That's Asking a Lot

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

Psalm 4:1

Do you ever feel that you ask too much of God? Or ask too often? Does it seem you are forever bringing needs to God? Do you ever wonder if God gets tired of you asking?

Consider David in the Psalms. David is forever asking God. He is continually bringing requests to God. Glance through the Psalms written by David: They are full of requests. Desperate and urgent requests. And there's no sense that he feels badly about it, that he asks too much. He just comes, unself-consciously, unashamedly, unpretentiously, and asks!

For example, consider the Psalms around Psalm 4:

Arise, O Lord!

     Save me, O my God! (3:7a)

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

     Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (4:1b)

O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;

     in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (5:3)

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness

     because of my enemies;

     make your way straight before me. (5:8)

Did God mind all of David's asking? Did God grow weary?

No. Not at all. David was dependent. Child-like dependent. Humbly dependent. Not at all like a proud and self-reliant king. More like a dependent child who trusts his father.

No. God didn't mind that at all.