A Question of Uncertainty

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

A good parent would never give a child a gift that would intentionally cause harm. You never see parents give knives to their children as presents. Why is that? Because they would hurt themselves or someone else. Now, a young man might need a pocketknife, per se, but a five-year-old—not so much. Timing and opportunity are everything.

God will never give us something that goes against His character. There are so many opportunities that arise throughout our lives that we are sometimes unsure about, but God will never hand you something that goes against His character.

In Philippians chapter 4, Paul reminds us that we should dwell on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Anything contrary to these things is not from God. In all things, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and help us discern what is from God and what is not.

God will also never cause something to happen to us that goes against His purpose and plan for our lives. When His Word and His will integrate, that is the point of breakthrough. It’s all about timing and opportunity. Every gift He gives will be in congruence with His Word and will.

Many people get the impression that God makes life too confusing and that we can’t understand what His will is. On the contrary, He wants it to be clear. He wants to show us the way, but we have to recognize what lines up with His Word and what doesn’t and then seek His Spirit for confirmation. When we know His Word, we can better understand His will and recognize the opportunities He wants us to take. The Lord doesn’t give a gift one moment too soon, and He never gives something that would thwart His plan for our lives.

God tells us that if we remain in Him, we can ask whatever we want, and it will be done (John 15:7). This verse has eluded so many. People ask for something and when it doesn’t happen, they become bitter and ask God why He promises things if He doesn’t carry through. But the Lord doesn’t say, “Ask whatever you want and it’s yours,” He says, “If you remain in me…”

Perception is key. What we perceive to be right is not always right and not always good, but if we abide in Him, our will begins to look like His will because we learn to want what He wants. Our prayers, then, are congruent with His desire for our lives, and we receive exactly what we need the moment we need it.

We don’t have to go back and forth wondering if something is from God or not—we can know without doubting because when our desires are His desires, we ask, and it is done for us. When you abide in Him, your desires are His will because you are one with Him.

Abiding in the Father—this is where questions have answers and where confusion becomes certainty.