Do you remember the sitcom Father Knows Best? Seen today on a retro channel, this series originally aired in the 1950’s & 1960’s. It is about a typical family of 5 with funny, lovable characters and a wise, loving father who deals with real life situations.
Do you remember the anxiety before your first dance? Did you ever find a wounded bird that you wanted to take care of? How about fixing your friend up with a date only to realize that you wished the date was with you? These are typical situations that arise on the show. And whatever advice is needed or whatever sticky situations come up, who has the answers? The father of course, who always knows best.
After our recent Father’s Day celebration, it seemed appropriate to talk about fathers. So, how about your father? Does he have all the answers like the father on Father’s Knows Best? Maybe our fathers have some of the answers, but not all of them. With one exception.
WHO HAS ALL THE ANSWERS?
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
When we need advice or are stuck in a sticky situation, He can give us an answer.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and
His ways past finding out!
Romans 11:33
Yes, He has all the answers. But sometimes we don’t receive answers right away or at least the answers that we think are best. We then wonder; “Does God hear me?” “Is God saying No?” “Does God want to answer?”
In the day of my trouble
I will call upon You.
For You will answer me,
Psalm 86:7
Because God loves us, He does want to answer. His answer may be an immediate “yes,” a “wait,” or a “no” depending upon what is best for us.
HOW ABOUT HANNAH’S REQUEST?
1 Samuel 1:1-28
Hannah was one of Elkanah’s two wives. His wife Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. For years Hannah longed for a child yet remained barren. One day she prayed;
“O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on
the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me,
and not forget Your maidservant,
but will give Your maidservant a male child,
then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life,”
1 Samuel 1:11
Finally, Hannah conceived and gave birth to Samuel. As she promised, Samuel grew up in the Lord’s service becoming a prophet and an influential judge over the Israelites. He appointed both King Saul and King David.
WHY ARE OUR ANSWERS DELAYED?
OUR HEARTS
Sometimes our hearts need to change before we are ready to receive our request. We don’t know why the Lord didn’t answer Hannah right away. Could it have been that her heart needed to change first? Was it full of anger and unforgiveness because she was barren? Was it full of jealousy because Peninnah had children? When we ask, He will reveal our hearts to us.
IMPACT ON OTHERS
What impact will the answer “yes” have on others? Hannah’s heart may have been pure, but perhaps the delay was due to those Samuel would impact. How could Samuel appointment kings who were not yet born? As a judge were there particular Israelites he needed to influence? For Samuel to fulfill the Lord’s plans, he needed to be born at the perfect time. Could this be why Hannah had to wait for years to receive her request?
OUR PROTECTION
We don’t know the situations Hannah or Samuel would have encountered if he had been born at a different time.
Only the Lord knows if his birth was delayed for their protection. How about us? Have you ever wanted to get married, change jobs or move and felt the Lord was saying, “no” or “wait?” At the time His answer confused and upset you. Later you found the location, job or person was not what you thought. The Lord’s answer of “no” or “wait” had protected you.
IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD THE LORD’S ANSWER YET,
KEEP PRAYING.
ASK FOR FAITH
• TO WAIT FOR HIS ANSWER.
• TO TRUST IN HIS PERFECT TIMING.
• TO TRUST IN HIS PERFECT PLAN.
Our loving Heavenly Father knows the best answer, the best timing, the best plan and our heart. He alone knows our future, how to protect us and how our desire impacts us and others. Let’s trust in Him to reveal our hearts and wait on Him to reveal His perfect plan because our loving Heavenly Father always knows best.
As for God, His way is perfect,
the word of the Lord is proven,
He is a shield to all who trust in Him,
2 Samuel 22:31
REFLECTION
Can you have faith for God’s answer?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Romans 11:33 and say it aloud, grow my faith to trust that You know best. Give me patience and faith to trust in Your answer, Your timing and Your plan. Reveal any changes that need to happen in my heart to walk in Your ways. In Jesus name, Amen.
IN FAITH,
TRUST THAT
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS BEST
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo man/child, ddimitrova
