Lord,

… we’ve been praying and I don’t understand your answer. We were encouraged to ask:

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Luke 11:9 KJV)

So, we did. We were also told:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:12-14 KJV)

We asked in your name – believing that what we were asking would be glorifying God for years to come.

What we were asking was for children – children who would be receiving food for their bodies as well as Thy word for their souls. They needed a building. The one that sheltered them was being sold.

As it was for you in Bethlehem, there would be no room for the children.

We also prayed for their teacher. Maria Elena loves those children. Her prayer partners do, too. We know our Lord does:

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3 KJV)

These children are not just examples, symbols, they are as we are to be when we come to our Lord.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matthew 18:4-7 KJV)

So, why wasn’t another door opened, to another building where these children could gather to be filled? That’s why we do not understand the answer.

Yet, we love you, Lord, and we still believe:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11 KJV)

I am reminded of words written by a newly widowed husband and father as he considered his loss and God’s sovereignty:

These things are the reason Job said those great words, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21b) We love to think that God gives, but we hate to accept that he also takes away. We have to accept that, trust him anyway, and bless the name of the Lord.

Always keep His word before me, as we continue to pray:

A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. (Psalms 103:1-6 KJV)

May we come to know and understand:

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19-20 KJV)

Amen.