There’s a part in Surah Kahf that we read but never ponder over. It’s where Khidr عليه السلام destroys a boat by cutting a hole in it. This boat belongs to a poor family who need it for their livelihood, to fish and to travel. Musa عليه السلام doesn’t understand why. He asks Khidr عليه السلام why he destroyed that boat? What did they ever do to him for him to treat them so harshly? Put yourself in that poor families shoes. Imagine you are them with a boat & it gets destroyed. You wonder to Allah, why? I need this grade, this promotion, this job, this spouse. I need this du’a to be answered. How can you destroy my boat Allah? Why not take the boat of those who are ungrateful? Or who sin without caring? Did i not worship You enough? Did i not pray my salah? Did i not fast? But Musa عليه السلام didn’t know there was an oppressive King — if that boat hadn’t been destroyed, the King would’ve taken it leaving no means of livelihood for the poor people. Allah, in His infinite love, mercy and Wisdom knew a broken boat would be of no use to a King and so he wouldn’t have been interested, but the poor family could fix this boat and use it once again. Your boat may also be broken. It may not make sense to you right now. You cannot see the oppressive King, you cannot see what Allah is protecting you from. All you see is what is broken in front of you. But know that Allah will help you fix it. He will help you find a way. Look beyond the destroyed boat. You are loved by Allah. And just as how a child doesn’t understand why his mother won’t let him have a fizzy drink for breakfast, remember that Allah loves you more than a mother loves her child. Continue making du’a and finding new doors to walk through. He will never allow your deeds, effort and your du’as to ever be lost or wasted.