Dear friends,
In our journey of faith, there are often times when we find ourselves stuck at one of life’s many crossroads with no idea what to do about our situation. In times such as these, Jesus gave us clear encouragement, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7) Yet, despite this clear invitation to present our requests to God, many of us hold ourselves back, due to our fears, doubts, or lack of confidence in our ability to go to our heavenly Father.
This Scripture is not just an invitation but a picture of an active and healthy faith. It encourages us to move beyond our initial hesitations and engage in a dialogue with our Creator. Hebrews 4:16 even challenges us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Yet still, we often hesitate. Why is this? Is it fear of rejection, or perhaps, the belief that our desires are too trivial for God’s attention?
Consider the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 as an example of an improper fear of God. In the parable, the master, who represents God, entrusts his servants with a certain amount of money, expecting them to take it and multiply it through investments. However, the servant who receives the singular talent allows the fear of his master to paralyze him. Despite being entrusted with an opportunity to receive a good gift and use it, he hides the money away and ultimately loses his blessings because of it. Like this servant, we too have been entrusted with gifts from God. And just as the master expected action from his servants, God expects us to receive help from Him and act on the opportunities He has placed in our lives. Not out of fear, but out of trust in His guidance and provision for the path ahead.
We should not be afraid of going to our Father. The fear of the Lord is about reverence not shame. We should always go to God for help, no matter how small the issue may appear. The action of asking itself is an act of faith, a demonstration of your trust in God’s direction.
But what about the worries we hold close to our hearts, those requests we’ve been too timid to voice, even in our prayers? Are they too small? Philippians 4:6 tells us, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." There is no request too small or too trivial for God’s ears. Whether it’s guidance in making a decision, provision for our needs, or strength to overcome a challenge, our Father wants to hear from us and help us.
Let’s be bold in asking, diligent in seeking, and persistent in knocking. Because it is through an active faith that God will open doors for us and lead us through them. Let’s not be like the servant who hid in fear, but instead, let us be like the woman who continually went before the unjust judge in Luke 18, who consistently sought to have her need fulfilled and found it answered due to her persistence.
Remember, the act of asking for help from God is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of strong faith. It is an acknowledgment of our reliance on God and an act that brings glory to His name.
