the past blessings they had received, in hope for future blessings. Sadly,
I have noticed the last few weeks that my children have stopped rolling their
window down and putting out their hand. They seem to have forgotten the past
blessings because they didn't receive a blessing EVERY time they placed their
hand out. So, now, they just quit asking, never to ask for another blessing
again.
I thought, we are like that in our own prayer
time and walk with God. We ask for something (maybe the impossible) and our
friends and family around us try to "let us down gently" by saying,
"Don't expect too much" or "it might not be God's will." But, we must put out our hand anyway - wide open - to receive the blessings of
God. After we see God answer a huge request we had, it strengthens us and
ignites us and we start reaching out all the time and we start praying more and
more. Pretty soon, though, once again we forget the blessings of God
because our hands weren't filled every time we prayed. Our prayers
weren't answer immediately every time we asked. So, we just quit
asking, never building a strong, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20
