Troubled is a perfect word to describe how I felt after months of joining one
of my children in prayer over a certain situation. I had followed Scripture, Asking, Seeking, Knocking…and I hadn’t received, nor were the requested doors opened.
I went back to the verses that I had been claiming, words of Christ, out of Matthew 7. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
I struggled as I re-read it because I hadn’t received, hadn’t found anything but disappointment and the door I had knocked on was closed shut. Can you relate?
I began my inner dialogue with the Lord, ” Why? I sincerely am trying to follow how you lay life out in the Word… asking instead of worrying, knocking in trust on your door…so Why?”
I was too frustrated to get too into my questioning when the answer came and rocked my thoughts. In the verses following, as I was led to re-read in context, here is what opened up a new understanding for me, ” Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! “
My ah-ha moment came as I re-read this, thousands of feet in the air in mid-flight on a recent trip. I wanted to tell everyone in the plane what came to me at that moment, so instead…I will tell you.
I had asked, seeked, knocked….for months. Every time I got frustrated I was led back to the fact that it was good that I was asking, seeking, and knocking on God’s door! No answer from my viewpoint, does not mean God hadn’t heard or hadn’t answered. Rather, he was preventing my child from getting a stone or a snake instead of bread. In other words, God has something good for my child and will answer my prayers on his behalf. The answer will come in God’s time because everything is about a bigger picture. But, surely in God’s time the answer will come in the form of a good gift. Whether it is the answer I wanted or expected is not important, the important thing is that God will give the right gift and answer to prayer at the right time.
God is Love and God is Good. He can not work in any other way than that which expresses WHO He is and the very thing that stays in line with his character. So, I can relax and trust a Good God and His answers and timing.
I am still waiting, still seeking, knocking…but now I am also praising. Why? Because even though I don’t see the answer today I know it’s coming. It’s coming in the form of God’s good and perfect will. God will give my child bread, not a snake or a stone…and in this I rejoice!
Today’s Truth: Matthew 7:11b
…How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Stand in truth today and rejoice…God gives good gifts, God gives bread not a stone. Your prayers will be answered from on high because your Good God has heard every one. The doors knocked on will be opened, but only when it’s safe to open them and only when it’s time for you to receive what is behind the door. God is Good, claim it, stand in it, thank Him for it, rejoice today that you have a God who loves you more than anyone could ever love you.
Today’s Prayer
Father, help me in my disappointment and unbelief. I choose today to thank you for bread, good answers, and good timing. I choose to trust that doors will open when it’s safe and time for them to open. I choose to trust that you are the sovereign controller of circumstances.
debbie, wow how this helped me! i am walking thru an issue with one of my sons, praying trusting and believing for God’s goodness in this situation. i needed to hear this today more than you could ever know.
hank you! my God’s name is faithful!
Amen!
James 1:6 cements this for me: ” But when (I) ask, (I) must believe and not doubt…”
this was just what i needed to hear. i had been wondering that lately…why (oh why!!) isn’t God giving me the answer to my asking. I’m waaaittting…with thanksgiving and praise. xo
And also this: I love the reminder that He gives good gifts and not a stone or a snake! I’m sick of stones and snakes. lol I will wait for that goodness. Oh, and your prayer was sweet…”help me in my disappointment…” Whatta great thing for all of us to pray!
Because I have a GREAT DAD I will stand with gratitude and rejoice over the bread he given me and my Adult children.I will be reminded by your post that HE will always give us the BREAD we need daily and not a stone or a snake. Now that is a GREAT Dad! Amen and Amen!
Just finished chapter 3 in Wild, Live in process not perfection. Love where you say all pity parties are catered by satan himself! You remind us to thank Him for knowing every cell,every creative gift,every plan to use our lives, WILD PART..we can trust Him to see the big picture,thankfully we can’t. We do get to choose to pray up: ask, seek, and knock. Then live up: choose to trust and walk in truth
of course, timing! i had the ask, seek, knock, and the trust (most the time). oh yeah – His timing! duh! thanks for that important truth!!
Sometimes the only words a person can express are “thank you” for those particular words of encouragements. I’m a new comer to this website; but I truly thank God for the person (Evelyn) who introduced me. Those ah-ha moments will be coming more often “I’m sure”. Praises shall be in my mouth always.
Your prayer of the day (August 12, 2009) was just the medicine that I needed during a very painful time in my life while dealing with the sorrow and loss of a prodigal daughter. I pray for her repentant return under His watchful eye and perfect timing, not mine. Thank you for your wisdom and prophetic grace.