Sascha’s Tears

“Sa –scha.”
“But Daddy!”
“No, Sascha.”
“But Daddy, I didn’t get to play very much.” the four year old whined as her older brothers started putting away the Wii.

“No,” Daddy said again, “It’s time to put the game away.”

But Sascha didn’t give up. Determined, she walked over to where her dad was sitting. Placing one hand on each of his knees, she leaned forward, looked straight into his eyes, “P-l-e-a-s-e, Daddy.” she cried.

When that didn’t work, just to make sure he really understood her request, she held up her finger, “Just one more game. ONE more. That’s all.” Daddy lovingly, but firmly, said no once again.

Sascha finally gave up and burst into tears.  Standing right there in front of her daddy, she just let it all out. While she cried her eyes out, she climbed up into her daddy’s lap. He didn’t try to get her to stop crying. Instead, he lovingly placed his arms around her, as she buried her head in his chest and wept.

Mind you, Sascha’s crying wasn’t a final attempt to get her dad to change his mind. She understood that he wasn’t going to budge. There was no way she was going to get to play the Wii anymore that night. Sascha’s tears were sincere tears of sadness. But in the midst of feeling distraught, it was still to her daddy that she turned for comfort

When Sascha continued crying after a few minutes, “W-h-a-t, what’s this?” Daddy asked all of a sudden. As Sascha lifted her tear-streaked face, he said with a smile. “Why is my shirt wet? Is it raining in the house?”

“No,” she answered tearfully. Then she softly continued, “It’s…it’s because of my tears. See…I was crying.” As her daddy dried her tears, Sascha finally started to smile.

Little Sascha showed more insight than most adults that evening. She presented her request to her father. But, when he didn’t give her what she wanted – what she pleaded for – she didn’t turn to her mother or her grandparents, who were also in the room, for support. Instead, even though she was clearly upset and frustrated, she crawled up into her daddy’s lap, the one who denied her of her heart’s desire.

When we pray, asking God over and over for something – something specific, something important – but we don’t get the answer we seek, what do we do? Where do we turn? Do we get angry? The Bible says that nothing is impossible for God. So if things don’t turn out the way we want or the way we think they should, do we then blame God? Do we find ourselves accusing God of not caring? Do we doubt God’s love or feel He loves our friends more because it seems He always grants their requests?

When in the midst of a “no,” it’s hard to acknowledge that the same God, who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, still loves us with an everlasting love, and that HE alone knows what’s best for us. It would be easy to let that disappointment and anger cause us to turn away from Him. Why pray if He’s “not going to answer.”

Matthew 7:7 reminds us that if we know how to give the good gifts to our children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give what is good to us. Romans 8:28 reassures us that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose. It doesn’t say all things will “be” good, but that He works all things “for” good. That means that even in the denying of our deepest wishes and desires, He is still at work, whether we can see it or not.

So, the next time you are denied your heart’s desire, or feel God just isn’t answering your prayers, follow Sascha’s example. Don’t turn away from God. Instead, crawl up into your Heavenly Father’s lap and pour out your heart to Him. Let Him wrap you in His loving arms and dry your tears.

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.    Psalms 55:22 (NASB)