“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[ a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will I give him a scorpion? Luke 11:11-12
While serving at my new job at a church, I liked to walk around the neighborhood and pray for our church, the neighbors, and the school system. Each morning, I would walk around the parking lot, praying over the various parts of the town. One area that I wanted to pray for is the youth group.
Given that the former youth volunteer was stepping down from the ministry, we had no one to replace him. We had to cancel a youth group because no one would help lead it. Every morning on my prayer walks, I would pray for a leader to emerge so the kids could have a good youth program. Yet, week after week would pass, and no leaders would emerge.
After the welcome, I gave up praying. It felt as if God had forgotten my request. Although I never saw a new youth leader emerge from that church, I let my discouragement keep me from appreciating the gift of prayer and talking to God about these problems.
It is easy in our daily lives to give up on prayer. If we have prayed for something for many months—or even years—to no avail, it's easy to want to give up on it. It can feel as if God is giving us a snake when we're asking for bread. My prayer request was not unreasonable: with the influx of interested kids participating in the program, we needed a new youth leader. Yet, God, in his sovereignty, decided that wasn't his will for that church. At least, not yet.
In its context, the above verse encourages us to pray for anything. The verse before the one above tells us that if we knock on the doors of heaven, God will surely answer. He also says that if something is in God's will, he will fulfill it.
When we've prayed for something for a long time and see no progress, it is easy to believe that God doesn't care about our request. It may also feel as if God is rejecting us or our requests. It can become easy to neglect prayer—or even stop praying altogether.
Yet the verse above tells us that God is good. He will give us what we ask for. When we need bread to sustain us, he will give us just as much bread as we need. He will not give us anything that could harm us or deter our growth. Instead, God, in his provision, will give us not only the bread we need to come up with just enough to survive the day.
Ask yourself: What am I asking God for today? Do you have something deep within the recesses of your heart that you've been praying for, that you have not seen come to fruition? Ask God to renew your prayer life. Shift your perspective from one of God being a genie in a bottle to one of God being a good father. Good fathers gave their children exactly what they needed. He never neglects them nor allows them to starve. Instead, he gives them everything they need so they cannot only survive but also thrive.
Renew your hope and prayer. Even if you stopped praying for something that you know you or someone else needs, commit to praying for it. God, who is your good father, will always give you exactly what you need.
Father, let us be people who not only realize our need for bread, but are bold enough to ask for it. Let us trust that you are a good father who will never give us a snake or anything that would deter us or hinder our survival. Even when things look bleak, let us trust that you are at work. Even if we have given up on praying for something, let us make today the day we start praying fervently again for our deep-seated requests. Let us trust in your provision, knowing that you will give us exactly what we need right when we need it. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tinnakorn Jorruang
Related Resource: Let Go, Trust, and Stay Rooted When Life Feels Unsteady
When life feels unsteady, many of us respond by holding tighter, trying harder, and carrying more than we were meant to bear. But Jesus offers a different way. In this episode of Unhurried Living, Gem Fadling is joined by Yvette Henry, writer, speaker, and author of Release, Rest, Remain, for a thoughtful conversation about learning to let go, trust God, and stay rooted in his presence when life feels overwhelming.
Drawing from Jesus’ words in John 15, this conversation explores what it means to release the pressure to hold everything together, rest in God’s love, and remain spiritually grounded in the middle of real life. Together, they reflect on spiritual exhaustion, the invitation to abide rather than strive, and how spiritual fruit grows naturally when we stay connected to God.
This episode is for anyone longing for peace, stability, and a deeper sense of trust when life feels uncertain. If this episode helps you recenter your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 05 March 2026.
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