Answered Prayers

As adults it is so hard to understand why God does not give us the answers that week seek and pray for sometimes. I can remember as a child, my mom always told me that sometimes God tells us no. He gives us an answer but it is might not be the one we wanted. We had to explain this to Grace this week when our sweet friend, Jenny Bizaillion went home to Heaven to be made whole again.


At dinner Monday night, we told Grace that Mrs. Jenny had died and we needed to pray for Mr. David & Malaya and the rest of her family because they were sad right now. Grace got upset and told us she did not understand. My 5 1/2 year old looked me in the eyes and told me, "Mommy, you said that when we pray, God answers our prayers. But I prayed to God that he would help Mrs. Jenny get better but she didn't. I told God that he did not need her with him because Malaya needed her Mommy! Mommy, God did not answer my prayer!"

You could say it caught me by surprise. It was not a conversation I was honestly prepared to have with a 5 year old. I looked her in the eyes and told her what my Mamma told me. I said, "Grace, God always answers our prayers. However, sometimes he tell us no and gives us an answer that we don't want. God decided that he needed Mrs. Jenny in heaven with him."

My very wise daughter looked at me and said, "So Mamma, it is like when I ask you for something and you and Daddy tell me no because you know I don't need it? Maybe I need something else?"

If only it was that simple for us to accept. As with all of us, she was so sad. However, knowing that God needed Mrs. Jenny in Heaven was enough for her. Oh to be like a child and accept that answer so easily. We don't know why God took her so young but we do know we have Him to lean on. Maybe that is part of the lesson. We don't have to know why but to trust in Him and lean on Him in our prayers.