God is Not a Genie

I recently had someone comment on one of my older blog posts that God doesn't answer our prayers. His reasoning for this was that we would pray as young children for ponies or to bring a pet back to life, but those things didn't happen.

He went further to state that we only pray for small things like safety and to have a nice day. And then, he said that Jesus doesn't answer prayers because he can't hear us because he is dead.

I feel sad that this man hasn't yet learned to recognize answers to prayers or to feel the Spirit testifying to him that God does live, as does his son Jesus Christ.

God and Jesus Christ do live! Joseph Smith, after reading James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." he knelt in prayer to seek which of the churches to join. At that time, he not only received an answer to his earnest prayer, but he also saw both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. From his vision, we also know that God and Jesus are not only alive, but they have bodies.

Furthermore, God does answer our prayers. I don't think praying for safety is a "small" thing. It's huge! I know that those prayers have been answered multiple times within my own family. One such occurrence I detail in this blog post called "A Miracle." My three youngest children as well as some of my nieces and nephews narrowly avoided severe injury or death. I know it was because of our own pleas for safety prior to our activity that they were protected.

My in-laws were recently in a car
wreck that could have ended much worse when the trailer they were towing fishtailed and flipped. Yet, they were unscathed.

It's not just safety that is a big thing I pray for. I have asked for and received peace on numerous occasions. I have received answers when I have prayed for a specific child. In the quiet moments, a thought is put in my mind of something I ought to do, a person I should call, or an answer to something I have been pondering. I think those of us who have earnestly sought answers from our Father have received answers.

God is not a genie in a lamp that is there to grant your every wish and desire. He is an all-knowing Father who loves us and is aware of our every need. He wants us to come to him for help and to seek to do His will and help others draw closer to Him through prayer and by living His word. He wants us to become like Him.

Just as our earthly parents, or us as parents do not give everything to our children that they want, so it is with God. He knows clearly what is best and is striving to help us become who He knows we can be. He doesn't give us everything just because we ask for it; He wants us to seek after it, work toward it, study for answers. We are on earth to learn and grow as individuals.

If you're not used to praying, start with this simple exercise. Pray to God ask Him if you are His child and if He loves you. Stay on your knees praying until you get an answer. It will come.

© Wendy 2015