If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11.

Have you ever heard the illustration of the weaver? One time a man came to a weaving room where they were working on a large rug. From underneath everything was in such disarray. Strings went in every direction; it was total confusion. However, when he saw the beautiful design on top of the rug, he realized the wisdom of the weaver.

This is the way it is when we see life from our side. The heavenly Weaver does not show us the finished design of His will; He has His own good purpose. All the struggles and trials and temptations we have to go through seem to be such a riddle. When we see God's finished product, His purpose on the end, then we see the beauty of every stitch that wove the fabric of our life.

We may never say God has not heard our prayer. However, an immediate answer would not always be a good gift. It is not like flipping on a light switch and there is the Lord. He does not answer when it is not wise. JAM 1:16-18 says, "Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

You see, there is perfection because God is perfect. We are evil, but we know how to give good gifts to our children. See how much more our heavenly Father, because of His perfection, gives good and perfect gifts. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth." We must understand that the Lord wants us to know His truth.

God's good gifts are not always a matter of prosperity; they are more likely to be seen in His correction and discipline. Many people prosper in this world; they have tremendous wealth, but that is not always where we see His good gifts. We must also look at His correction and discipline to see His good gifts.

In JOB 12:6 we read, "The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure [in this world]; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly." Why? They have received their portion in this life. They are wicked, thieves, and robbers, and yet they seem so secure.

We must understand that prosperity in this world is not a sure token of God's favor. The parable of the rich man teaches this principle in LUK 16:25, "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."