“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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
I was on a walk recently and about a half a mile in I had something poking me in my shoe. I balanced on one foot while trying to find it in my sock. Assuming I got it I put my shoe back on, but immediately realized it was still there. So, I took my sock off this time and felt inside the shoe, but when I put it back on it was still poking me! I took it off one last time and looked on the bottom of my shoe, and sure enough there was a small stick stuck in the sole of my shoe so every time I took a step it poked me.
This is exactly what happens to us sometimes in life as we are growing in our relationship with the Lord. When we ask the Lord to help us change rarely does it happen instantly. It's a process that He puts us through to remove the "thorn".
Often the Lord has to remove stuff in layers, so it's a process. Sometimes our heart wounds are deeper than we think and so our healing requires surgery, not just stitches. Often the Lord connects us and uses our brothers and sisters in Christ in our journey. He connects our paths and weaves our hearts to others so when we ask, seek or knock we can trust He is working it out. So maybe your answer isn't just about you, maybe it involves someone else's heart as well.
You all know I love Simon Peter. I wonder if Peter thought when he decided to follow Jesus that he was completely changed. I wonder if when Jesus changed his name to Peter or called him the rock if Peter thought he was fully transformed. Peter had no clue that the greatest heartbreak and sifting he would go through denying his Savior would allow him to be restored and become the rock that Jesus had called him. Peter is such an example to us of how even complete surrender can include mistakes and restoration that brings God glory. Peter was a work in progress...just like me and you.
Don't get discouraged if you thought you were free from the problem. As soon as we ask the Lord we can trust that He is working. His timing is not ours and His ways are not our ways. We just have to trust that He is a God that keeps His promises and He is worthy of our trust. We just have to walk with Him and allow Him to make us into the people He has called us to be. Don't just accept the stick in your shoe...take it off again! Keep asking, seeking, and knocking because He loves us!
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Dig Deeper
Ecclesiastes 3:11 | Proverbs 16:9 | Isaiah 60:22 | Proverbs 3:5 | Jeremiah 17:7-8
Thank you Jesus for showing grace to us, just like you did to Peter. A friend so close who denied you, but you still showed up. Your forgiveness brought out the greatness in him you knew was inside of Peter. 🫶🏼 🥀