He Answered

I don’t remember many moments of my life. Call it short-term memory loss, or maybe selective remembering. But July 4th, 2025, is a moment burned into my soul forever.

I had been awake most of the night, tortured by heartbreak. I tried to remedy the pain with gospel music and inspirational sermons, but even those weren’t doing the trick. At 4:30 a.m., I gave in and decided to get ready for work and head in early.

I got to the hospital a good hour and a half before my shift started, eager to sit with the Lord. So I walked as fast as my tired legs would allow me to the hospital chapel.

When I got there, I stood outside the door, afraid to go inside—unsure of what might unfold in that room.

I opened the door and sat down in an aisle chair in the first row. Alone. Just me and my thoughts.

I perused a brochure on the table and read some quotes on the wall before my eyes fixated on the cross in front of me.

And for what felt like the millionth time that day, I wept.

I closed my tear-filled eyes and begged Jesus to take the pain away. I prayed harder than I ever had and hoped more than I thought possible.

It was then I finally understood what it meant to truly seek Jesus—to knock, and trust that He would answer.

In that small hospital chapel, I found God.

I found peace. I found warmth, love, and grace.

For the first time in two weeks, I found rest—even if just for a few moments.

Those few moments felt like I was walking on water toward Jesus.

In those moments, the waves didn’t threaten to drown me.

In those moments, the storm surrounding me ceased.

In those moments, I was safe.

I was home.

And then I opened my eyes, and reality struck. The storm raged, and the waves took me under again.

But a man named Jesus reached out, grabbed my hand, pulled me up, and brushed me off.

He gave me the strength to stand.

As I put on my backpack and walked upstairs into work, I couldn’t help but grieve the loss I felt when I left that chapel.

I ruminated on those moments in the elevator to the sixth floor, and then it hit me:

That was the first time I had ever truly knocked.

And just as He said He would—

He answered.

“Ask, and it will be given to you.

seek, and you will find. Knock,

and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)