A Mother's Request

A Lesson from Matthew 20

When my firstborn son was about to start kindergarten, there were two class options. One of those classes I believed was best for him; so I prayed that God would place him in that class. When I met with the principal, I made my request known to her, but after she interviewed my young child, she concluded that the other class would be a more suitable fit. This left me disheartened and concerned he wouldn’t do well in the other class.

This predicament reminded me of a Bible story from Matthew 20. The mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus with a request. She asked, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."

Jesus responded, "You don't know what you're asking!" He then asked the brothers, "Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?" They responded eagerly, "Yes!" But Jesus gave them a sobering reply, "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup" (most likely a reference to the suffering they would endure for their testimony). He continued, "I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."

As parents, we naturally want the best for our children. However, what we perceive as the best may not align with God's plan. So, how can we ensure our prayers for our children align with His will?

Firstly, PRAY as Jesus instructed us, "your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." This means we must hold our plans loosely, allowing God to guide our decisions; just as Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane, not my will, but yours be done.

Secondly, SEEK WISDOM. As James 1:5-6 advises, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Lastly, do the NECESSARY RESEARCH to make an informed decision, and then trust God to grant you wisdom to make the right choice.

The beauty of God's grace is that even when we pray amiss or make mistakes, He can use those experiences for good. God's goodness can overrule and oversee our errors!

It's been almost thirty-five years since I prayed for what I thought was the "best" kindergarten class for my son. As it turned out, his assigned teacher was one of the most influential educators he had throughout his elementary years. You see God overruled my prayer and provided what was truly best for my son!

What is your prayer for your children or loved ones? Today, trust in the LORD; call on His name, seek his will and wisdom, for He is a good, good Father! Amen?

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