“Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come home with him. His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, He was surrounded by the crowds.
While He was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” But when Jesus heard what had happened, He said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
Luke 8:41-42, 49-50 NLT
Those of us who are familiar with the reason Jesus was delayed, understand that two miracles occurred that day. One by touching Him another by being touched by Him. But my focus today is on the last few verses that I underlined. Many people have been discouraged from asking for and receiving from the Father, either through teaching, or ignorance of who the Lord really is.
I’ve often heard these statements, maybe you have as well. “God is too busy with big projects to concern Himself with my little problems.” There are people who have it worse than me.” “ I feel badly asking God for..”, He will never hear me! Have you heard those statements too? Or maybe you’ve said them yourself. But the truth of the matter is, He’s interested in all our problems, great and small, and longs to hear from us. He notices ants, flowers, sparrows, hair follicles, and spiders in kings palaces. How do I know this? He wrote about it in His Word. He did this to teach us that we’re more valuable to Him, and that He makes time for us.
He had His half brother James pen these words. “You don’t have what you want, because you don’t ask God for it.” James 4. There are ways to ask and receive, and there are ways to ask and not receive. It’s all about what motivates us to ask. But when we ask in faith, according to His will, He has promised to deliver. Discouragement in asking is borne out of a faulty knowledge of who our Heavenly Father is. Religion closes the door on unlimited access to all God has for His children. I’ve seen and heard this reaction to asking God for help or for things too many times. And it breaks my heart and God’s.
If God is too busy to hear our prayers we are in deep trouble. John the apostle debunked the religious beliefs about asking and receiving in his writing in 1 John 5:13-15
“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.”
1 John 5:13-15 NLT
Where in those verses did you read that He’s too busy or that He won’t hear us? Exactly! Nowhere! We are to have confidence in approaching Him. I would probably shock you if I disclosed some of the things the Lord and I talk about. Nothing is off limits in our fellowship together. He gets to ask whatever He wants and I do too. He’s not offended or put off in the least, He rather enjoys it. He’s not an ogre. He’s daddy God. Abba Father. The real deal.
When Jesus heard what Jairus’ servant said, He didn’t blink. He told Jairus to ignore what he’s heard and believe. He’s asking you to do the same thing. Ignore what you’ve heard, and ask away. But what if He doesn’t hear me. Let me show you something to clear up that myth.
“LORD, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. LORD, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me—in front and in back— and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand. Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run from you?”
Psalms 139:1-7 NCV
Are you convinced yet? Who do you think is keeping the galaxies freestanding in the universe? Who keeps the heat of the sun far enough away to light the moon and keep us from freezing to death or being burned up by it’s heat? Scientists? LOL 😝
They go to sleep at night. God never sleeps or dozes off. Psalm 121:4. We are never a bother to Him. Parents, are your children a bother or trouble to you? Do you shoo them away or shush them whenever they’re needing your undivided attention? If you shush them too many times they’ll find someone to listen, and it may not be the advice you’d like. God never shushes us. He’s interested in everything we have to say, down to the tiniest detail. He’s never too busy.
You read the verses in Psalm 139. Before your thought is formulated into a question, He already knows it. But He enjoys dialogue. And there are times when, as you get to know Him through fellowshipping with Him, that He will answer your thoughts. That is super special and cool. He amazes me! But asking is both a privilege and a joy. You may be saying “but what if He doesn’t answer me?” Then one, check your motive, don’t be double minded, believe that you have your petition. Mark 11:23-24. Or timing. But you are guaranteed a response. Sounds simplistic? That’s because it is that simple. Jesus never doubted that His Father wouldn’t hear or answer Him. And neither should we.
The people who told you that you shouldn’t ask God for things, and that He’s too busy for your problems, or that He only hears certain people, or that He only has time for one big thing at a time has lied to you. God knows how to multitask, with over seven billion plus people in the world, He can still hear just your voice. Those people who place limits on your prayer life, are insecure and limited in their lives. Read the scriptures I shared, there are more where those came from. He invites us to come boldly. Hebrews 4:16. So take the self imposed limits off. You’re not troubling Him. Had Jairus listened to the report, he would have had a funeral. But because he trusted the Words of Jesus, he had a celebration of life.
He invites you to trouble Him. He’s never wearied or tired of hearing us. I’ve never heard Him say come back later, this isn’t a good time, your problem isn’t big or significant enough, go solve it yourself, or go ask so and so. No, He will send you the help in His time in His way. But you’ll never be without a response. His Word is full of questions and answers. He even tells you how to ask. James 1:6 but there are no limitations or levels. We serve a big God. Just look around you. Jesus is only glorified when our asking and receiving are manifested. So ask away! John 16:24-26
To show you how much He values our seeking and asking Him for help read Isaiah 22:8-11. What was happening here? Self help. Assuming that they had the answer to what needed to be done. God accused them of not looking to Him or regarding Him as the Originator of what they thought was their idea. He wants and desires to be involved and included. Ask but include Him. This is what is meant by asking according to His will. Get His mind on things that concerns you. If He’s in from the ground up, He’ll take you to heights impossible without Him. Limitless possibilities.
What have you been holding back from asking Him for? Go ahead and ask. As His child, you have unlimited access to His presence and resources. Don’t waste another moment doubting or questioning whether He’ll hear you, I’ve given you all the proof you need that He does. Now is your moment. He’s waiting. Philippians 4:6🙏
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
April 22, 2021