New WINE Wednesday ~ When to Ask

By Kerry McGuire

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Luke 11:9).

Have you ever felt like you were bugging God? Asking him too many questions and expecting answers immediately when things get tough or unclear? At times, I feel like a small child coming up to God, tugging at the cuff of his snowy-white robe, waiting for his beatific face to smile upon me with undivided fatherly attention. “God, do you see me? Can you hear me? Why haven’t you answered me yet?” Patiently, he replies, “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Well, the asking, seeking and knocking are not typically the issue for me. It’s the waiting around—patiently—for the answers.

I’ve had a question on my mind for quite some time now. It’s about a women’s ministry God has placed on my heart, but I am not 100% sure where it’s headed. There is no blueprint in front of me, so I am keeping my ear to the heavens, listening for God’s voice to give me some direction. And I admit, while I am closer to understanding my new mission, the plan is still in development and being revealed to me, one moment at a time.

This past summer, one of those moments was during my family’s vacation to the east coast when my son’s lacrosse tournament allowed us to visit two of my husband’s sisters living in New York. One late evening, a sister, her daughter, and I were visiting on the upper back deck of their home. The conversation led to what I would doing with my time since my seven-year employment in church communications had just come to an end. Surprisingly, I launched into my vision of starting a new women’s ministry. I was surprised I said anything because it’s still undefined, and a little intimidating to do the work of God, especially without a heavenly blueprint.

When God calls, it can feel intimidating. I ask, “Why me?” He always replies, “Why not you?” I can’t help but think about Jesus when He went back to his home town of Nazareth to start building up the kingdom of God on earth. How did that turn out for Him? Unfortunately, many that knew Him his whole life could only see Him as a carpenter’s son and nothing more. He wasn’t welcome or accepted or believed. Unlike Jesus, the rest of us are sinners, imperfect and fallible, so how will this turn out for us?

This is where our reliance on God’s abundant love and grace is imperative. It’s that whole “ask, seek and knock” scenario. Like the child with a million and one questions, God wants that from us, a childlike faith that whatever the father says, goes. It’s going to happen, but His way and on His time. God uses people, real people like you and me, to be His heart and hands here on earth to bring Christ to others. We are his beloved and are here to love His beloved, too. Simple enough.

That night, I actually saw my new ministry come alive. These lovely women were very excited to hear about it, and told me they believed I could do anything I set my heart on; they advised me to get out there and inspire! Right then and there, we held hands and openly prayed together for the courage to ask for God’s will for our lives and to heed His call. To have that childlike trust and faith, wherever that may lead. As one of my best friends said, “Never underestimate a praying woman!” Whoa! Ladies, God definitely knows what’s in our hearts and what we need, but in order to receive His grace, we must ask; we must seek to find, and when we knock, He will lovingly open the door for us.

About the Author:
Kerry McGuire, wife of Paul and mother of Andrew and Olivia, is the founder of the new Catholic WE (Catholic Women Experience), a ministry that seeks to keep the fires of Christian faith burning in the hearts of women. Joining the efforts of WINE, her mission is to encourage women in their walk with Christ to give birth to a living faith by praying, sharing, and growing together. Kerry is also a contributing writer for the Texas Catholic Herald, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston newspaper.