Do you confidently take the reins of your life to pursue your aspirations, or do you often find yourself yielding to the various demands and needs of your children and those around you?
I clearly remember a crucial moment right before my 20th birthday when I confidently approached my mother to share my heartfelt desire: I wanted to marry my boyfriend. He was a brilliant law student, and I was captivated by his looks and intellect from the moment we met. However, my mother’s reaction was far from what I had expected; she erupted in disbelief, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. To her, the thought of me abandoning my promising pre-med studies to marry at such a young age seemed completely unreasonable.
However, the story then took an unexpected turn. My mother turned to my father, voicing her concerns about my “crazy plan.” Frustrated by my persistent pleas and tears, she decided to discuss it with him, hoping he would help put an end to what she perceived as my madness.
To my surprise, my father didn’t respond with the outrage I anticipated. Instead, he invited me to sit beside him, encouraging me to share my feelings. I climbed onto his lap, a familiar and comforting gesture, and poured out my heart, expressing the depth of my love for my boyfriend and my longing to build a life together.
You might wonder why such profound conversations were happening at such a young age. My parents had always dreamed of returning to their homeland, the Dominican Republic, where my two siblings and beloved grandmother still lived. They envisioned me finishing my medical education there, but my aspirations leaned in a different direction. After listening patiently to my desires, my father leaned in and delivered a thought-provoking story. He gently warned me, “If you decide to marry young to a law student, you might struggle to maintain the comfortable lifestyle we’ve provided for you. But if this marriage is truly what you desire, you must promise me one thing: embrace what he can offer without expecting more than he can provide. Can you genuinely commit to that? If so, I would grant you my blessing.”
I wholeheartedly agreed. From that pivotal moment, my parents got to work, preparing for the future that lay ahead for me. I kept my promise to my father, refraining from asking my husband for more than he could offer.
You may be curious about how this story relates to Jesus’ words about “keeping on asking, seeking, and knocking.”
I believe Jesus wasn’t instructing us to demand everything we desire. Instead, He conveyed a more profound message: we should prioritize the pursuit of the Kingdom of God above all else. Our prayers should focus on seeking the Father’s will, cultivating a daily relationship with Him, and demonstrating persistence in our efforts. It’s essential to approach our requests with genuine motives, aligning them with His perfect will and timing, rather than fixating on our desires.
I had the incredible opportunity to study alongside my friends and spiritual sisters, exploring the true meaning of prayer and the essential truths every Christian should understand upon accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
One of the most enlightening discoveries I made during our discussions was the profound meaning behind the phrase “Asking, Seeking, and Knocking” in the context of prayer.
- Asking: When we ask during prayer, we make requests about things we are already aware of in our lives. This could range from seeking guidance on a decision to asking for help in familiar situations.
- Seeking: On the other hand, seeking in prayer involves pursuing answers about matters that remain unclear or unknown to us. It reflects a desire for clarity, understanding, and divine insight in areas where we may be lacking knowledge.
- Knocking: Finally, knocking in prayer symbolizes our appeals to Jesus regarding our needs behind closed doors. It’s about reaching out for hope and breakthroughs in situations that seem out of reach or challenging.
These insights have significantly enhanced my understanding of the true essence of prayer and its transformative power in our lives. Like many, I once believed that if we ask, seek, and knock, God would grant every request. However, this view misses a crucial truth: we are called to seek His Kingdom first and to nurture a close relationship with the Lord by abiding in Him and His Word. It’s essential to put our trust in His promises and have unwavering confidence in His faithfulness, knowing that God deeply understands us and our genuine needs.
A common misconception arises when we become too focused on our desires, neglecting to pray in line with His divine will and timing. I learned some time ago that God wants us to approach Him as a child approaches a loving father, sharing our hearts not out of a desire for something in return, but simply because He loves us and longs to hear from us. This sentiment resonates deeply with my cherished memories of my earthly father. After his passing and his return to be with the Lord, I felt lost and abandoned, struggling to recognize that my Heavenly Father loves me even more profoundly than my earthly father ever could.
Once I embraced this pivotal truth, I began to approach God with the same openness and familiarity I had with my father. That’s when I underwent a remarkable transformation, realizing the depth of my Heavenly Father’s love for me. He willingly sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, who died for us, illustrating that immense love. God hears every cry, every hurt, and every plea that escapes our lips. However, as humans, we often crave immediate answers, which are not always provided.
Throughout Scripture, we observe our Lord intimately involved in the lives of His people—at times unseen yet always working behind the scenes, as beautifully illustrated in the Book of Esther. His active engagement shines through, like when He spoke to Moses, guiding him to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt. One story that particularly resonates with me is that of the Prophet Elijah. In a moment of fear and persecution from Queen Jezebel, Elijah sought refuge in a cave, feeling anxious and alone. In his despair, God found him and gently asked about his presence in the cave. After listening to Elijah’s worries, God instructed him to step outside and stand on the mountain, for the Lord was about to pass by. (See 1 Kings 19:9-20)
The astonishing revelation was that God’s presence was not found in the dramatic displays of nature—the roaring wind, the earth-shattering earthquake, or the consuming fire—but rather in a gentle whisper. This quiet yet powerful moment beautifully encapsulates the nature of God’s communication with us. In the New Testament, we see this love manifested through Jesus, who brought the good news of salvation, emphasizing grace and mercy to all who believe.
In summary, Jesus imparted valuable lessons to His disciples and to us, as captured in Matthew 7:7-12, emphasizing the importance of being persistent in our prayers. He encourages us to earnestly seek out a relationship with God through continuous prayer, believing wholeheartedly that our requests will be heard. This persistence requires us to pray with sincere faith and to examine our motives, ensuring they align with God’s intentions (as highlighted in James 4:2b-3). We are reminded to align our prayers with His perfect will, trusting that He knows what is best for us (as stated in 1 John 5:14-15). Above all, we must genuinely believe in the profound love and unwavering faithfulness of our Heavenly Father, who always desires to connect with us.
Reflection:
- In your own words, what do you think Jesus meant when He encouraged His disciples—and all of us today—to “Ask, Seek, and Knock”? Has your perspective on these profound words shifted after reflecting on this post?
- How can we approach God in our daily prayers? Consider the practical steps you can take to cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for being such an amazing, loving, and ever-faithful Father. Thank you for your unwavering presence and support, even during times when I struggle to seek your guidance. Lord, I ask that you grant me the ability to truly see and hear your voice, and to have an obedient heart. No matter the chaos or uncertainty that surrounds me, help me to remember that you are in complete control, orchestrating everything behind the scenes for my ultimate good.
In moments of doubt and when my heart feels heavy with anxiety, teach me to practice patience. Remind me that your timing is perfect, even when I yearn for immediate answers to my prayers. Help me embrace and understand your divine will for my life, so that I may accept whatever path you lay before me. I have faith that you are a good and loving Father who genuinely desires what is best for me. I ask all of this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Reference:
- Scripture quotations adapted from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
- Almodovar-Caporusso, C. (2022). [Jamaca de Dios)
