Ask… and It Shall Be Given
A girl deep in thought with her hands on her chin.
That story in Luke 15 resonates deeply with me. The younger son walked up to his father and asked for his inheritance, and the father gave it to him. No hesitation. No lecture. He simply gave.
It reminds me of a little "family conference" we had years ago. My eldest ( let us call them IA 1) wanted a Nintendo. I explained that we couldn't afford it, but they weren’t convinced and wanted proof. So I got up, found my wage slip, and laid it all out in front of the child.
There they were, this little child, carefully calculating: how much Mum earns, what goes to bills, what's left over. After a long pause, they looked up and said, "We don't have money. Mum, are we poor?"
That moment still makes me laugh every time I think about it.
Meanwhile, their younger sibling (IA 2) had quietly put in a birthday request for a guitar. IA 1, armed with their new financial expertise, reasoned that I simply couldn't afford it. But here's the thing, IA 2 got his guitar. I looked around, found one, and made it happen.
Because sometimes, reasoning talks us out of things we could have had.
Think of Caleb's daughter in Joshua 15. Her husband sent her to her father, and the moment she dismounted from her camel, her father asked, "What do you want me to give you?" She didn't shrink back. She boldly asked for a well on top of what had already been given. And she received it.
Or think again about the prodigal son. When he finally came to his senses and returned home, all he asked for was to be treated as a servant, because at least then he'd have food. But his father didn't make him a servant. He restored him as a son.
The Bible puts it plainly: "You do not have because you do not ask." (James 4:2)
So the question is, are you asking the right person?
Before the requests start flying, ask yourself: Do you know Him? Do you know His promises? They are scattered all over the Bible, and here's something that always humbles me: He honours His Word even above His own Name.
So ask. Ask boldly. But ask the One who can actually give.
Just as journaling or colouring helps us slow down and quiet the noise, faith gives us the clarity to ask well. The answers tend to come when we pause, reflect, and bring our requests to the right One.
I'm Ruthy, and I create colouring books, journals, and activity books to support the self-care and emotional wellness of busy mums and their families. If you haven't read my blog "The Street Performer," the follow-up story about what that guitar-birthday-boy got up to, go and find it. You'll laugh.
And if you want to know what that guitar eventually led to… let's just say the neighbours got involved. Keep an eye out for my next post!
And speaking of keeping little ones busy, are you getting ready for the school holidays?
👉 Browse confidence-building and screen-free activity books for children: Children's Confidence — Self Care Shop — Ruthy Michaels 👉 Or treat yourself to a journal or colouring book: Adult Self-Care — Self Care Shop — Ruthy Michaels
Bundles are also available. Go on, ask, and you shall be given. 😊
