The bigger point I am learning is that He is pleased when we
ask big. I’ve realized how I have shied away from asking Him to do great and
mighty things in and for me because I want to protect myself from
disappointment. If I’m being honest, I also feel the need to protect Him and
His reputation if He doesn’t deliver. I don’t have to work through hard faith
issues if I don’t ever ask, right? Of course I’ll never grow in faith either.
Beth Moore tells a story in one of her Believing God DVD sessions that will stick with me the rest of my
life. As she was starting school as a little girl, her aunt called and asked
what she could get Beth for her first day of school. The aunt was probably
thinking of a sweater, but little Beth was thinking big. She asked for an
elephant. A bejeweled elephant with a fancy throne on which Beth could sit as
she rode into school on the first day. (I picture Aladdin riding into the
palace as a newly-minted prince in the Disney movie.) All these years later,
Beth’s aunt still laughs about the elephant. “Honey, I couldn’t get you an
elephant, but how I loved that you asked!”
If I ask God for an elephant and it’s in my best interest to
have one, He’ll give me an elephant. He can do anything. He can give any gift at
any time, perform any miracle in any way, answer any prayer exactly as we hope
He will. Or He can say no. But next time I hear “no” from Him, I’m also going
to envision Him saying, “Honey, I could get you the elephant if I knew it was
best for you, but it’s not. So the answer is no, but how I love that you
asked!”
He delights in our big asks! If they come from a God-seeking,
submitted heart—and He knows when they do—they bring Him great joy. So no more
asking for sweaters when it’s an elephant I really want to ask Him for. No more
trying to protect myself or God’s reputation. And if there’s an elephant you’re
praying for, I’d love to hear about it and pray with you.
