the friend doesn’t immediately answer and give the bread, for we are to understand that our heavenly Father and Friend wants us to persevere in our prayers. Of course, God could give to us and bless us without our asking – and how he regularly does that in his grace! But the God of fellowship wants fellowship with us. He wants us to argue his promises and his character with him, for then who he is becomes an ever more conscious reality for us.
This is a tremendous insight. While we are concerned that God is not listening when we don't get what we ask for, God is actually shaking our shoulder, saying: 'It's not about what you can receive, it's about community with me!'
