The song "Ask and You
shall Receive" says "See the great promises, brother, Are they
so hard to believe? How can you doubt the dear Savior? Why don't you ask
and receive? ASK my brother and sister, For all you need is BELIEVE;
ask the Bountiful Giver; ASK and you SHALL receive."
Throughout the scripture in various
places Jesus instructs the saints to ASK for the things that they need. In
Matthew 7:7,8 it says "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened."
In James 4:2it says"...yet ye
have not because ye ask not." We have many promises in the scripture
that we can claim if we will "ask in faith, nothing wavering.
"(James 1:6). We must have faith to go ask and then the faith to
believe that God will provide for the need. If we ask and then don't
believe that God will supply then we have defeated the purpose of asking.
In Matthew 21:22 it says "And
all things, whatsoever ye shall ASK in prayer, BELIEVING, ye
SHALL RECEIVE." This scripture says "all things",
and throughout the New Testament, Jesus answered the cries of those who
came and asked in faith. One particular instance that stuck
in my mind was that of Jarius' daughter. The story is in Mark 5:22-42...Jarius
came to Jesus "...And besought him greatly..." asking that Jesus
would come and heal his daughter. He had the faith to come and ask for
help and believed that Jesus could and would do it.
But while he was waiting for Jesus
to come...his faith was tested..."there came [those] which said, Thy
daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further..." These
told him that there wasn't any point in asking Jesus now...the problem was
out of his control...In Luke 18:27it says "...The things which are
impossible with men are possible with God."...but regardless of this
Jarius stayed near Jesus. When things oppose our faith comfort comes to
us...Jesus comforted Jarius by saying "Be not afraid, only
believe." and thus upheld his faith. When they got to Jarius' house
they could hear the uproar of the mourners. These were those who did not
believe and laughed scornfully at Jesus when he said "Why make ye
this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth." These
would have been a hindrance to the faith of the parents when Jesus worked
the miracle so he put them all out of the house. When we have a hindrance
come to us when we are trying to have faith for something that is really
important to us then we also should put aside the hindrance and have faith
anyhow. If something is important enough to come to God and ask for, then
it is important enough to keep faith for. The hindrance may be doubts or
fears or just the comments of those who don't believe that God will
provide for or supply the need.
In verse 42, Jesus has healed the
daughter "and they were astonished with a great astonishment",
we, like the parents, are often astonished when God provides in a need
that we have asked him for help with. We are amazed when God rewards our
faith by answering. In Jeremiah 32:27 it says "Behold, I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?"; in Luke
12:32 it says "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom"...why then are we so amazed when
God answers prayer? In all that comes our way we should go to God and ask
for the grace, strength and help that we need to make it through each
trial.
As the song says "What a
privilege to carry ev'rthing to God in pray'r". It is truly a
privilege to be able to take our burdens, cares, needs and trials to the
loving Heavenly Father who will provide the very thing we need. If we have
faith, we know...In time sufficient, He will bring the very thing we
need.I n time of trial, He will supply for he is friend indeed. Whatever
comes our way we know sufficient grace He will bestow. And grant for every
passing mile grace to stand in depth of trial."So, keep faith
although the way be rugged..." and God will bless and strengthen you
that you may be an encouragement to others.