p. 7 | Answered Prayer by Max Hill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jun 19, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 25.

Answered Prayer.

By Max Hill

A LITTLE child comes to its father and asks for a valued book containing many beautiful pictures. The father desires above all things to please his child, yet knows that the little hands are soiled, and unskilled in handling so large a book. He knows, too, that the little one could not read the book, nor even understand the pictures. The child pleads for the privilege, but still the father holds it back. At the same time he offers in the place of it another volume, simple and plain, tho beautiful, one that the child can readily understand and appreciate.

If he is well trained the child is content with the father's choice, and his request is granted. Not that he receives the exact thing he asked for, the very book; but back of the desire for the book was the desire to be happy, and the father, knowing what is best, grants the request. He gives that which will make the obedient child happy, and that which will train it to enjoy and understand the more beautiful book when it can understand and know how to use it.

So we come to our heavenly Father, and O, we want such great things, such fine things! We could not understand them, nor could we use them. It would not be safe at all for us to have them, and yet we plead and plead for the impossible. The Father grants that which would make us happy if we were content with His choice. He gives us that which will train us for the greater and more beautiful. Then shall we not accept what He gives as answer to our prayers? Our Father knows, and if it is the "Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," will He not give us "richly all things to enjoy?" MAX HILL.