A really good God would give us what we want, right?

And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared. — Exodus 16:21b

No longer seven-years-old, we get why God didn’t answer our prayers when we asked for a full-scale, amusement park authentic cotton candy machine—even though for an entire year we REALLY wanted one. And, having the whole hindsight thing, we see why God didn’t answer the prayer for the job we thought we HAD to have because losing one job enabled something far better to come along.

But why doesn’t God just give us want we want? Why does God give us things in pieces, in bits and drabs? If we got even half of the things we really wanted then we’d leave Him alone for a while. Doesn’t God know that?

Here in Exodus 16, God gives the Israelites what they need, which is food. But there’s a catch. God only gives them enough for the day. This food—which is called manna—arrives each morning but, when the sun does become hot, the flakes they haven’t gathered melt and disappear.

Humdinger. That means they can’t hoard this stuff. They can’t stuff this manna in a cotton candy machine (that I imagine would have to be refrigerated, no?) and go about their lives for a while, turning to God only when the supply runs low again.

Why do we have to keep coming to God? Isn’t that monotonous? Boring? Needing God for DAILY bread? Egad, that would require us to be dependent, on some proverbial short leash.

Which is exactly what God wants. Why? Because this is best for us.

Keep trying the independent thing. Keep growling at (or ignoring) God when your wish list isn’t complete. Or realize a daily relationship with God is pretty cool, and sometimes is a lot of fun.

God knows what we don’t. God does what we can’t. We may not want to admit this, but there are times none of us are that far from being seven-years-old. We see pain as pain, and loss as loss, and we want both to go away. We want to play God and dole out love and justice on our terms in our own way. We want that euphoric feeling like a cotton candy rush for ourselves and for our neighbors—even if we aren’t sugar fans.

We have a really good God, an awesome God. Isn’t it time we stop our hoarding and our thinking that we have this? Because we don’t. Isn’t it time we stop asking for things and give God everything, including our independence, or willful want for control?

PRAYER: God, while I do not understand everything You do, let me understand that I can be like You (and used by You) when I come to You—each day. Amen.