I like to argue

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him
Job 13:15
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"Jacob wrestled the angel and the angel was overcome."
U2
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Oh, it's gonna take some blood to see the nations come
come now, let us go
track 12 from the album "Can you Hear Us"
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He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
Luke 22:44
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My dad's initial answer to most requests was usually "no".
"Can I get a coke?"
"No"
"Can I rent a movie?"
"No"
I soon discovered, however, that if I really really wanted something I could most often get it...but I had to work hard to get it. Movies and cokes weren't usually worth the effort to me, but a trip or adventure... now that was something I was willing to fight for...and I did. In 7th grade, I wanted to go to France. Dad's initial answer of course was "no"...but I went. He didn't pay for it, or make it easy to go, but he let me work for it. In college, I wanted to go to Guatemala. Dad's initial answer was "no"...but I went. Sometimes the initial answer was the final answer. There were those times when I'd ask, and push, and push, and the answer would remain "no" because he really didn't think it was a good idea. After college, I wanted to go to Africa. Dad's answer remained "no"... I was old enough to make my own decision and I could have gone, but I wanted his blessing, so I decided not to go. Sometimes in the middle of the fight I'd realize, "maybe this isn't worth fighting for - maybe its not what I really want", and that's fine too. But most of the time I think he was just resisting at the start to see how badly I wanted what I was asking for...and if I really wanted it and fought him for it...then he'd usually consent and let me have my way.

In general I think its a bad idea to project experiences with our dad onto God. We pray "Our Father, who art in heaven..." For many, who've experienced absent or abusive fathers, this prayer is not very comforting. But God is "our Father in heaven" - the perfect dad. My dad is not perfect, but he's a pretty good dad, and in this case I think his parenting of me helps me to understand how God wants to be my father. I think He too wants me to ask Him for what I want, and to fight hard for it. Often when I want something from God, though, I give a half hearted plea. Why don't I insist the way I've always done? Is God wanting me to insist more than I do...to wrestle with Him a bit...to fight with Him a little - maybe even a lot? Is He testing me to find out what I really want, and how hard I'm willing to fight for it? Certainly there are things that are just not a good idea, and no matter how hard I fight, God's answer will remain "no". But I wonder ...are there some things I just haven't bothered Him enough about?

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But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God.

Job 13:3
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...ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and he who seeks, finds;
and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10