Why Keep Asking?

 

I think there are some people who ask God for something, and when they don’t promptly receive what they asked for, their faith weakens.  It’s as if their time in prayer were money:  why spend it for something and receive nothing in return?  In general, the answer to their concerns is that God DOES answer prayers, in His time and in His way.  Be patient and trust.  But yesterday I had some friends who DID believe in Jesus’ response to that, and how He told us to just keep asking. 

Yesterday, the prayer group was stating prayer intentions before our prayer time, and many stated concerns about the upcoming election and the various aspects of it.  And I grew frustrated (another thing to confess) at the details.  But their response was to say that Jesus called us to just keep asking about our concerns.  I could have rambled on and on in response to that (and to prove how right I was --- in my pride), but we proceeded on and prayed the prayer we had gathered for.  And I forgot about that interaction. 

This morning, I prayed a prayer I pray each morning --- or, perhaps I have grown cold and am just reading that prayer.  I make a Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus each day; this is part of it:

Oh Jesus, we know that You love us
so much that You have given Your
Sacred Heart to us for our salvation.

We all love You and ask
You to protect us with Your
shepherd’s Heart from any sin.

Knock, keep knocking at the
door of our hearts, Oh Lord!
Be patient and persevering
with us, Oh Lord!

Our hearts are still closed
to You because we have not
understood Your wishes.

Knock continuously!

Oh, Good Jesus, make us open
our hearts to You, and remember
how much You have suffered for us.

I’m sure you noticed, as I did, the part of that prayer after the work “knock”.  Every day I pray this prayer to Jesus, to keep asking ME!  Yesterday, I was frustrated at those who were repeatedly asking Him in prayer, yet I pray every day for Him to keep asking ME.  Is that Pride with a capital “P” or what? 

Prayer is a communication between those who should be friends, but even human friends sometimes “don’t hear,” or, in love, don’t directly answer the question asked.  The true lover always seeks the benefit of the beloved, not himself.  And sometimes that benefit is conveyed in how you answer, or don’t answer his immediate concerns.