Don’t Just Ask … Keep Asking!

Last Updated on March 20, 2018

“Mommy, have you seen the blue ball?” little Kellus asked while holding two small, plastic, white and green balls in his hands.

“No, Mommy hasn’t seen it,” I replied.

Two seconds later, “Mommy, have you seen the blue ball?”

“Son, Mommy just said no, I haven’t. Maybe it’s in your Toy Story house?”

Another two seconds passed.

“Mommy! Oh, Mommy! Have you seen the blue ball?” He’d sing his question as if it was a song with an upbeat. “Mommy!!!!” his voice raising louder and louder.

“Son…”

“But Mommy, have you seen the blue ball?”

With eyes almost bulging out of their sockets, I said with sarcasm, “Ask me again!”

He laughed at Mommy’s funny face and asked me again.

His persistence didn’t stop for another ten minutes, which is when he got distracted by the movie Despicable Me. Mothers out there who have toddlers know how persistent they are when they are asking for something. I mean, they keep on asking until they have it or eventually realize Mommy’s not budging if she has already said no.

In the beginning, the repeating questions would get under my skin — I mean, reaching my bones! But then the Lord gracefully taught me a lesson, which began to change my attitude about it. You see, our heavenly Father is just that — our Father. And so several Scriptures tell us that we should ask the Lord for whatever it is we need and desire. In Matthew 7:7, it says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” In context, to ask means to keep asking, to seek means to keep seeking, and to knock means to keep knocking.

I find that children understand this concept almost immediately out of the womb. Even my two-week-old daughter demonstrates her persistence. If she is hungry, she won’t stop crying until Mommy comes to feed her. Children have faith in their parents that they will eat and drink. They don’t doubt that when lunchtime is here, they’ll have something prepared for them. They don’t doubt that if they are looking for a toy (like my son), Mommy is the one who can solve the mystery like one of Winnie the Pooh’s Super Sleuths. They trust. And like a child, so should we.

One thing God has shown me through all of this is that I should always trust that he’s my heavenly Father who cares about my needs. He doesn’t want us to keep asking, as if he needs a reminder. Instead, he wants us to continue trusting and believing, even if he doesn’t answer us right away. As Moms, there is so much that we find ourselves constantly asking God for. We need rest. We need patience. We need strength. We need endurance to run this race as Moms. We need a lot! But how wonderful is it to know that God hears our requests and will refresh us, even if at times it feels like we still haven’t received the patience, strength, and endurance. Our God supplies all of our needs. And I have a feeling that in this world, we’ll find ourselves constantly asking God to give us more of each. So, I encourage you to keep on asking — just like our persistent toddlers — and let’s be as persistent and trusting in God!

Kennisha Griffin

is the author of eight inspirational books and has served the writing community for over 15 years as a mentor and literary coach. As a writer, her mission is to tell family and faith-focused stories that provide hope and healing. Kennisha and her family live in Central Texas where she is a mom to seven adorable, spunky kids. She’s the founder and CEO of Create and Blossom Literary Studios – a book writing, publishing, and publicity firm that helps authors write their books and establish their new careers. You can learn more about Create and Blossom Literary Studios at www.createandblossomstudios.com. Visit Kennisha’s author website at www.kennishagriffin.com.