All that I desire

I was reading Mark 10 this morning and the audacity of verse 35 struck me like never before. 

James and John, come to the Lord and they say "Master,we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You." 

Excuse me??? James and John, did I hear you correctly? You are telling the Lord of Creation to give you whatever you want??

Earlier in the chapter we see two examples of what happens when man is given whatever he wants. 

First in verses 1-12 the Lord is teaching about divorce. He explains that divorce was only allowed because of the hardness of the hearts of men. God gave them what they wanted and in the process families were destroyed and sin continued.

Then in verses 17-31 we see the story of the rich young ruler. He had been extremely blessed with material things. He had everything that he wanted and those very things became the barrier that kept him from following Christ and gaining eternal life. 

Do we really want God to give us what we want? How often are we like James and John, making demands of the Lord Most High about what we think is best for us?

I know in my own life that I have recently seen myself doing this very thing. I was chasing after something that was not mine to have. God had clearly shown me that and yet I was angry with Him for not giving me what I wanted. How thankful I am that our God is a loving Father who gives us what is best for us. He did not give me what I wanted and I am so thankful. Rather He reminded me that He has already given me all that I need in the person of His Son the Lord Jesus and His work on the cross. 
May I never forget the lesson that I have learned!