“You do not have, because you do not ask God.” James 4:2
Have you ever asked your dad for something that seemed impossible? Maybe it was to get permission to join Little League, or you asked for a new bicycle, or a chance to go to summer camp. Has your dad ever surprised you and said yes to your request? If there is true love between a father and a child, that child knows he or she can ask for the impossible. He may not always say yes to everything, but you know he hears your request and will do what he feels is best for you. That’s the sign of a loving father.
Have you ever gone to your heavenly Father and asked for the impossible? Some people think it is wrong to ask God for big things. They feel that they may be bothering him, or that they sound selfish.
There are two wonderful Bible stories about people who prayed for the impossible. Joshua was the general of Israel’s army, and he had a difficult task. His army was in the midst of a battle, but the day was too short to finish the fight, so Joshua asked God for the impossible, “Lord,” he prayed, “we need more time. Please let the sun stand still so we can fight in daylight.” The Bible says: “So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies” (Joshua 10:13). Joshua was bold to ask God to make the sun stand still. He asked the impossible!
There was also Elijah. One day he set out to prove that his God was the true God, so he planned a contest. He invited the prophets of Baal to meet on top of a mountain. There they would both build altars to their gods. They would pile wood on the altar to burn up an animal sacrifice. The god who would set the sacrifice on fire was the true god. The prophets of Baal prayed and begged their god to send fire, but nothing happened. Finally Elijah dowsed his sacrifice with buckets of water. Then he prayed that God would send fire down from heaven to burn up his sacrifice. That is exactly what God did. Not only did the fire destroy the sacrifice, but the stones of the altar were burnt to ashes. He asked the impossible!
We may never ask God to make the sun stand still, or to send fire down from heaven, but sometimes we find ourselves facing impossible problems. Our loving Father has said we can take our impossible problems to him, and he will solve them. He wants us to boldly ask him to help us. James wrote: “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).
With prayer my humble praise I bring for mercies day by day;
Lord, teach my heart Your love to sing. Lord, teach me how to pray;
All that I have, I am, to Thee I offer, through eternity. Amen.
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