April 16, 2021

Doors
Revelation 3:7-8
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
We’ve all heard the sayings “When God closes one door, He opens another”. We’ve been told to seek God in things & He will open the doors if it is His will. But, have you ever experienced something you were SURE God wanted for you (or maybe you wanted it so badly yourself….). I know there was a time when I prayed for something I wanted very badly. I was sure it was God’s will for my life but that door did not open. It was shut tight! I jiggled the knob, I pushed with my shoulder, I looked for a key. I tried to force MY will. The bible talks much of doors. But when God closes that door, NO ONE can open it! (I’ve tried). Examples: God shut the door on Noah’s ark. It did not open again until God was ready. If that door had been open too early, it might have been disastrous.
My dad tells the story of the year I was born. He & my mom were living in CA where he was stationed in the army. He was to be discharged before my birthday so that they could go back to IA where they were from to be with family for my birth. Mom went on ahead so that she could get settled. But if you know anything about the military, you know that they don’t always release someone at the time they indicated. Dad was getting frustrated, worried, upset, MAD! Of course, they didn’t care. He was not able to be there for my birth and for years, he carried the distress of that. Until one day 40 some years later. Dad suffered 2 heart attacks & a stroke, Mom had COPD. They needed a decent home and had heard of a VA loan in their area in FL that was very affordable for them. They applied for it and they were approved. BUT then they found out, if dad had been in the army 3 days less, he would NOT have been approved! Many of us do not get to see the reason for our closed doors in our lifetime, but this modest little home was a blessing to them and God knew that they were going to need it.
Trusting in God’s plan for us isn’t always easy, especially when it seems contrary to what we want. I just try to remember, He sees the big picture and wants what is best for me.