It’s midnight and Samuel’s been asleep for several hours. His bedroom is silent except for the soft snoring of his children.
In his dream he notices a faint rapping sound growing louder and louder. Suddenly he realizes the rapping isn’t in his dream but is coming from his front door. He throws open his window and calls down to the street. “Who’s there?”
“Samuel, it’s me, Jacob.”
“Jacob, what are you doing bothering me at this time of night? What time is it anyway?”
“Samuel, I’m sorry to bother you, but a friend unexpectedly arrived at my house from a long journey and I have nothing to set before him. Can you lend me three loaves of bread?”
“Jacob, you’re crazy. I can’t get up. My kids are all with me in bed sound asleep. My front door’s locked. Come back tomorrow. I’ll give you something then.”
“Samuel, please. It’ll only take you a minute. Then I’ll be out of your hair. My friend is starving. Please! Help me out here.”
“Jacob! Crazy Jacob! Now I know why your parents named you after that heel grabber. ’I won’t let you go till you bless me’ Jacob. Who am I, an angel? Are you going to wrestle with me till dawn?”
“Samuel. You’re my friend! I would do it for you.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll get you your bread. How’s anybody supposed to get any sleep around here? Next thing you’ll be asking for my inheritance!”
…..
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:5-10.
The point of Jesus’ parable is that if persistent asking will overcome even the resistance of an unwilling friend, how much more will persistence in prayer receive good things from a willing generous Father.
We often think delay means God’s reluctant to bless us. But our Father isn’t like the friend who didn’t want to get up at midnight. He’s generous, lavish, and loves to bless his children. He doesn’t say, “Go away, can’t you see I’ve got a universe to run?” He delights to bless us.
So don’t interpret delayed prayers as God being unwilling to bless. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, Mark! When the Lord opened my eyes to see that He is a lavish and loving Father, my whole perspective of Him changed. Thankful for my husband; he makes it easy for our children to "get" this truth.
Amen…this is beautiful and so encouraging. I believe that there is no greater suffering on this earth than experiencing what feels like God’s silence in our lives. That pain, for me,was worse than the trial itself. However, getting the opportunity to finally see His great and loving hand move so powerfully within his timing in my trial was the polar opposite to that pain. His faithfulness and love which i experienced so intimately and personally is stamped on my heart and may never be removed or questioned.
Mark, one important thing to point out, maybe obvious to most, is that our persistence is not some magic key that opens heaven’s door or that we can wear down God by persistence like a spoiled child does. It’s been my observation that the delay is almost always to work out His great purpose.
The second thing I noted from Jennifer’s comment is that if (and I agree with her) the greatest suffering is God’s silence, imagine what hell will be like for those eternally separated from Him!
Great Comments Elaine, Jennifer and Larry! Thanks!
Last line. So good.