Apr 16, 2007

For those who are weary

"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." Matthew 7:7-8

In 14 days it will 7 months since Ian's accident. 7 Months, 212 days, 5,088 hours, 305,280 minutes...That's a long time.

So what are we to make of this? We've prayed that Ian would be healed and he hasn't.

Sadly, my prayer life has reflected how I've interpreted this. I've found instead of praying for Ian, I've just felt sad for Ian. I've slipped into a prayerless-hopelessness. Why has this happened? Though I'd never verbalize it, my actions are saying, "Well, God promised that he would answer my prayers. I prayed, and he didn't answer. God has lied."


And to that, our loving, holy Father would say very loudly, "
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" Numbers 23:19.

God promises and God answers! Not one promise has Jesus made that he hasn't fulfilled. And Jesus promised that if we ask of our Father, he will answer us.

Ask. Seek. Knock.

Think of it this way. Imagine a little boy who needs something of his father.

If his dad is standing right beside him, the boy just looks up and simply asks his dad for whatever he needs.

If the boy comes into the house, and his dad isn't standing right there, the boy calls out: "Dad, where are you?" And then the boy begins to search the house, seeking his dad, until he finds him. No matter how long it takes. He may have to look in the garage, the attic, the shed, the bedrooms...He may have to search the entire house. But he knows his father is home...

If the father is in the study with the door shut, the boy knocks until the dad answers. And when the father lovingly says, "Come in." The boy boldly opens the door and asks for whatever he needs.

It may seem like our Father is no where to be found. But he says, "Seek me my beloved sons and daughters, and you'll find me." It may seem like God is behind a brass door. But he says, "I hear and answer the faintest of knocks."

Our Father loves it when we pray!

"Ask - receive. Seek - find. Knock - the door will be opened." We have every reason to keep lifting up hope-filled prayers for our friend Ian.

We've been seeking for 7 months and haven't found yet...we've been knocking for 212 days and we haven't seen the door opened. But God has promised! He's our father, we're his children.

Today is Ian's 22nd birthday. Let's give him the gift of our prayers! Today, by the grace of God, let's resolve to pray all the harder for Ian's complete healing. Let's keep asking, seeking, and knocking!



10 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are those who don't know you or Ian, yet appreciate what you are going through. Hopefully our faith and hope will carry you through the times you may falter yet not want to.
You are not alone in this.
My heart goes out to all of you.
I'll keep praying.........not just for Ian, but for you and Larissa, and the rest of your family.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Ian. I check this blog as part of my morning work routine. The posts always inspire me. My family prays for Ian and your family and friends. Weary or not the Lord knows our hearts, and we serve a God that never gets weary. Praise and Prayers, The Scherf's in Kittanning :)

Anonymous said...

Be encouraged! There are thousands of people praying for Ian and praying for all of you. God HAS answered many prayers and I believe He is not finished with Ian. Ian is alive! Ian's injuries are healing. Ian is becoming more aware and is doing more physically. I was so encouraged by the posting about his birthday gift. The Lord continues to use Ian in mighty ways to witness to others as He heals him. What an amazing story of God's tender loving care.

I know that I see things a lot differently than you do. I am not seeing Ian at all. I'm not spending time with doctors, nurses, and therapists. All I know is what I have read in the posts. I have been amazed to see your faith growing in the bad days as well as the good. Cling to Jesus! We are praying that you will be refreshed, that your prayer life will be on fire, and that Ian would be healed in God's time and that many people will come to Christ as a result.

Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, IAN!
Through this trial and your life, and the lives of your family and friends, you have touched so many!
It is a privilege to know you and to pray for you!

Still praying!

Mary Ann K.

Anonymous said...

I would ask all those who have prayed through the almost seven months of Ian's and the Murphy's trials to not allow the intensity of prayer for the needs present to decrease. Ian is alive and has been touched by Jesus more times than we even know during this time. We need to Praise God for what He has done and for the infections and trials that have been defeated before they began. I confess that I have been lazy with my prayer intensity and forget that Matt. 7:7-8 could be legitimately translated "ask and keep on asking...seek and keep on seeking....and knock and keep on knocking" I ask us all to return to our prayer attitude that had God save Ian's life despite the Doctor's diagnosis. God has not changed or moved....we did! Jesus Lord and Savior heal our brother in Christ!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Ian.

I am praying for you. I am Asking the Lord for complete healing. Seeking the Lord with all my heart. Knocking on the door for as long as it takes.

We want you back.

Vicki G.

Anonymous said...

As I sat through a nursing class today with the topic being brain injuries and coma, it was easy to think, "Wow God, coma is a very serious thing" but then he brought back my thoughts. No matter how "serious" or big something seems to us, EVERYTHING is possable for God to heal. He is bigger then his coma, and I praise God for that. Though sitting through this class was at first discouraging, I left class thanking God for where he has brought Ian, and everyone else seeking and praying for him. God, heal Ian on his birthday and bring him out of coma.

~Bethany Snyder~

Anonymous said...

It has helped me lately to remember that God has chosen Ian as His vessel for such a time as this. Ian's on a mission for his Savior. GOD has him where he is right now. And God never makes a wrong move.
Whenever days come that I feel saddened or doubtful, I have to look to the God who has already been so faithful in my cousin's life and just trust Him. Ian being in a coma is sad, yes. But it's good. Because God is good.

lis said...

Praying for Ian in Jerusalem.

And oh, so thankful for your faith and transparency! This post has encouraged me for other prayer battles as well.

Anonymous said...

Steve, I join you and others in continuing to ask-seek-knock for Ian. -tim