"If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

 If we strive to be better or to gain or learn or receive something we don't already, we ask. God isn't going to give us exactly what we ask for. that wouldn't be a real gain. He gives us something better, opportunity. The opportunity to grow and gain and learn and receive.  If we ask, god will give us opportunity. It is then up to us to take action, to actually progress and prove ourselves, and our potential, not only to him but to ourselves.

I just watched Evan Almighty.
hahaha.