Ask, Seek, Knock — And Trust the Answer

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Luke 11:9

I used to struggle with this verse. Jesus promises that when we ask, seek, and knock, we’ll receive, find, and see the door opened. But what happens when we pray… and it seems like nothing changes?

After my car crash, I prayed more than ever before. I prayed my first novena from a hospital bed, to St. John Baptist de La Salle, patron of teachers. I wanted so badly to return to teaching high school. I wanted to be with my students again, to have purpose again. And that prayer was answered in a way, technically.

In the fall of 2023, I returned to my high school classroom. But less than four weeks later, I was placed on leave. My body just couldn’t keep up. My mind was pounding. The feeling of water pouring down it. I was devastated. I was angry. I screamed at God, “Why?! What was the point? What’s my purpose now?”

But then God answered… just not the way I expected. He didn’t speak directly — He sent my husband. Ashton told me, “We don’t know why. We may not know for years. But God has a plan.”

He did. A few weeks later, I got a call from my childhood grade school — St. Pat’s. The same halls I once walked as a little girl would now become my workplace. That knock came unexpectedly, but it was God’s knock. That call changed everything.

The truth is: Jesus always answers. He just never promised that answer would be “yes.” Sometimes the answer is “wait.” Sometimes it’s “not here.” And sometimes it’s “trust Me.”

Now, I get it.

• The Ask: I asked for purpose again, and God gave it — not where I expected, but better.
• The Seek: I was looking for joy, and I found it in community and connection — even a simple check-in call from a friend.
• The Find: I found joy not by reclaiming what I lost, but by embracing what I’ve been given.

If you’re in a season of silence or waiting, don’t lose heart. The door may open in a way you don’t expect. But it will open. Because God knows best. Not you. Not me. But God.