“Mimi, you know that thing that’s inside an M&M—that seed?” asked Rosie, my four year old granddaughter.

“You mean the peanut inside the M&M?”

“Yes! A peanut is a seed, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes.”

“Well, why don’t we take an M&M and plant it, and have an M&M tree in our yard?”

“Because the peanut in the M&M has been roasted, cooked, and chocolate added to it; it won’t sprout into an M&M tree.”

“Mimi, you don’t understand! I would put it in dirt in a pot! I would water it! I wouldn’t forget it! I would remember to water it!

This dialogue did not end happily, as Rose was convinced that she had an original and entirely doable idea. Eventually and reluctantly she resigned herself, and never, to my knowledge, actually planted an M&M.

I believe that in our relationship to our supernatural God we many times say in our hearts, “You don’t understand!” Some even spend a lifetime believing that God does not understand their minds and hearts. Everyone has corners that he or she believes are untouchable by the God of Truth.

However, the Bible testifies to God’s closeness to us, His divine presence in our innermost being: His word is in my heart like a fire , a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:9) He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever–the Spirit of Truth. ( John 14:16-17)

Rose thought I didn’t understand, because she felt that she, herself, could make happen what she desired. This is the very story of each of us: that we can shape our own lives to be exactly as we want them. When God answers prayers in ways we don’t desire, we just believe that He doesn’t understand! Many times we fail to pray at all in the secret certainty that He doesn’t understand.

Human Beings are the only life form on earth who were created just for God, and in His very image (Genesis 1:2). It is inevitable that He would desire to be close to and communicating with people. We think that God doesn’t understand, but we are wrong: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ( 2 Corinthians 6:16)

Love in Him,

Prue