My son Colby texted me and asked if there are any hypoallergenic cats.  I told him that even the hairless Sphinx cat breed wasn’t considered entirely hypoallergenic.  He texted again and said his college room-mate in the  dorm really wanted a pet and they were considering a cat or a dog, but they were both slightly allergic to cats.  I quickly texted back sharing my vast knowledge that it wouldn’t be a great idea to have a cat in a dorm room as they meow and their litter boxes create a noxious odor.  Also, dogs bark and have to be taken outside to use the bathroom on campus,  in which case it would quickly become obvious that they had a prohibited pet.  I suggested a snake.  But, alas his room-mate desired a fluffy pet he could play with.  I suggested maybe finding a friend who lived in town who had a pet they would be willing to occasionally “share”  by inviting them over to play with their pet. 

The conversation would appear to all intelligent people to be over, but no.  The next question was, “Can I bring a cat home for the summer?”  I asked if he already had a cat.  Thank goodness the answer was a negative.  I asked why his room-mate couldn’t take the cat home for the summer, after all it did appear to be mostly his idea.  The answer to that came quickly enough, “His parents hate cats!”  I sighed.  I know how stubborn Colby can be.  As a child he was such a sweet little boy with an angelic little face, but when he set his mind to something he refused to give up.  I texted back, “Well, we have a cat who hates everything!” 

Does God sigh in His all-knowing parental wisdom when we insist on asking for what He knows will not work out for our best?  John 14:14 tells us, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  But, what does it mean to ask for something “in Jesus name”?  Take for example a teacher sends a student to the Custodial Director to ask for a roll of paper towels to clean up a spill in the class room.  The Custodial Director will give it to the student when he knows that it is the teacher who is requesting it through the student.  The student is asking for what the teacher requested not just making up something he felt like having, for instance a case of toilet paper to toilet paper all the trees outside the school for Halloween. While such shenanigans may be momentarily fun for the wayward student it will not benefit him long-term.  Paul tells us that, “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”  1Corinthians 1:25

“For But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.  1 Corinthians 2:9

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.  Jeremiah 29:11