If He wanted to, He would

I can already imagine the eye-rolls from some guys seeing this title and the emphatic nods from some ladies saying, “Yup.” But before you jump to conclusions, keep reading because I guarantee we are not thinking about the same thing.

Yesterday, I was talking to my sister, when she said something that stuck out to me: “God is so funny because He could easily make this become this like that, but He didn't." It got me thinking. There are so many moments in our lives where God could do something instantly. If He wanted to, He would... right?

I remember this one creator on TikTok who always came for people in 5 seconds without even saying hi. One that lives rent-free in my head is: If you were really ready for what you’re asking God for, don’t you think He would’ve already given it to you?

Whew. Clocked my tea.

But that’s a genuine question. It made me reflect on how often we pray—sometimes even beg—for things. But in truth, many of us aren’t even preparing to receive them. We're not aligning ourselves with what we’re asking for. We want the promise without the preparation. The blessing without the becoming.

Let me paint a picture for you: A child is at a fair with their parent. The child sees an ice cream stand and really wants a cone—starts tugging at their parent’s hand, pleading, “Can I have some, please?” But the parent, knowing they’re about to go on a ride that could make them sick, gently says, “Not right now.”

To the child, it might feel like the parent is being unfair. If they wanted to get them ice cream, they would, right? But the parent does want to—it’s just not the right time. They care about the child’s joy, but also their well-being.

I don’t know about you, but I am that child. I’ve asked God for things that seemed harmless. Things that I thought would bring me nothing but happiness. And yet—silence. But God sees the whole picture— He holds the frame. He knows what’s ahead. He knows what we’re ready for—and what we’re not.

 I'm reminded of science lab back in school. For many experiments, there was a very specific step-by-step procedure. You couldn’t just rush through. Sometimes you had to wait—until the solution turned deep blue, for example—before adding the next ingredient. But sometimes there was always that one student who got impatient. Instead of waiting for the deep blue color, they saw light blue and figured it was close enough for them to start. Their beaker would overheat, crack, or bubble over. Not only did they not get the result they wanted, but they also made a mess—sometimes ruining their whole experiment.

 

That’s what it’s like when we try to force God’s hand. We settle for "good enough" when He’s preparing perfect. And in our own impatience, we risk messing up what was meant to be a blessing.

Sound familiar? 

Now let me hit you with a Biblical example. Did you know the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land was only supposed to take 10 days? But it ended up taking 40 years. God had already made a way for them. He parted the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven, guided them day and night. If He wanted to, He would—and He did! But their complaining, disobedience, and impatience prolonged their journey.

Sometimes we think, “God could just make this easier.” But often, He already is helping—we’re just too focused on what we lack to see what He's doing.

Let’s be real for one second:

We want the easy way out.

We want people to behave the way we want them to.

We want money to fall into our accounts.

We want the dream job, the dream body, the dream partner.

We want. We want. We want.

And when God doesn’t give us what we want, we pout and cross our arms. In this way God can be likened to a partner that just isn't doing what we want them to do. "You say you love me, but your lack of action is saying otherwise."

However, I have learned that God is NOT like us. God isn’t like people. He doesn’t ghost us. He doesn’t forget us. He doesn’t withhold blessings out of spite or pride.  He will do exactly what He says He will do. He's just very meticulous about how He goes about things based on which child He is dealing with.

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that He’s not slow in keeping His promises, but patient, wanting all of us to grow and be ready. Remember the story of Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus was a short tax collector—God could have made him tall, but He didn't. Instead, God ensured that a sycamore tree was planted in just the right place, so years later, Zacchaeus would have something to climb when Jesus passed by. That one detail—that one moment—led to Zacchaeus’ salvation. And that’s exactly how God moves in our lives—strategically, personally, and perfectly.

There are people you need to meet.

Words you need to write.

Songs you need to hear.

Places you need to be.

And God is working all of that together.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." That verse humbles me every time. His “no” or “not yet” isn’t rejection. It’s protection. It’s timing. It’s love. He cares so deeply for us that He would rather have us moping in the silence rather than placing us in a storm we’re not ready to face—just because we think it’s time.

One verse that has kept me grounded for past three years, "When the time is right, I the Lord, will make it happen." And I think it's the perfect response to "If He wanted to, He would," because He will, when it’s His time.

Love always,

God's Most Talkative Child