Rolling Stones and 1 John 5: 14-15: You Can't Always Get What You Want

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

1 John 5: 14 -15

Rolling Stones: “You can’t always get what ya wa-aant …… You can’t always get what ya wa-aant …… You can’t always get what ya wa-aant. But if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what ya need.”

These lyrics are, somewhat surprisingly, in line with the message we see in John 1. We cannot always get what we want, a proven fact in my life; yours too I bet. There have been times where I have prayed for stuff specifically, and it did not happen. Other times it did.

Statistically speaking then, there is no confirmation that God was even involved. Random chance would result in things happening according to my wants sometimes, and sometimes not. With myself and perhaps others working towards goals, things can work out. The analysis can become purely statistical, placing doubt in any divine involvement.

It is, however, after the fact analysis which often leads me to conclude God is involved. Our own life experience becomes the strongest evidence for His intercession or lack of it. Things we ourselves can only understand, as no one else knows the history in enough detail. Sometimes a spouse, sibling or friend knows enough to see as well, but often times God is our only partner. Many examples can be cited over the years, still requiring an element of faith, but at the same time having strong evidence to support. We look back over time and conclude that God had to be involved, as probability otherwise would seem too remote. These recollections will also include cases where He responded to our request or wish in the negative sense, and we see later that He did so for our own good.

So Mick Jagger was right on the money.