In the late hours of the night, I heard our bedroom door open and little feet coming towards my side of the bed. My 8-year-old daughter was coming to ask for help with her bloody nose. Several hours after getting her taken care of and back into bed, my 1-year-old cries out for a bottle. Then, just as I’m about to get up for my alarm, my 6-year-old son comes in excitedly, to tell me about what he got in his advent calendar.
These circumstances got me thinking about when Jesus shared the parable of the man who gets up in the middle of the night to ask his neighbor for some bread for his guests. Luke 11:8 says “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence and boldness he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” I have felt awkward about this passage in the past thinking of it as if you are annoying enough and come at an inopportune time to God, then out of His annoyance and desire for relief from you, He’ll give you what you want. But as I thought about my children this morning, I believe it is more about the Lord encouraging us to come boldly and unashamed before Him as a good Father. That word in the Greek used in the King James Version in this verse as “inopportune” means shameless and bold. It is the opposite word that is used to describe modesty in clothing. My children came to my bedside without an ounce of hesitation, embarrassment, or feeling like they were inconveniencing me. They came bold and confident that their mother would meet their needs. This is how the Lord invites us and encourages us to come before Him. We are able to go before the Lord without shame, hesitation, or insecurity. He invites us to share our needs and our joys without the covering of pretty words or at the opportune time.
Even though I was quick to meet each of those needs of my children, I do not always do it joyfully in the middle of the night! The good news is our Lord does not sleep and is not limited as we are as parents. He is available and eager to meet with you anytime of the day. What good news! I want to learn from my kids to be bold and shameless in my interactions with my good Father. How about you?