“Okay, here are the rules,” Marty said. “You can do whatever you
want, wherever you want,whenever you want until
someone tells you no.” Those were our instructions on our first visit to our friends’ lake
house. Marty and his wife, Lynn, who enjoy entertaining, give their guests lots
of freedom to enjoy themselves. When we noticed the sailboat next to the
paddleboat next to the pontoon boat, we knew we were in for a fun afternoon.
Marty told us no only once—when he saw that we were about to feed the
swans that swam up next to us. He knew that if the birds were fed once, they
would become aggressive if they didn’t get fed the next time.
Adam and Eve lived in the most beautiful locale, and they too had lots
of freedom. However, when God said no, they resisted (Gen. 3). He told them not
to eat from a certain tree, but they thought they knew better.
Adam and Eve would have kept good company with a lot of us. Sometimes we
can’t understand why our heavenly Father says no. When that happens, He can
help us to adjust our thinking. We need to realize that even as He denies us,
He’s saying to our hearts, “You can trust Me. I know what is best.
God may deny our request, but He will never disappoint our trust. (RBC)
