A Friend Knocks at Midnight

Jesus' friends wanted to learn to pray. After teaching them, he told a story about someone who needed help.

It was midnight. A man welcomed a friend who had been traveling. The visitor was tired and hungry.

But there was no bread to offer him.

The man thought of a neighbor who could help. He went to the neighbor's house.

The man knocked on the door at night.

He asked for three loaves. He explained that a friend had arrived and he had nothing for him to eat.

From inside, the neighbor answered that the door was shut. He and his children were already in bed.

He did not want to get up.

But the man stayed. His friend needed food, so he kept asking for help.

Finally the neighbor got up and gave him the bread he needed.

The traveler received bread to eat.

Jesus invited us to ask, seek, and knock with confidence.

God is not like a neighbor annoyed at being woken up. He can always hear us, and he loves us.

Jesus explained that a father would not give something harmful to a child asking for food. Our heavenly Father knows how to give good gifts.

We can tell him when we are afraid, need help, or want to care for someone.

We do not always receive exactly what we ask for, when we expect it. But we can keep trusting and listening.

We can also seek help from people God puts near us.

Prayer needs no difficult words. You can say, “God, help me do good today.” He cares about you and those you want to help.

Jesus tells us a story, and his love stays with us.