“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

I heard the Lord tell me one day, “I have a door that is getting ready to open. Be patient, for what is behind it is not quite ready. I want my gift to be perfect. When the gift is ready the door will open. And no man will be able to shut it. I have not forgotten you. And what I have prepared for you will amaze you!”

I must admit I’m waiting for something. An answer to a prayer I’ve been praying for quite some time. I know that verse very well. I’ve quoted it many times, and prayed it many times, both for myself and for others. But the door hasn’t opened yet. I know it will. I just don’t know when. And I don’t know how long I will have to hang on, and hold on, until it does.

And yes, I’m getting impatient. I’m to the point of wondering, “Lord, have you forgotten that promise to me?” Yes, I’ll admit I’ve sort of said that. Several times.

Then Sunday morning, what verse does our pastor preach about? Hebrews 6:10. “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (NIV) Four days later, what verse does a friend of mine quote on her Twitter feed? Hebrews 6:10. Obviously, the Lord is trying to tell me something.

He hasn’t forgotten me, and He won’t forget me. I have to remember that. I know His promises are true, and I know He always answers our prayers. Always. It’s just very difficult when we have to wait for our answers. We want them in our time frame; which is usually NOT His time frame. And even when He answers our prayers, sometimes we don’t like the answers we get; because sometimes the answer is “no” or “not now” or “I have something better”.

When I was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s there was a TV show called “Father Knows Best.” I’m sure most of you have seen it, even if it was as a rerun on an oldies station. The father was the undisputed head of the household, who always gave the best advice. You could count on his wisdom, because he knew best.

Just like our heavenly Father. He always knows best, even when we doubt Him, question Him, even argue with Him. Just like He knows we will do. But He has a reason. We may not know what that reason is, but in the end, it’s a good reason. Because He has a plan for us that is so much better than we can ever imagine.

I know a door is going to open, but I don’t know when. I don’t know how. And I don’t know what’s going to be behind it. It may be what I’ve asked for, or it may be something better. I won’t know until it opens.

Is there a door you’re waiting to have opened? Do you think the Lord has forgotten you? Take heart, because He hasn’t. He won’t. Our faith tells us that, and His word tells us that.

I know when that door is opened, the gift behind it will be amazing beyond anything I have asked for. And it will have been worth waiting for.