--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We knock a time or two at the gate of…" description: "\"“We knock a time or two at the gate of mercy, and as no friendly messenger opens the door, we go our ways. Too many prayers are like boys’ runaway knoc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/433/john-macarthur-1117_compassion_we-knock-a-time-or-two-at-the-gate-of-me_962520.jpg" --- # We knock a time or two at the gate of mercy, and as no… ![“We knock a time or two at the gate of mercy, and as no friendly messenger opens the door, we go our ways. Too many prayers are like boys’ runaway knocks, given, and then the giver is away before the door can be opened.” quote by John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/433/john-macarthur-1117_compassion_we-knock-a-time-or-two-at-the-gate-of-me_962520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/433/john-macarthur-1117_compassion_we-knock-a-time-or-two-at-the-gate-of-me_962520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/433/john-macarthur-1117_compassion_we-knock-a-time-or-two-at-the-gate-of-me_962520.jpg) > ““We knock a time or two at the gate of mercy, and as no friendly messenger opens the door, we go our ways. Too many prayers are like boys’ runaway knocks, given, and then the giver is away before the door can be opened.”” [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer often feels like a futile knock when no answer arrives, yet persistence remains. **In simple terms:** Prayer may feel unanswered but persists. Key Takeaway Persist in prayer despite silence. Themes faith patience spiritual longing Mood contemplative solemn Type spiritual reflective When to use this quote - personal crisis - seeking guidance - daily devotion Key Concepts theology perseverance Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret unanswered prayers? - What does persistence teach you about hope? A Different Perspective Silence may be misinterpreted as rejection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Open thy gate of mercy, gracious God, My soul flies through these wounds to seek out thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/open-thy-gate-of-mercy-gracious-god-my-soul-flies-through-these/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Paul said, "Continue in prayer and, "Pray without ceasing." He did not mean that people should be always on their knees, but he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/paul-said-continue-in-prayer-and-pray-without-ceasing-he-did-not-mean/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [Prayers are like those appeals of ours. Either they don't get through or they're returned with 'rejected' scrawled across 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayers-are-like-those-appeals-of-ours-either-they-don-t-get-through/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't recite prayers as a blanket rule, but having said that, I do believe that prayers like The Our Father and Hail Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystle-d-souza/i-don-t-recite-prayers-as-a-blanket-rule-but-having-said-that-i-do/) [Krystle D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystle-d-souza/) > [“Prayers are like the powerful sounds of trumpets. When God's people come together and pray, the walls that challenge progress will fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/prayers-are-like-the-powerful-sounds-of-trumpets-when-god-s-people/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [“Every time you walk into church, the first thing you see is a man on a cross. He died to save us-not to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mayer/every-time-you-walk-into-church-the-first-thing-you-see-is-a-man-on-a/) Jack Mayer > [Cold prayers, like cold suitors, are seldom effective in their aims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/cold-prayers-like-cold-suitors-are-seldom-effective-in-their-aims/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“The paradise of prayers is like a palace full of precious things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-paradise-of-prayers-is-like-a-palace-full-of-precious-things/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [What do I think is a real man\_ opens the door for a women \_isn't Intimidated by a successful chick\_ Knows how to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose/what-do-i-think-is-a-real-man-opens-the-door-for-a-women-isn-t/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose/) > [Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 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Even when you have doubts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-love/when-god-opens-a-door-you-have-to-take-his-hand-and-walk-through-it/) [Dorothy Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-love/) > [Sensibility would be a good portress if she had but one hand; with her right she opens the door to pleasure, but with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/sensibility-would-be-a-good-portress-if-she-had-but-one-hand-with-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The key that opens the door to the faith is prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-key-that-opens-the-door-to-the-faith-is-prayer/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Concentration is the magic key that opens the door to accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/concentration-is-the-magic-key-that-opens-the-door-to-accomplishment/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) ## More by John MacArthur > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [There are things that God hates, right? One of them is the one who stirs up strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/there-are-things-that-god-hates-right-one-of-them-is-the-one-who/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Over the years, I've fought a number of polemical battles against ideas that threaten the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/over-the-years-i-ve-fought-a-number-of-polemical-battles-against/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“You and I believed the gospel, not because we were wiser or more righteous than anyone else but because God graciously intervened, opening our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/you-and-i-believed-the-gospel-not-because-we-were-wiser-or-more/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“He call us to obey, not because He needs us but because He knows we need Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/he-call-us-to-obey-not-because-he-needs-us-but-because-he-knows-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“The Spirit works in the church so that men might see Jesus as Lord, recognizing His authority and submitting to His will (1 Cor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-spirit-works-in-the-church-so-that-men-might-see-jesus-as-lord/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Grace does not grant permission to live in the flesh; it supplies power to live in the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/grace-does-not-grant-permission-to-live-in-the-flesh-it-supplies/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Sexual expression within a marriage is not an option or an extra. It is certainly not, as it has sometimes been considered, a necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/sexual-expression-within-a-marriage-is-not-an-option-or-an-extra-it/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“18O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/18o-my-god-incline-your-ear-and-hear-open-your-eyes-and-see-our/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“Sin is the monarch that rules the heart of every man. It is the first lord of the soul, and its virus has contaminated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/sin-is-the-monarch-that-rules-the-heart-of-every-man-it-is-the-first/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“Psalm 13 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/psalm-13-o-lord-how-long-will-you-forget-me-forever-how-long-will-you/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Scripture repeatedly makes clear that heaven is a realm of unsurpassed joy, unfading glory, undiminished bliss, unlimited delights, and unending pleasures. Nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/scripture-repeatedly-makes-clear-that-heaven-is-a-realm-of/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [God's true church has always been a place where people hunger for the truth from the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/god-s-true-church-has-always-been-a-place-where-people-hunger-for-the/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [The lies of systemic racism and the race hustlers dominate the ideologies of universities and even churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-lies-of-systemic-racism-and-the-race-hustlers-dominate-the/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Explore all 279 John MacArthur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. 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