God wisely withholds harmful requests, giving what is truly best for us.
"God knoweth what is best for us. Like foolish children, we desire a knife; but, like a wise father, he giveth us bread." It would be a most unfatherly thing for a man to give his son that which would cause his death. The largest generosity must refuse some requests, when it is a higher kindness to withhold than to bestow. The limit which is set to prayer—namely, that if we ask anything in accordance with God's will he heareth us—is just such a limit as love on God's part must fix, and as prudence on our part must approve. Would we have the Lord act according to our ignorance or according to his own wisdom? Shall our uninstructed self become the arbiter of God's providence? Assuredly no Christian in his senses would propose such an arrangement. If it could be proposed and carried out it would place us in daily jeopardy, and work, at its very best, most sadly to our loss. If we could have our own will absolutely it would be wise not to have it, but to divest ourselves of the horrible privilege. How much more restful are our minds, now that we know that our Father arranges all things, than could possibly be the case if the responsibility of management rested with ourselves. Like Phaeton, who sought to drive the chariot of the sun, we should soon perish by our own folly if the reins of providence were placed in our feeble hands. It is better far that the rule should be, "not as I will, but as thou wilt." Lord, give me not what I ask, but what I should ask, yea, what thou seest to be most for thy glory.
