We Just Had A Tornado

 A tornado passed through our community last Friday night, March 14, 2025. It is shocking to see what a level 2 tornado can do: turn vehicles over, even trucks, bring large trees down on houses and cars, break power poles in half and bring power lines down, tear roofs and carports off, and send them hundreds of feet away, break windows, and do so much damage to siding on houses. Of course, that leaves people without electrical power. With broken windows and leaking roofs, people find the contents of their homes wet and damaged.

We have spent the last few days helping our community return to their houses. Cutting up trees, clearing debris, putting windows back into houses, and putting tarps on damaged roofs is a lot of work, but it brings people together. I have seen the men who work day and night restoring electrical power and have a great respect for the work they do. We here in Missouri did not have the worst damage--that happened in Arkansas and Alabama, but we have an idea of the power of these storms. Our hearts go out to those who lost a loved one in these storms. There were dozens of them over nine states.

It is challenging to experience a storm like this. You feel a mix of emotions—gratitude for surviving, shock at the destruction, and exhaustion. However, there’s also a deep sense of community as neighbors come together to help each other. Though exhausted from the work I have done, I am grateful that people are willing to help each other in times like these.

Each time we experience a natural disaster, we are reminded how fragile life is for all of us. Many people find their faith strengthened, seeing God’s hand in protecting lives and the kindness of those who step up to help. Even amid destruction, these storms often reveal people’s resilience and the power of unity.

Ask-Seek-Knock

 Jesus told us something significant about prayer:  “So I say to you: 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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). The Lord used language that intensifies as it goes forward. First, ask and keep asking, then seek and keep on seeking, and lastly, knock and keep on knocking. “Ask” means requesting assistance for a need. We realize our lack and ask for help.  “Seek,” however, adds action. We are not just asking; we are now seeking help.  By the time we get to “Knock” we are pounding on a closed door.

We are to “Keep on asking, and it will be given to you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” We are to not give up but to remain persistent. We need encouragement when it comes to prayer and Jesus gives it to us in the Sermon on the Mount.

Persistence is an attitude, and when it comes to persistence in prayer, Jesus applauds it. Jesus encourages us to have confidence and believe it will happen. Then look for it because you know it’s coming. If you don’t find it, just keep on knocking until the door opens. This faith and confidence that God will honor your persistence.

When it comes to knocking on doors with persistence I have experience in this area. Many years ago, when working with my father, I went up to the mountains of California to get a load of decomposed granite. I had never been to the place before, so I followed the map. First, I was to go to the owner’s house and knock on the door, and then they would take me to the pit and load me. I found the house and went to the door, but before I made it to the door, out of nowhere came a very vicious German Shepherd dog that attacked me. Fortunately, it was winter and I had on a coat and gloves. Each time he lunged at me I was able to push him back. I made it to the door, and I knocked, and it was no minor knock. It was more like pounding. In between my knocking, the dog kept coming, and I kept knocking and knocking. Finally, a lady came to the door in her housecoat, and I stepped in. She stepped out, and I closed the door behind me and caught my breath.

This is the kind of persistence Jesus is talking about—the kind of knocking that you do to get someone to come to the door. Remember, this is Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. This is how he prayed, and this is how he wants us to pray.