Father knows best.

“I want that!” Isabel pointed to a huge case of plastic foods. Right next to it sat the nearly-identical set she got last Christmas, the set she rarely plays with. Her voice was filled with conviction, but her father knew better. Rick gently redirected our daughter to another aisle in the toy store.

Sometimes we think we know what we want; we’re desperate to get it. But our Father knows better. He knows us better than we know ourselves – from the hairs on our heads to the deepest desires of our hearts.

Rick knew Ellie didn’t really want more play food. He knew there was something better just a few steps away. He knew there was something else she wanted even more than plastic pizza.

In the same way God gently guides us. Are we following? Do we trust Him to know what’s best for us?

Isabel could have stomped her feet and insisted on having that first sight, but she would have missed out on a greater treasure. If we fight and struggle against God’s will, we, too, will miss treasures. We will settle for less than the best and likely endure pain along the way.

This reminds me of The Tale of Three Trees. Have you heard it? There is a book review on my other site: Christian Children’s Book Review. It’s a timeless tale in which three trees dream of doing great things. Through the course of the book they realize God had bigger plans for them than they could have ever imagined.

We may think we know what we want, but God knows better.