Accept, See, Welcome

“So I say to you: 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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9, 10 NIV)

We have all asked and not been given what we asked for; sought, but not found what we were seeking; knocked and did not find what we wanted when the door opened.  So what's with these verses?

Notice one important thing... it does not say WHAT will be given, found or on the other side of the door!  It just says that we will receive, find and have the door opened.  The very next verse from Luke says: “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"  But isn't it also true that if our child asked for a snake, we would give him a fish instead?

Our job, then is to discern what, in actuality, was given, found and opened to us.  We can be sure it is the good gift.  We might think that what we asked for really was good, but our vision is too limited.  We must trust God who knows what our futures hold.  It is only through this trust that we will be able to accept, see and welcome.

This is the secret that turns our confusion into understanding; our dispair into gratitude; our mourning into dancing. When we knock on the door, we can be certain it will be opened to us.  But it is only our trust in a good and gracious God that will allow us to see what lies through the doorway.  Think of the possibilities... our desire is not the only answer.  Sometimes our desire is the most wrong answer.  We just can't see it.  So instead, we must see what God says is better and receive it gladly, and with gratitude in our hearts.

Father,
Help us to discern your answer to our prayers.  Sometimes we want something so badly we are blinded to your better gift.  Open our eyes.  Amen.