TRUST HIS RESPONSE
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
Matthew 7:8 (NIV)
I have a friend in her forties who deeply longs to get married and have a family. She's brought her request honestly before the Lord. She has sought Him. She has knocked persistently until her hand has turned numb. What she desires is not a bad thing. In fact, it's a good thing, instituted by God Himself. Yet, despite all the asking, seeking and knocking, she's still single.
It can be very difficult to reconcile experiences like this with Jesus' words in Matthew 7:8. Perhaps you've found yourself in a similar tension. So, what do we do with this Scripture when we haven't received the thing we've boldly asked for?
Well, first, it's important to acknowledge that this is hard to process, and God is not afraid of your questions.
It's also important to look to other verses in Scripture to bring clarity to parts that seem difficult to understand. Pulling this verse out of context will presume things that Jesus never promised. This is not a genie-in-a-bottle scenario where God is obligated to grant you exactly what you ask for within the timeframe you desire it. Looking at the following verses in Matthew 7:9-11, you'll find that every response to our prayers is run through the wisdom and love of our perfect Heavenly Father.
God is not a cold-hearted dad that mocks our requests, recklessly holds out on us, or intentionally seeks to hurt us. He is a generous Father who loves to bless His kids, and He does so in accordance with the good purposes and plans He has for our lives. Sometimes that means we receive the things we ask for. Other times, we receive a no or not yet. I love what Tim Keller once said: God will either give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knows.
We will never be able to reconcile the thoughts and ways of God to our own because they are so much higher than ours. However, when things don't make sense, we can reaffirm what is true about our Father and trust His response as we continue asking, seeking and knocking.
APPLICATION: Is there something you've asked God for that you've yet to receive? Ask God to tell you what He wants you to know about that request.
PRAYER: Father, give me boldness to pray with expectancy that You will respond and give me faith to trust Your Fatherly heart behind every response. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?