While nursing a terrible cold the other day, I sat flipping channels on the TV. At first, I tried the Food Network but found no interest in cooking wild boar or Tofu-Mexican fusions. Next, I checked out the History Channel and watched a program on the life of Benjamin Franklin, which led to a quick five-minute nap. Finally, I landed on the Disney movie Frozen at the midway point.

Anna and Kristoff are in search of Queen Elsa, who turned her kingdom into a snow compound and fled, fearing that she would turn everyone into human popsicles. During Anna’s hard journey, she and her plucky sidekick Kristoff bump into a unique snowman named Olaf.

Olaf is naïve, but full of joy. When he meets people, he introduces himself and says, “I love warm hugs!” Who doesn’t? But for a snowman, that’s an unusual thing to say. Soon, the beloved little creature sings, “In Summer.” He croons:

I’ll see a summer breeze blow away a winter storm
And find out what happens to solid water when it gets warm
And I can’t wait to see what my buddies all think of me
Just imagine how much cooler I’ll be
In summer.

Winter’s a good time to stay in and cuddle
But put me in summer, and I’ll be a happy snowman …

You can’t help but smile at the ludicrous thought of a snowman desiring warmth. Yet, it is what Olaf wants. His innocent thoughts about something harmful bring him joy.

Don’t we pray that way as well? We want something that we believe will make us happy, and when God denies it, we throw a fit and question His goodness.

Matthew 7:9-11 says, “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

In pastor Al Mohler’s sermon on Matthew 7:7-12, he says:

On that day when we see no longer through a glass darkly, but we see

Him face to face, there will be a lot that we understand. There

are things that have happened to us we thought were bad, but then we

see, they were for our good. They’ll be things we thought we wanted

and didn’t get, things chosen that God denied, and plans

that came to nothing. We think all these things are a

tragedy, but then we will see that in everything, for the redeemed,

God was working for our good. (Paraphrased)

God acts in ways we do not understand. What might seem reasonable and life-changing to us is not beneficial. If God answered a prayer request that will either stunt our spiritual growth or cause us future harm, then He will cease being our loving Father.

But we’re a stubborn lot. We want what we want and look for ways to fulfill our desires. When things do not work out, we become bitter and back-bite those we are jealous of.

James 4:2-3 says, “You lust and do not have, so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Friend, rest. Cast your burdens onto a God who knows your heart better than you know your own. Stop your anxious thoughts from thinking things that will betray your love for Christ and give birth to a sinful response. Whatever you long for is not worth coming between you and your Savior.

God is good. He looks forward to giving you what is best according to His will.