“Jesus tells us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.”
Many of us believe this—but many of us also ask quietly in our hearts: “If this is true, why have I prayed for so long and nothing seems to happen?”
Jesus understands this question. And today’s Gospel gives us three simple truths.
1. God Is a Loving Father, Not a Wish-Granting Machine
When we pray, we sometimes expect God to give exactly what we ask for, right away.
But Jesus reminds us: God is a Father. A good parent does not give a child everything he asks for. He gives what is good and safe.
There are times when God says “yes”. There are times when He says “wait”. And there are times when He says “no” because He sees danger we cannot see.
A prayer may feel unanswered, but God is always acting out of love.
2. Sometimes God Changes Us Before He Changes the Situation
Often, we pray for our problems to disappear.
But many times, God first gives us strength to carry the problem, patience to endure it, or wisdom to face it.
We ask for the storm to stop. God sometimes teaches us how to stand firm in the storm.
This kind of answer is quiet—but it is real.
3. Prayer and Daily Life Must Go Together
At the end of the Gospel, Jesus says: “Do to others what you want them to do to you.”
This tells us something important: prayer works best when our lives are also trying to be good.
If we pray for blessings but refuse to forgive, if we pray for help but continue doing wrong, if we pray for change but do not change anything in ourselves—then our prayer becomes weak.
God answers prayer, but He also invites us to do our part.
Final Words
So why are some prayers not answered in the way we expect?
Not because God does not hear us, not because He does not care, but because He loves us too much to give us what will harm us.
So let us ask with trust, seek with patience, and knock without losing hope.
God is listening.
God is working.
And in His time, He will open the right door.”