It would be a terrible thing if God always gave us what we asked for, as we would never be able to pray with confidence. We would always be afraid of making an awful mistake. Martin Lloyd-Jones wrote: “I thank God that He is not prepared to do anything that I chance to ask Him, and I say that as a result of my own experience. In my past life I, like many others, have often asked God for things, which at the time I wanted very much and which I believed were the very best things for me. But now, standing at this particular juncture in my life and looking back, I can say that I am profoundly grateful to God that He did not grant me certain things for which I asked, and that He shut certain doors in my face. At the time I did not understand, but I know now, and am grateful to God for it. So I thank God that this is not a universal promise, and that God is not going to grant me every desire and request. God has a much better way for us…”

Cited by Nicky Gumbel in The Jesus Lifestyle, 2010, London: Alpha International, p.209-210