An Empty Cradle

Ask, Seek, Knock

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. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Has there ever been a time when you prayed to the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the God of miracles: “Ask, Seek, Knock,” and did not receive the answer you had hoped?

I understand the devastation that can follow unanswered prayer.

Thoughts race out of control, as we try to make sense of it all. Performance haunts us. Did I pray incorrectly? Maybe, not enough? Was the level of my faith limited? Torment follows. God! Why? The word “why” can prove suffocating, acting like quicksand, pulling us down into the depths of despair. Even judgement from the brethren catapult our way, striking us with condemnation. From out of the struggle, we rise up wounded and raw.

The battle to believe again is real.

I prayed.

Ask. [Request. Petition. Demand. Strong’s Greek 154]

I sought the Lord fervently believing with my whole heart.

Seek. [Search. Desire. Require. Strong’s Greek 2212]

Continually, day and night, I knocked.

Knock. [Beat a door with a stick, to gain admittance. Strong’s Greek 2925]

I did not receive.

Receive. [Get, lay hold of. Strong’s Greek 2983]

Nor, did I find.

Find. [ Get. Obtain. Strong’s Greek 2147]

My answer did not come as I had hoped.

Faith can become shattered in the process of unanswered prayer. Walking on shards of broken faith, cut like glass. Emotions that rupture within the devastation, cause a broken heart to bleed with sorrow. Numb, spoken words of hope, echo into the empty cavern of promises unanswered.

Will I ever believe again?

My desire would be to give you a three step plan to healing, a quick fix for the brokenness of your soul; however, I have discovered that the fix is not quick. What brings healing is to ask, seek, knock. His presence brings restoration.

I can’t answer why your prayer request wasn’t fulfilled, but I can point you to the One who is the Healer of the broken-hearted. He will escort you through this journey called faith. Rise up. Believe again. He is waiting.

A Prayer For You

Father,

I pray for healing.

May Your embrace be felt about the broken, as You pick up the shattered pieces of their faith, and escort them through this painful walk.

I silence the tormenting thoughts, in the Name of Jesus.

I bless you, dear one, with the mind of Christ.

May you believe again, trusting God wholeheartedly.

Be strengthened in the Lord, that you may come alongside the wounded one day, being once broken-hearted; now, continually restored by the God of all comfort.

I bless you with the desire to ask, the courage to seek, and the strength to knock…

Again.

Amen

It has been nineteen years, and the Lord continues to bring healing to my soul.

Though the cradle was empty, God continues to make my heart full.

Ask. Seek. Knock. He will do the same for you.

He is the God of endless comfort.

All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us. And just as we experience the abundance of Christ’s own sufferings, even more of God’s comfort will cascade upon us through our union with Christ. If troubles weigh us down, that just means that we will receive even more comfort to pass on to you for your deliverance! For the comfort pouring into us empowers us to bring comfort to you. And with this comfort upholding you, you can endure victoriously the same suffering that we experience. Now our hope for you is unshakable, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings you will also share in God’s comforting strength.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 TPT

Comfort

Strong’s Greek 3874 (paraklesis) - a calling to one’s aid, encouragement

HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3874 paraklesis - properly, a call (urging), done by someone "close beside," i.e. a personal exhortation that delivers the "evidence that stands up in God's court."

Dictionary Definition: Comfort - a state of physical ease and freedom from pain…alleviation of a person’s feelings, grief, or distress…restore a sense of well-being…

He restores my soul. He comforts me.

Psalm 23:3-4