From S. Michael Wilcox and his book “When Prayers Seem Unanswered”:
A number of years ago my oldest daughter went to Russia. This was before e-mail and the popular and convenient means of communication it has become. Russia was just opening up to the world, and she was going to teach English in Moscow. Our ability to communicate with her would be intermittent at best, and we were concerned about her welfare. In order for us to support her at such a long distance I decided to write some letters before she went just in case we couldn’t talk to her during her six month stay. She was just out of high school and, as a parent, I was concerned. I tried to imagine every problem, dilemma, emotion, concern, feeling of loneliness, elation (from high to low) she might experience in that time period. I then wrote a letter of counsel, comfort, or advice she could read there, since I couldn’t otherwise readily communicate with her. I labeled each letter on the outside: “When You’re Discouraged”; “When You Get Homesick”; “When You Are Tempted”; and so forth. During our goodbyes at the airport, I handed her the large packet of letters that I hoped would aid her in solving any concerns she might have.
I was not omniscient about everything she would face during those six months, but I did hit a number of them. Some of the letters she opened after her return home, just to see what I had written, even though she hadn’t faced that particular concern.
I believe there is a parallel to this situation in all of our lives. In a manner of speaking, the scriptures are like a handful of letters from our Father in Heaven, who has anticipated the questions and concerns we might have from time to time during our mortal existence. Unlike me, he knows all the varied and multiple experiences his children will face, and so he has provided answers for us before we even ask the questions, face the temptations, or are challenged by life’s trials.
During many years of teaching, I have been asked a number of questions, but one stands above the rest because of how often it has been asked and the number of different age groups that have shared its concern. It sometimes is phrased in different words, but the theme is essentially the same: “How do I get answers to prayer?” “Why does the Lord deal with us the way he deals with us?” Why, sometimes, do we appear not to get an answer at all?” “Why do others receive their desires and I do not?” “How can I know the answers are coming from God and not from my own mind?”
Maybe if I describe the details of an extreme case it will cover everything to a lesser degree. The scriptures do tend to deal with extremes for that very reason. ~ S. Michael Wilcox,~ When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered, (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2006) p. 1-3
