The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 16:21-24, “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

22 “Therefore, you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

When was the last time you asked the LORD for something? Don’t give me that! It was today, wasn’t it? We are always in need of something; and for the Christian, asking his heavenly Father is his first line of defense.

Strange as it may seem, human fathers are often eager to hear their children ask for things. “Why, I didn’t know you even liked fishing!” a father jokes, as he basks in the boy’s joy over his new fishing rod. Dads know how it goes.

Just imagine how delighted the LORD is to hear us ask of Him those intangible things that only He can provide. Faith is but one intangible. It is trust in the LORD. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him,” the Scriptures say (Heb. 11:6). Have you never had your dad hint at providing something you had desperately wanted? Just knowing he could produce it was sufficient for him.

The LORD is like that. There is so much He can provide – and He wants to provide it! He just wants us to ask. “If you ask the Father for anything in My name,” Jesus says, “He will give it to you.” What do you desperately need – not just want—need?

If the fellowship with Christ Jesus is what it ought to be, and if it accrues to your spiritual benefit, and that of others, He will provide it. You only need to ask. Did He not say, “…whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all”? (Matt. 21:22). I’m trying to be patient. What about you?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom